Experimental evaluation of benzene adsorption in the gas phase using activated carbon from waste biomass

Abstract

Benzene is a toxic substance among the volatile organic compounds threatening public health even at low concentrations. Of the many volatiles, it is used in several solvent-based productions and can quickly turn into a gas phase at room temperature. The importance of benzene exposure may be a risk to humans if the amount increases indoors due to an identified carcinogen. However, traditional adsorbents play a lowly role in the purification and separation of benzene. In this paper, the performance of produced adsorbents (GR1-150AC) on benzene removal efficiencies from Gleditsia riacanthos L. has been evaluated by chemical activation treatment. Among the tested adsorbents, GR54AC and GR118AC are better than most adsorbents for removing benzene. Here, GR54AC and GR118AC were produced with 1:3 (w/v) H2SO4 and 1:4 (w/v) HCl activation at a setting carbonization temperature of 700 and 800 °C, respectively. The pore volumes also reflected the success of HCl and H2SO4 activation, which attained GR54AC (894 m2/g) and GR118AC (748 m2/g); the total pore volume was 0.43 and 0.24 cm3/g, while the micropore volume was 0.32 and 0.16 cm3/g. Moreover, the excellent amount adsorbed with GR54AC varies from 123 to 273 mg/g, and the amount adsorbed of GR118AC increased from 82 to 235 mg/g for 180-min retention time. Results are exciting to assist recent paths for optimizing air filtration systems under actual environmental conditions, particularly regarding its compatibility with the benzene molecular structure of GR54AC.