Adsorption of phenol from wastewater using vegetal cords as a new adsorbent

The vegetable sponge of cylindrical loofa, a natural product which grows in the north of Algeria, was used for phenol removal from wastewater. Adsorption isotherm of phenol onto the prepared cords of loofa was determined by batch tests. The effects of various parameters such as contact time, initial phenol concentration, temperature, bleaching and granularity were investigated, at solution pH of 8.5 and agitation rate 150 rpm. The adsorption capacity was found to increase with increase in the five parameters studied. Equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Freundlich–Langmuir isotherms. The equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm. Various thermodynamic parameters such as equilibrium constant (k), Gibbs free energy changes (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH), and entropy change (ΔS) were evaluated. The results show that adsorption of phenol on loofa cords is an endothermic process and spontaneous in nature.