Adsorption of β-carotene onto mesoporous carbon coated monolith in isopropyl alcohol and n-hexane solution: equilibrium and thermodynamic study

Mesoporous carbon coated monolith prepared from furfuryl alcohol by the dip-coating method was utilized as an adsorbent for adsorption of β-carotene from crude palm oil. The effect of temperature on the adsorption was investigated by batch adsorption experiments. The adsorption quantity increased with increasing temperature. The adsorption was performed using two different solvents, isopropyl alcohol and n-hexane. The maximum adsorption capacity of β-carotene was 62.118 mg/g for isopropyl alcohol at 50 °C. The experimental results were fitted using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The Langmuir described the adsorption process better. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change suggested that the adsorption was a spontaneous process. The positive values of heat of enthalpy and entropy change confirmed the endothermic nature of the adsorption.