title: The use of piassava fibers (Attalea funifera) in the preparation of activated carbon.
abstract: The piassava fiber, residue of the broom industry, was used as precursor for the preparation of activated carbons (AC). AC were prepared by chemical activation with zinc chloride (AC ZnCl(2)) or phosphoric acid (AC H(3)PO(4)) and by physical activation with carbon dioxide (AC CO(2)) or water vapor (AC H(2)O). These materials were characterized by adsorption/desorption of N(2) to determine the BET areas, elemental analysis (CHN), thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The carbons were tested with respect to their adsorption capacity of methylene blue, reactive red, phenol and metallic ions (Cr(+6), Cu(+2) and Zn(+2)). AC ZnCl(2) presented the highest surface area (1190 m(2)g(-1)) and AC H(3)PO(4), the largest pore volume (0.543 cm(3)g(-1)). AC ZnCl(2) was more efficient in the adsorption of methylene blue, Cr(+6) and Cu(+2) ions. AC H(2)O was the better adsorbent for phenol, while AC CO(2) was better for Zn(+2) ions.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal de Lavras, P.O. Box 3037, Lavras, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiana Ferreira
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Avelar
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: Maraisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Estella Gaspar
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: da Mota
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002606:Charcoal / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D004602:Elements; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013696:Temperature; D013818:Thermogravimetry
chemical_list: D004602:Elements; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010636:Phenols; D002606:Charcoal; D008751:Methylene Blue