Caffeine removal using Elaeis guineensis activated carbon: adsorption and RSM studies.

The palm (Elaeis guineensis), known as dendê, is an important oleaginous Brazilian plant with a high performance of oil production. In this work, a 2 full experimental design was performed and the response surface method (RSM) was used to indicate the optimum parameter of caffeine adsorption on Elaeis guineensis endocarp activated carbon, since the endocarp is the main by-product from dendê oil production. It was set the adsorbent point of zero charge (pH), and the material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Surfactant degradation by a catechol-driven Fenton reaction.

The addition of 0.5mM catechol is shown to accelerate the degradation and mineralization of the anionic surfactant DowFax 2A1 (sodium dodecyldiphenyloxide disulfonate) under conventional Fenton reaction conditions (Fe(II) plus H(2)O(2) at pH 3). The catalytic effect causes a 3-fold increase in the initial rate (up to ca.