Optimisation of bisphenol A removal from water using chemically modified pine bark and almond shell

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Maria Cristina G Antunes (Author) Other; Sandra Pinto (Author) Other; Fernando G Braga (Author) Other; Joaquim C G E Esteves Silva (Author) FCUP

Journal

Title: Chemistry and Ecology

Vol. 28

Pages: 141-152

ISSN: 0275-7540

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 10 Citations

Scopus - 11 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-GR2

DOI: 10.1080/02757540.2011.638629

Abstract (EN): The ability of pine bark and almond shells to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. Samples of these traditional agro-forestry by-products were milled, sieved into different particle size fractions (0.10-0.15 and 1.5-2.0 mm) and submitted to two different types of treatment. Sorption experiments were conducted in a batch system at room temperature and natural pH. Sorption equilibrium was attained after 48 h for all systems under study. Bisphenol A was adsorbed more effectively on the smaller particles of the sorbents. Pine bark and almond shell pretreated with formaldehyde presented higher sorption efficiency (95%), followed by almond shell (87%) and pine bark (82%) washed with hot water. All the sorption isotherms were found to fit a Freundlich equation, with correlation coefficients (R-2) between 0.823 and 0.989. The sorption coefficient (K-F) ranged from 0.06 to 0.74 (mg(1-1/n).L-1/n.g(-1)). These results indicate that utilisation of both materials as an alternative sorbent for the removal of bisphenol A from contaminated waters is promising because they are available in large amounts and have an acceptable cost-efficiency ratio when compared with traditional adsorbents.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12