Characterisation and utilisation of a new activated carbon obtained from Moroccan olive wastes

A comparative study of the adsorption of some organic compounds (methylene blue, iodine, phenol, atrazine, diuron and sodium dodecysulphate (DSS)) was carried out using activated carbon obtained by the utilisation of Moroccan olive wastes and commercial carbon from wood, coal and black plant. This new carbon was prepared by physical activation in the presence of steam. Our results show that the prepared carbon performs very well; it has a specific surface determined by adsorption of nitrogen (N₂) and isotherm BET, of 1200 m²/g. The maximum capacities of its adsorption according to the Langmuir model are 1.26 mmol/g (403 mg/g) for methylene blue, 4.46 mmol/g (1131 mg/g) for iodine, 1.95 mmol/g for phenol, 1.56 mmol/g for atrazine, 1.98 mmol/g for diuron and 0.82 mol/g for DSS superior to those obtained with commercial carbon. Tests on the discolourisation of sugar syrup have shown that it is as satisfactory as the commercial carbon used by sugar mills in Morocco.