Argan shell as biosorbent for the treatment of colored water: Characterization and application to yellow-orange

Argan, the fruit of the genus Argania spinosa. Argania Spinosa is an endemic tree species native exclusively to northern Africa. The cultivation principally seeks to obtain a highly valued oil. The manufacturing of argan oil yields a substantial quantity of biomass, comprising argan shells and various wastes. In our research, we utilized argan residues as feedstock to generate activated carbon using a thermal treatment procedure, encompassing a carbonization phase succeeded by activation at appropriate temperatures. The aim was to assess the efficacy of this activated carbon in eliminating a yellow-orange added dye from an aqueous solution. To characterize the produced charcoal, a series of analyses were performed, these include Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD)., differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA), and the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) gas adsorption method. Measurements were conducted on the iodine index, methylene blue, moisture and ash content, pHPZC and zeta potential to attain the same purpose. This provided a precise understanding of the material examined, as well as the possibility of describing the properties of the adsorbent analyzed or the conclusions obtained. FTIR revealed a complete absence of all the functions detected in the adsorbent spectra, attesting to the high quality of the carbon. In addition, the SEM images illustrate the impressive modification and transformation of the material's surface. The EDX results highlight the dominant presence of carbon in the composition of the materials, reaching 95.75% of atoms, which confers great performance on the materials. The BET results also show an increase in the specific surface area after activation of the material. In addition, the adsorption test for yellow-orange dye on activated carbon showed significant elimination of 96%, validating the effectiveness of the materials studied for water purification.