Adsorptive efficacy analysis of novel carbonaceous sorbent derived from grape industrial processing wastes towards tetracycline in aqueous solution

In present study, a new activated carbon (GPAC) obtained by ZnCl2 activation from grape industrial processing pulps (GP) under optimized conditions, was adopted as an adsorbent to remove tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption experiments tested the effects of adsorbent dose, initial concentration, contact time and temperature on adsorption properties at the natural pH of TC in the aqueous medium. The experiments indicated that the pseudo-second order model was good fit to the kinetic data and the adsorption equilibrium data were better simulated by the Langmuir model. Maximum adsorption capacity was found as 625 mg/g at pH 5.7 and 35 degrees C. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the process was spontaneous and endothermic. (C) 2015 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.