Chemcon 2013

66th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers

Hosted at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019
27-30 December 2013

Adsorption of meta-cresol from aqueous

solutions using activated carbon prepared
from Solonum tuberosum stem
Bratin Sengupta a, Anuj Kumara, Tamal Mandal a*, Siddhartha Datta b
a

Department of Chemical Engineering, , NIT, Durgapur, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue,

Bengal, India
b

Durgapur, West

Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Raja S.C. Mallick Road, Kolkata-32, India

Email Address: sengupta.bratin@gmail.com, anujbt@gmail.com,

Abstract: Meta-cresol, a derivative of phenol, is a major component of effluent of petrochemical, steel, resin and
ceramic industries. It is toxic in nature and is harmful to humans and animals and contaminates the aquatic
ecosystem. There is a need to remove meta-cresol from the effluent before releasing it into the aquatic system. The
main objective of the study is to remove this meta-cresol using activated carbon generated by carbonization of
Solonum tuberosum stem under prescribed condition. Adsorption technique is utilized in the removal of meta-cresol
because of the low cost of the bio-adsorbent, the less time required in removal in comparison to biological methods.
Carbonization is performed on Solonum tuberosum to form activated carbon. The response surface methodology, in
design expert software was incorporated in simulation and optimization of the variables responsible in
carbonization. The variables are temperature, carbonization time and the ratio of substrate to activating agent. The
composite design was used with temperature ranging from 450C to 500C, time of carbonization ranging from 50
minutes to 100 minutes and the ratio varying between 0.5gm/ml to 1.5gm/ml. It is observed that at a certain
temperature, carbonization time and substrate to activating agent ratio, the activated carbon thus formed has the
capacity of removing maximum amount of meta-cresol from its aqueous solution. The low cost bio-adsorbing
material made from Solanum tuberosum stem may prove to an effective way of removal of meta-cresol from the
industrial effluent.
Keywords: Adsorption, meta-cresol, Solonum tuberosum stem, response surface method,
carbonization.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Introduction: Phenol and its derivatives are
widely distributed as a characteristic pollutant due to
its common presence in effluents of many industrial
processes, including oil refineries, petrochemicals,
dying, textiles, and coal conversion. [1, 2] Among
them, M-Cresol is mainly used as disinfectants and
intermediates in organic synthesis. [3] Their
extensive use gives a serious threat for the
environment and the human and animal health, as M-

Cresol is included in the list of 129 priority pollutants

according to US Environmental Protection Agency.
[4] Thus, removal of M-Cresol from waste water is of
great concern from environmental point of view.
Among the various methods for removal like,
flocculation, precipitation, ion exchange, electrokinetic coagulation, ozonation, etc., the adsorption
process is one of the most efficient methods due to its
simplicity of design, ease of operation and

Chemcon 2013
66th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
Hosted at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019
27-30 December 2013
insensitivity to toxic substances. [5] Although
commercial activated carbon is the preferred
adsorbent for dye removal because of its extended
surface area, micro porous structure and high
adsorption capacity, its widespread use is restricted
due to its high capital and regeneration cost. [6]
Researches are now tending towards the development
of new low-cost adsorbent from various nonconventional waste materials from industries and
agriculture, having equivalent potential as that of
commercial activated carbon. Though a number of
studies have been made in this line [7, 8], no
investigation was made to explore the possibility of
usage of potato stem, a firm waste, as the material for
activated carbon preparation. Thus, in this work, an
attempt has been made to prepare a low-cost
adsorbent from potato stem by carbonizing it through
chemical activation method. [5. 6]

2.1.2 Trial carbonization in accordance to RSM

results
The activating agent that was taken for carbonization
was Ortho- phosphoric acid (88% GR, MERCK).
This was proposed after extensive literature reviews.
The literature reviews helped us to set the range of
ratio of activating agent to substrate (sample potato
stem). We choose the ratio range from 1:2 to 3:2
while in a similar fashion we choose the temperature
ratio to be from 400C to 550C [5-9]. The
carbonization time range was varied from 60 minutes
to 120 minutes. Using these ranges of the
carbonization parameter we use the Design Expert
Softwares Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to
estimate 20 experiments to perform to get the results
which would be again used by the RSM to generate
the optimized carbonization conditions. The
carbonization of the sample was made using muffle
furnace under the specified conditions generated by
RSM. The resulting carbonized products was cooled
and washed with dilute Ammonia (NH4OH) solution
(A.R. Grade, SARA Fine Chemicals Pvt. Limited)
and with distilled water till the pH of the sample was
adjusted to exactly 7.0 and this washing was done
using vacuum pump filter. The product thus obtained
was dried in an air oven at 100C or just by keeping
it overnight to dry.

2. Materials and Methods:

2.1 Optimization of potato stems carbonization
conditions and preparation of charred potato stem
2.1.1 Preparation of the sample potato stem for
carbonization
The potato stem generally a waste product of the firm
was collected and washed with tap water to remove
all dusts and mud that may interfere with the
correctness with our experiment. The washed potato
stem was then finally washed with distill water. The
potato stem was cut into smaller size of 3cms and
further washed with distill water. The final washed
potato stem was dried in sun for a day. The dried
potato stem was then grinded in a common mixer
grinder till it produces enough fines to make the
product to pass to 90m screen [6]. We then take the
grinded potato stem in a 90m size screen with a pan
beneath it. We perform screening by means of a
Rotap and take the -90m fraction i.e. the fraction
that passes through the screen. This -90m is our
sample on which we are going to perform out
experiments.

The main objective of the RSM is to determine the

optimum conditions of the system or to determine the
operating conditions, which is usually done in three
stages (i) design experiments (ii) response surface
methodology
through
regression
and
(iii)
optimization. Initially 3 operating parameters were
selected substrate (-90m potato stem sample) to
activating agent (88% Ortho- phosphoric acid) ratio,
the carbonization time and the temperature of
carbonization [6]. Initially Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4) and
Zinc Chloride (ZnCl2) was considered as activating
agent, but only Ortho-phosphoric was considered as
the activating agent to reduce the number of
experimental run and also due to the fact that the
other two activating agents considered do not provide
good results as indicated from numerous literature
study made during our study. Thus finally the

Chemcon 2013
66th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
Hosted at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019
27-30 December 2013
parameters were modeled and optimized using
Design expert software to estimate the statistical
parameters. The maximum and the minimum of these
parameters viz. ratio of weight of sample potato stem
to activating agent, the carbonization time and the
carbonization temperature were 1:2 and 3:2, 60
minutes and 120 minutes, 400C and 550C
respectively. According to the software the optimum
carbonization conditions were estimated. The
optimum weight ratio, the optimum carbonization
temperature and the optimum carbonization time
were found to be 450C and 100 minutes
respectively. The adsorbent thus obtained was
charred potato stem (CPS). Further studies on CPSs
ability of removal of meta-cresol from its aqueous
solution were studied.

experiments were considered which was given by

Response Surface Methodology by statistically
varying the three numerical parameters ratio,
temperature and time.

2.2 Design of experiment

The parameters for optimization were statistically
optimized by the Response Surface Methodology
(RSM). The optimization process involves carrying
out statistically generated experiments as specified by
RSM, then evaluating the coefficients in a
mathematical model with prediction of response and
finally calculating the accuracy of the model. RSM
helps us to quantify the relation between one or more
measured responses and vital input factors.
Y = f (X1, X2, X3...Xn)

(1)

2.3 Characterization of Charred potato stem

Where Y is the response of the system and Xi are

the independent variable called factors (ratio,
temperature and time in our case)

The physico-chemical characterization of the charred

potato stem was done by standard methods [9]. The
properties that were considered for the study were
bulk density, solid density, moisture content, ash
content etc. To minimize the mass transfer resistance
we have kept the particle size below 90m in the
sample for our study to determine these properties.
To compare the properties with commercially
available activated carbon (MERCK), the same tests
were performed with the commercially available
activated carbon [7, 8, 9].

For our case we have three independent variable for

which the total no of experimental runs required were
given by
N = 2n + 2n + nc = 23 + (2 3) + 6 = 20

(2)

as shown by Sahu et el [10]

The 20 experiment as suggested by the statistical data
generated by RSM was carried out and the charred
potato stem thus generated was analyzed for removal
of meta-cresol form water using UV-Visible
spectrophotometer. The result of the analysis (the
response) was correlated with the three independent
parameters for the preparation of adsorbent by
carbonization using an empirical second degree
equation such as
Y = o + iXi + ( iiXi)2 + ijXiXj

2.3.1

Kinetic study of the adsorption of potato stem

In a Constant Stirred Tank Reactor 100 ml of the

sample (M-Cresol) of 20ppm was taken and was put
in an incubator with temperature of 35C and at rpm
of 140. To it 0.14gm of the charred potato stem was
added. After certain interval of time 5ml of the
sample was taken out from the Reactor for further
study. The sample thus taken out was filtered, diluted
and the concentration of the M-Cresol after each time
interval was studied in UV-Vis Spectrophotometer.

