Production of modified sunflowers seed shells for the removal of bisphenol A

Abstract

In this present study, an abundant, available lignocellulosic biomass, sunflower seed shells, SSS, was used as a precursor to prepare an effective eco-adsorbent by treatment with H₂SO₄. A study of the surface characteristics of raw and acid-treated SSS (ACS) has shown that the addition of H₂SO₄ greatly affected the physicochemical properties of the obtained eco-adsorbent, improving the BET surface area from 6.106 to 27.145 m² g⁻¹ and surface oxygen-rich functional groups. Batch experiments were performed to assess the removal efficiency of a phenolic compound, bisphenol A (BPA), on the adsorbents. Several parameters were evaluated and are discussed (contact time, pollutant concentration, adsorbent dosage, and pH), determining that the adsorption efficiency of BPA onto SSS was notably improved, from 20.56% to 87.81% when a sulfuric acid solution was used. Different canonical and stochastic isotherm models were evaluated to predict the experimental behaviour. A dynamic study was performed based on the models of reaction kinetics and those of mass transfer. The results showed that the adsorption kinetics of BPA obey the fractal like-kinetic model of Hill for all experimental conditions. The equilibrium data are well suited to the Hill–Sips isotherm model with a determination coefficient >0.999. The kinetic modelling also indicates that the adsorption processes of BPA onto ACS are exothermic and proceed through a physical mechanism. A mass transfer study, using simplified models, proved that the process is controlled by intraparticle and film resistances to mass transfer of the BPA.