ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Carbonization
of Furfural Residue for Adsorption of Cr(VI):
Adsorption and Kinetic Study
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1
School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, P. R. China
2
State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Pollution Control, CNPC Research Institute of Safety
and Environmental Technology, Beijing, China
Submission date: 2019-03-03
Final revision date: 2019-05-10
Acceptance date: 2019-05-12
Online publication date: 2020-01-08
Publication date: 2020-02-13
Corresponding author
Lei Zhang
Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(2):1671-1681
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ABSTRACT
The existence of heavy metals on the earth’s surface and disposal of industrial effluents to the
environment causes severe health issues that need to be dealt with. Adsorption of Cr(VI) was carefully
studied onto the furfural residue in a batch system. Furfural residue was treated in the microwaveassisted
HTC with water as an effective medium, and the subsequent solid material was further treated
by a low concentration of potassium hydroxide. Under optimum conditions (pH 2, 25ºC, and 2.5 g/L
adsorbent dosage), 91.72% Cr(VI) was removed at the initial concentration of 100 mg/L to achieve
equilibrium condition. The effects directed that a higher adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) (36.91 mg/g) was
reached by integrating microwave-assisted treatment at 200ºC and 0.05 N KOH concentration. Important
parameters like effect of pH, contact time, temperature and solution concentration were optimized to
investigate their effectiveness. The experimental adsorption data were best fit for the Freundlich model,
which instantly followed the pseudo second-order kinetics model. Investigation of thermodynamic
studies demonstrated negative values. The findings of the study suggested the modified hydrochar
generated from furfural residue could be considered as an alternative to high-cost adsorbents.