High Performance Activated Carbon Based on Date Palm Fibers for Cu²⁺ Removal in Water

The aim of the present study was to produce a date palm fibers-based activated carbon (DPFAC) using phosphoric acid as an activating agent. DPFAC has been studied as a promising adsorbent for the removal of copper ions from synthetic solutions. DPFAC characterization performed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) indicated that DPFAC morphology and texture were well-developed with various surface bonds and high specific surface area and average pore diameter (834.79 m²/g, 17.48 Å, repectively). The results of the kinetic adsorption test showed that DPFAC achieved high Cu²⁺ removal efficiency (94.47%) at equilibrium time (60 min). The kinetic data fitted perfectly with the pseudo-second-order model. Three intra-particle diffusion steps are implicated in the adsorption of Cu²⁺. Solution pH has a considerable influence on Cu²⁺ removal efficiency. The isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Sips) showed an adequate fit to the experimental points, proving that the transfer of Cu²⁺ onto the DPFAC surface was favorable. Langmuir model provided the best fit, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 48.59 mg/g. The thermodynamic study performed between 20°C and 50°C confirmed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic, and may involve physisorption enhanced by chemisorption. Based on tested reaction parameters, it is clear that the use of date palm fibers for the preparation of DPFAC was highly effective in removing copper ions from wastewater.