ALMOND SHELL CARBON AS AN ADSORBENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON ADSORPTION OF DIBASIC ACIDS

Abstract

The development of sustainable, low cost adsorbents from agricultural waste has emerged as a key strategy in wastewater treatment. Almond shell carbon (ASC), derived from lignocellulosic biomass, shows potential as an efficient adsorbent due to its porosity, high carbon content, and surface functional groups. This study investigates the adsorption behaviour of four common dibasic acids—oxalic acid, malonic succinic and glutaric acid—onto ASC and compares its performance with commercial wood-based activated carbon. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to examine the effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial concentration. Adsorption isotherms were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results demonstrated that ASC exhibits strong adsorption capacity for acids, outperforming wood carbon in several parameters. The study highlights almond shell carbon as a promising eco-friendly alternative for organic acid removal in wastewater treatment applications.