Simultaneous mitigation of p- cresol and ammonium using activated carbon from avocado seed

Avocado seed was used as a precursor to prepare an activated carbon (AAC-MA) via physiochemical activation with methanesulfonic acid. The AAC-MA was systematically tested in batch systems for the removal of p-cresol (single-solute) and p-cresol and ammonium (binary solute). It was found that the kinetic data of p-cresol adsorption conformed to a pseudo-second-order model suggesting a predominantly chemisorption process. Additionally, the equilibrium data of p-cresol adsorption in a single solute system were found to follow Redlich-Peterson isotherm. Data analysis of the binary solute studies indicated that extended Langmuir isotherm was the most suitable to describe adsorption of p-cresol and ammonium on AAC-MA. It is also observed that the presence of ammonium did not affect adsorption of p-cresol. On the other hand, presence of p-cresol negatively influenced adsorption of ammonium. Our research suggests that AAC-MA can potentially serve as a waste management tool for mitigation of ammonium and p-cresol from aqueous systems.