Evaluation of a novel media Sucrose Activated Carbon for removal of methylene blue, nitrate and phosphate from solution and comparison with Granular Activated Carbon

The adsorptive capacity of a novel green media Sucrose Activated Carbon (SAC) was compared with the more traditional Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) used for water treatment which has certain disadvantages including high price, is coal based and has adverse affects on performance by variations in pH, temperature and flow rate. SAC is obtained from the hydrothermal carbonization of sucrose followed by pyrolysis at 900ºC. Preliminary tests indicate Iodine number for SAC is 1150 mg/g which is comparable to GAC in range of 500-1200 mg/g. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of SAC show spherical particles with average particle size in the range of 2-9 µm with smooth external surface. SAC also shows good adsorptive capacity for methylene blue, nitrate, and phosphate with adsorption capacities, 196.1 mg/g, 1.07 (mg/g(L/mg)^(1/n) and 1.71 mg/g, respectively. Thus, based on the initial studies, this media has potential to be a sustainable substitute for GAC.