Souad  Najar-Souissi, Wafa  Saadi, Manel  Zarroug, Abdelmottaleb  Ouederni, 
    Pomegranate Peels Activated Carbon by Phosphoric Acid Activation: Preparation,
Characterization and Evaluation of Adsorptive Properties,
    Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences,
    Volume 14,Issue 18,
    2019,
    Pages 6731-6741,
    ISSN 1816-949x,
    jeasci.2019.6731.6741,
    (https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2019.6731.6741)
    Abstract: Pomegranate peels, a by-product of agriculture are transformed by chemical activation with
phosphoric acid into activated carbon. The raw material is impregnated with a H<sub>3</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> solution with different 
ratios and impregnation time. The impregnated precursor is activated at different temperatures and times. The
specific surface area was determined for all samples. The optimum activated carbon obtained is mainly
microporous. Its BET specific surface area is approximately 1600 m<sup>2</sup>/g and its pore volume is 1.118 cm<sup>3</sup>/g which
about 90% is micropores. The average pore diameter is about 3 nm. Boehm titration and IR spectroscopy show
the presence of oxygen functions on the surface, essentially acidic. The adsorbent capacity of this carbon is
tested using three model molecules phenol, nitrophenol and methylene blue. The adsorption isotherms of the
three molecules follow well the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities obtained are 119, 286 and
588 mg/g for phenol, nitrophenol and methylene blue, respectively. The optimum carbon, thus, obtained has
interesting characteristics comparable to others carbons derived from lignocellulosics materials and commercial
activated carbons. It can serve as a very good adsorbent in the aqueous phase, especially, for the removal of
cationic dyes.
    Keywords: Pomegranate peels;activated carbon;process optimization;phosphoric acid;characterization;adsorption