Removal of Mn from aqueous solutions, by activated carbon obtained from tire residuals

Potassium permanganate (KMnO4) is one of the toxic materials that it is essential to remove it from industrial waste waters. In this study, Mn ion was converted to the chelating agent. Tire residuals are used to produce activated carbon. Subsequently, the adsorption of Mn by activated carbon was investigated. The applied activated carbon was prepared by physical activation of the vapor water. Porosity analysis, SEM analysis, zeta potential measurement, adsorption kinetics, and isotherm models were applied to this study. The results showed that the maximum specific surface area of the obtained physical activated carbon was 550 m2/g. The maximum amount of adsorption was 120 mg/g. It was also shown that the adsorption process is more compatible with pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Isotherm models indicated that the adsorption of Mn on the physically produced activated carbon is more compatible with the Freundlich model. Thermodynamic parameters proved that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The overall results demonstrated that activated carbon, obtained from tire residuals, has a good efficacy for removing Mn ions.