5. Preparation and characterization of orange peel-activated carbon

Our results of the preparation of activated carbon from orange peel let us characterize the material. This material was prepared under the following conditions: activation agent, H3PO4, carbonization temperature of 400C, and carbonization time of 1 h. Methyl orange was used as

Figure 2. SEM micrography of orange peel at 1000.

Sustainable Sorbent Materials Obtained from Orange Peel as an Alternative for Water Treatment http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76137 213

Figure 3. SEM micrography of activated carbon obtained from orange peel at 1000.

Fernandez et al. [35] studied the effect of H3PO4 as an activating agent to prepare activated carbon; the carbonization procedure was carried out at 475C in 0.5 h. Authors report surface

Carbonization time (h)

Physical CO2 Nitrogen 700 1 h — 248 [21] Chemical H3PO4 Autogenerated 850 1 h — 1090 [28] Chemical H3PO4 Nitrogen 450 2 h 2 h 1203 [29] Chemical ZnCl Nitrogen 550 1 h 36 h 1477 [30]

to characterize sorption capacities and the values obtained were 320 and 522 mg/g, respectively. Li et al. [20], studied the effect of KOH as an activating agent and the process of carbonization in an inert atmosphere, at 800C; the activated carbon obtained had a surface area greater than 1800 m2

g, and a sorption capacity of 680 m/g was obtained using methyl orange as a model pollutant.

5. Preparation and characterization of orange peel-activated carbon

temperature of 300C promotes a sorption capacity of up to 983 mg/g.

Ashtaputrey and Ashtaputrey [36] prepared activated carbon from orange peels by chemical activation using HCl; they also varied the carbonization temperature from 300 to 500C for 1 h. They analyzed the sorption capacity of iodine, and finally, they concluded that a carbonization

Our results of the preparation of activated carbon from orange peel let us characterize the material. This material was prepared under the following conditions: activation agent, H3PO4, carbonization temperature of 400C, and carbonization time of 1 h. Methyl orange was used as

/g for the obtained materials. Methylene blue and rhodamine B were used

Time of mixing material-agent

Surface area (m<sup>2</sup> /g) Reference

/

areas of 1090 m2

Activation type

212 Wastewater and Water Quality

Agent Atmosphere Temperature

Table 5. Preparation of activated carbon using orange peels.

Figure 2. SEM micrography of orange peel at 1000.

( C)

> the model pollutant in order to analyze sorption capacity of 2342.91 mg/g. This result was compared to dried orange peel that showed a sorption capacity of 149.26 mg/g.

> Figures 2 and 3 show a comparison of the surface morphology of orange peel and activated carbon obtained from orange peel. It can be seen that after the carbonization treatment the surface was modified, given by the thermal process and by the activation agent. The carbonization process promotes the formation of new surface sites.

> On the other hand, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to identify the surface groups of activated carbon obtained from orange peel. Figure 4 shows the comparison of orange peel and activated carbon. It is possible to appreciate that the intensity of some signals decreases after carbonization process. Table 6 identifies functional groups associated with the FTIR spectra of Figure 4.

Figure 4. Comparison of the FTIR spectrum of orange peel and orange peel-activated carbon.


This is the case of agroindustrial waste, since they have a physicochemical composition that can be used for different purposes, both for the recovery of different raw materials and for

Sustainable Sorbent Materials Obtained from Orange Peel as an Alternative for Water Treatment

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.76137

215

Orange peels are good alternatives as raw materials for the production of activated carbons. Activated carbons obtained from this precursor have high surface areas and high sorption

Orange peel-activated carbon is a sustainable alternative to replace activated carbons obtained

Authors thank the Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, CIDETEQ (www.cideteq.mx), for the facilities provided for the development of this research.

Center for Electrochemical Science and Technology (CIDETEQ), Pedro Escobedo Queretaro,

[1] Saval S. Aprovechamiento de residuos agroindustriales: Pasado, presente y futuro. Biotecno-

[2] Luque R, Clark JH. Valorisation of food residues: Waste to wealth using green chemical technologies. Sustainable Chemical Processes. 2013;1. DOI: 10.1186/2043-7129-1-10

[3] Comité Sistema Producto Cítricos del Estado de Veracruz. Sagarpa [Internet]. 2009. Available from: http://www.sagarpa.gob.mx/agronegocios/Documents/Estudios\_promercado/

their transformation into sustainable materials useful to reduce water pollution.

capacities, compared to commercial materials used for water treatment.

from lignite materials that come from non-renewable sources.

Irma Robles Gutierrez\*, Ana K. Tovar and Luis A. Godínez

SISTPROD\_CITRICOS.pdf [Accessed: November 2017]

\*Address all correspondence to: irobles@cideteq.mx

7. Conclusion

Acknowledgements

Author details

Pedro Escobedo, Mexico

logía. 2012;16:14-46

References

Table 6. Functional groups of FTIR spectrum.

Activated carbon prepared from orange peel has higher sorption capacity compared to the precursor (dried orange peel), which means that the transformation of a residence is a great advantage. The resulting material possesses the ability to be used for the treatment of water contaminated with colorants as an alternative principal.

However, it is necessary to continue the study of this material for the removal of heavy metals, organochloride compounds, and so on in order to provide greater alternatives for better care for the environment.
