Production of New Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste and its Use as an Eco-Friendly Solution for Removing Copper Ions from Industrial Effluents

This study explores the production of activated carbon from agricultural waste, specifically Punica granatum peel, and its application as an eco-friendly solution for removing Cu2+ ions from industrial effluents, particularly from copper-plating industries. The Punica granatum peel was chemically activated using ortho-phosphoric acid to produce activated carbon. The activation process involved impregnation followed by thermal activation at 500°C. The resultant activated carbon was characterized using FTIR, TGA/DTA, and adsorption tests at room temperature and pH 5, which demonstrated a Cu2+ ion retention rate exceeding 95% within the first 15 minutes. The adsorption kinetics were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, while adsorption isotherms were examined using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The study demonstrated that activated carbon derived from Punica granatum peel exhibits high adsorption efficiency for Cu2+ ions, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 19.62 mg/g. The adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the nonlinear Langmuir isotherm model. The results indicate that this activated carbon is an effective and sustainable solution for treating copper-contaminated industrial effluents. This research offers a dual benefit by providing a sustainable waste management solution for agricultural residues and an effective method for treating industrial effluents. Incorporating this activated carbon in post-copper plating rinsing water treatment ensures regulatory compliance and facilitates water reuse. This approach also supports copper recovery and reuse in new plating baths, promoting cyclic material circulation within the industry.