Abstract:
This study was focused to investigate the adsorptive behavior of activated carbon prepared
from wheat straw treated with acid and base for the removal of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxy acetic
acid (2,4-D). The morphology of the adsorbent was characterized using infrared spectroscopy
and scanning electron microscopy. Compared with acid activated wheat straw, base activated
wheat straw has provided lower ash content, moisture and volatile matter. However, it has
higher iodine number than acid activated wheat straw. The removal of 2,4-D from aqueous
solution was investigated at various physicochemical parameters such as pH (2–10), contact
time (5–60 min), temperature (20-80 oC), amount of adsorbent (0.1-1.4 g) and initial
concentration of 2,4-D (1.0-25 mg/L). The removal efficiency of 2,4-D in aqueous solution
was found to be 92.02%. The equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich
isotherm and the Langmuir model better describes that the active adsorption sites were
homogeneously distributed on the surface of the adsorbent. Therefore, the activated carbon
prepared from wheat straw treated with base can be used as efficient and cost-effective method
to remove 2,4-D from aqueous solution
