Application of Activated Carbon from Cabuya Negra (Agave americana L.) for Diuron Adsorption in Aqueous Solutions: A Sustainable Alternative for Wastewater Treatment

The Cabuya Negra (Agave americana L.) is widely distributed in South America and is considered a perennial plant due to its adaptability to dry and arid climates. It grows and develops extensively, mainly being used to delineate land boundaries. This study aimed to repurpose this biomass through the production of activated carbon as an adsorbent material for the removal of Diuron from aqueous solutions. The activated carbon was found to contain functional groups such as methyl, carbonyl, and hydroxyl, and the presence of phosphorus bonds was also observed, confirming the effectiveness of the chemical activation process using phosphoric acid. EDS analysis revealed that the activated carbon was primarily composed of carbon (85.68%), with a low ash content (11.8%), indicating that a significant portion of the organic material was consumed during the pyrolysis process. Two Diuron solutions (100 mL and 50 mL) were prepared, to which 0.25 g and 0.5 g of activated carbon were added. The adsorbent demonstrated high efficiency in Diuron removal, with the best treatment achieving 63.39% removal using 0.25 g of activated carbon with 100 mL of Diuron solution. These findings demonstrate that the activated carbon obtained is a viable alternative for the removal of this herbicide from aqueous solutions.