Wastewater remediation using activated carbon derived from Alhagi plant

This work focuses on the use of biologically produced activated carbon for improving the physi-co-chemical properties of water samples obtained from the Tigris River. An eco-friendly and low-cost activated carbon was prepared from the Alhagi plant using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an impregnation agent. The prepared activated carbon was characterised using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the functional groups that exist on the raw material (Alhagi plant) and Alhagi activated carbon (AAC). Scanning electron microscope-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope was also used to investigate the surface shape and the elements that compose the powder. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis was used to evaluate the specific sur-face area and pore size of the prepared AAC. This study investigated three influential variables: activation temperature, activation time and impregnation ratio (IR) (KOH: dried solid wt./wt.). Central composite design was used to determine the interactions between the influential vari-ables. Results show that an activation temperature of 650 degrees C, activation time of 2.5 h and IR of 1:2.6 are optimal for activated carbon preparation.