Optimization of preparation conditions for activated carbon from banana pseudo-stem using response surface methodology on removal of color and COD from landfill leachate

•High quality activated carbon can be produced from banana pseudo-stem.•Simple and fast technique preparation of activated carbon has been employed.•Preparation variables are optimized by response surface methodology (RSM).•Color and COD adsorptive removal by prepared AC are in the same manner.

This study determined the optimum conditions for preparation and adsorptive treatment of landfill leachate from banana pseudo-stem based activated carbon. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken was applied to optimize the combination effect of three important reaction variables, i.e. activation temperature (°C), activation time and impregnation ratio (IR). The reaction was performed via a single step activation with ZnCl2 in a closed activation system. A series of 17 individual experiments were conducted and the results showed that the RSM based on BBD is very applicable for adsorptive removal of pollutants from landfill leachate treatment. The optimum conditions obtained by Design of Experiments (DOE) was at 761 °C activation temperature, 87 min activation time and 4.5 g/g impregnation ratio with product yield (27%), iodine number (1101 mg/g), color removal (91.2%) and COD removal (83.0%).

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