Adsorption of Triton X-100 in aqueous solution on activated carbon obtained from waste tires for wastewater decontamination

Adsorption of Triton X-100 non-ionic surfactant in aqueous solution on activated carbon was performed. The activated carbon was prepared from waste tires by chemical impregnation at 10, 20, 30, and 40% w·w⁻¹ of potassium hydroxide. Two carbonization temperatures, 700 and 900° C were used with a heating rate of 2 °C·min⁻¹ and a 3 h retention time in N₂ flow of 100 mL·min⁻¹. The carbons obtained were characterized by N₂ adsorption at − 196 °C, scanning electron microscopy, infrared microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and titration of functional groups. In adsorption studies of Triton X-100, the amount of adsorbed Triton X-100 was characterized by High-performance Liquid Chromatography and Langmuir, Freundlich, Toth, and Redlich-Peterson models were evaluated. The solids showed an area between 42 and 528 m²·g⁻¹ with characteristic isotherms of micro-mesoporous solids, and a pore distribution of 7.0 to 8.0 Å by Dubinin-Astakov with a chemical surface having acid and basic groups. The carbon that adsorbed the most Triton X-100 was QK409 with Q₀ 220 mg·g⁻¹.