Breakthrough curves of oil adsorption on novel amorphous carbon thin film

A novel amorphous carbon thin film (ACTF) was prepared by hydrolyzing wood sawdust and delignificating the residue to obtain cellulose mass that was subjected to react with cobalt silicate nanoparticle as a catalyst under the influence of sudden concentrated sulfuric acid addition at 23 °C. The novel ACTF was obtained in the form of thin films like graphene sheets having winding surface. The prepared ACTF was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The adsorption capacity of ACTF to remove oil from synthetic produced water was evaluated using the incorporation of Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models. The performance study is described through the breakthrough curves concept under relevant operating conditions such as column bed heights (3.8, 5 and 11 mm) and flow rate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mL.min⁻¹). It was found that the oil uptake mechanism is favoring higher bed height. Also, the highest bed capacity of 700 mg oil/g ACTF was achieved at 5 mm bed height, and 0.5 mL.min⁻¹ flow rate. The results of breakthrough curve for oil adsorption was best described using the Yoon–Nelson model. Finally, the results illustrate that ACTF could be utilized effectively for oil removal from synthetic produced water in a fixed-bed column system.