Bioadsorbent Hura Crepitans for the removal of phenol from solution

The use of Hura crepitans (sandbox tree) seed as a biomass adsorbent was studied for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions before extraction (HC) and after extraction (EHC) with hexane and methanol. The surface chemistry of HC and EHC was characterized by using the Boehm titration and pH drift while the removal of phenol from solution was monitored by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Decrease in the pH of solutions led to a significant increase in the adsorption capacity of HC and EHC. The linear regression of the experimental data showed that the Freundlich model fitted well with the values of adsorption capacity equal to 121 mmol/g for HC and 85 mmol/g for EHC, and the pseudosecond order kinetic model best described the adsorption process for HC and EHC. The experimental data indicated that the seed of Hura crepitans could be effectively used as an adsorbent for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions