H₂SO₄-modified <i>Aloe vera</i> leaf shells for the removal of <i>P</i>-chlorophenol and methylene blue from aqueous environment

Abstract

In this study, the surface properties of activated carbon from Aloe vera leaf shells were modified by sulfuric acid Aloe vera-acid activated carbon (AV-AAC) and then used as a novel adsorbent to remove para-chlorophenol (p-CP) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The maximum monolayer adsorption capacities were found to be 137 and 192.3 mg/g for p-CP and MB, respectively. Due to low-cost and high adsorption capacity, AV-AAC can be considered as an effective adsorbent for wastewater treatment containing p-CP or MB.