(3)

Where o is the constant coefficient, i is the linear

coefficient and ij is the quadratic coefficients [1, 2].
The independent parameter and the dependent

Chemcon 2013
66th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
Hosted at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019
27-30 December 2013
3. Results and Discussions

3.1 Effect of carbonization time, temperature and the

ratio of activating agent to the sample potato stem

The Response Surface Model was used to statistically

determine operating parameter of carbonization viz.
carbonization temperature, time and the ratio.
Experiments were performed according to it and the
adsorption by each charred potato was measured
using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The RSM was
further used to find the optimum conditions of
carbonization for which maximum adsorption occur.
The table 1 shows the percentage adsorption of MCresol by different activated carbon formed by
carbonization.

With the response viz. Adsorption Percentage the

Response Surface Methodology optimized the
carbonation condition with the adsorption maximized
as the charred potato stem formed at temperature of
500C, carbonized for 100 minutes, having a potato
stem sample to activating agent ratio of 0.50 has the
best performance keeping all parameters in range.
The charred potato stem thus formed gives a 60.00 %
adsorption.
3.2 Optimization of M-Cresol removal using Charred
Potato stem

Table 1:
Serial
No.

Ratio
(mg/ml)

Temp
(C)

Time
(min)

Adsorption
%

0.50

500

50

70.14

1.50

500

100

42.62

1.00

475

33

22.94

1.50

450

50

46.59

1.00

475

75

26.44

1.00

433

75

20.56

1.00

475

75

26.44

0.50

500

100

52.36

1.84

475

75

59.13

10

0.16

475

75

39.70

11

1.00

517

75

30.48

12

1.50

450

100

56.50

13

0.50

450

50

79.62

14

1.00

475

117

44.93

15

0.50

450

100

59.99

The parameters viz. dosage of Charred Potato Stem,

the initial concentration of M-Cresol, and the pH of
the aqueous solution from which M-cresol to be
removed was considered for optimization of MCresol removal. The list of experiments that were
suggested by RSM was performed and the optimized
condition for M-Cresol removal was found out. The
most effective removal of M-Cresol took place at 20
ppm initial concentration of M-Cresol at pH of 6.0
and at dosage of 1.90 mg of Charred Potato stem.
The effective removal was 73.16%.
The effect of pH on removal at a constant initial
concentration of M-Cresol (40 ppm) is depicted in
the figure 1.
Figure 1:
effect of pH on Removal
80
60

From the table it is clearly indicated that the activated

carbon which is formed at higher temperature viz.
around 450C and with maximum time of
carbonation and a sample to activating agent ratio of
0.50 has the best removal. Thus with the rise in
temperature up to 500C the performance of activated
carbon thus formed increases. The carbonization time
also follow a similar trend up to 100 minutes.

40
20
0
0

10

15

Chemcon 2013
66th Annual Session of Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
Hosted at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai 400 019
27-30 December 2013
The X axis shows the pH of the aqueous solution and
the Y axis represents the percentage removal of MCresol from the solution.

Where Cse is the M-Cresol concentration at any

instance of time and Cso is the initial concentration of
M-Cresol.

3.3 Kinetics of adsorption of M-Cresol by Charred

Potato Stem

4. Conclusion
A low cost adsorbent has been prepared from potato
stem, a farm waste. The activated carbon thus formed
is Charred Potato Stem (CPS). Under optimized
condition CPS shows a 73.16% removal of M-Cresol
from its aqueous solution. A 94.50% removal was
achieved when its adsorption was studied under
laboratory batch reactor. Thus it can be stated that
CPS having excellent M-Cresol removal potential
can be used industrially for treating industrial
effluents.

The kinetic study was carried out and it was

observed that the adsorption follows pseudo First
order kinetics with kinetics constant equal to 0.04768
gm/L.
The pseudo 1st order equation is as follows.
Cse = Cso [ 1 exp(- kt) ]

(1)

[6] S Dutta, A. Bhattacharya, A. Ganguly, S. Gupta,

S. Basu, Application of Response Surface
Methodology for preparation of low cost adsorbent
from citrus fruit peel and for removal of Methylene
Blue, Desalination 275 (2001) 26-36

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