Simplified Fixed Bed Design Models for the Adsorption of Acid Dyes on Novel Pine Cone Derived Activated Carbon

A novel activated carbon has been prepared by the activation of ground pine cones using phosphoric acid activation, and the nitrogen Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller surface area was 869 m² g^?1. Equilibrium isotherms were performed to assess the capacity of the activated carbon using two acidic dyes, namely Acid Blue 113 and Acid Black 1. The monolayer equilibrium isotherm capacities of Acid Blue 113 and Acid Black 1 were 286 and 458 mg dye/g C, respectively. These capacities are significantly higher than commercial carbons and other literature carbons. For the first time, these carbons were tested in fixed bed experimental systems and data analysed using the bed depth service time model (BDST) and the carbon usage rate (CUR) model. In the fixed bed studies, the key parameters for a 20-cm bed depth for the BDST model at 50% breakthrough capacity are (a) for Acid Black, the BDST capacity is 149 mg dye/g carbon and operating time is 1,530 min and (b) for Acid Blue, the breakthrough capacity is 9 mg of dye/g of carbon and operating time is 195 min. The fixed bed study indicates that the BDST design models can be applied satisfactorily, and the pine cone carbon has significant potential but a more mesoporous pine cone carbon is preferable for the larger Acid Black dye. The CUR design method was not successful.