Randomized trial demonstrates effective oxalic acid removal in advanced water treatment, suggesting innovative waste valorization.
Key Points
This work aims to valorize cork powder waste by converting it into activated carbons for water treatment applications.
Prepared activated carbons from cork waste via CO2 activation at varying temperatures (500–800 °C) and CO₂ percentages (30–70%) following a Box–Behnken design.
Characterized materials using nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
Conducted reusability tests after three cycles.
The optimal activated carbon produced at 800 °C for 3 h with 50% CO₂ showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 89 mg g⁻¹ (Langmuir isotherm).
The catalytic performance of the ACCK at 500 °C for 2 h with 30% CO₂ achieved 61.5% oxalic acid removal within 60 min.
Reusability tests indicated a slight performance drop (~19%) after three cycles.