Optimization and Statistical Modeling of the Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon from Elephant Grass

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/fst.576

Keywords:

biomass, elephant grass, activated carbon, adsorbent, statistical modeling, optimization

Abstract

With high productivity and easy adaptation to diverse ecosystems, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum) shows strong potential for biomass production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and adsorptive capacity of activated carbon derived from elephant grass, applying the Plackett–Burman methodology to analyze the methylene blue adsorption test. The independent variables considered include temperature (20, 25, and 30 °C), carbon mass (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 g), solution pH (6.5, 7.5, and 8.5), adsorption time (7, 14, and 21 min), dye concentration (20, 60, and 100 mg/L⁻1), agitation speed (71, 119, and 167 rpm), and carbon particle diameter (0.45, 1.23, and 2 mm). The experimental responses for dye removal efficiency were all above 98.91%, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 9.99 mg/g, indicating its potential for dye removal. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the adsorption process, yielding a statistical model with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 99.4%. The yield of the adsorbent material was approximately 30% of the dry matter. These findings highlight the potential of elephant grass as a sustainable source for producing adsorbents.

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Author Biographies

Regiani Crystina Barbazelli, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Tocantins, Brazil.

Regiani Crystina Barbazelli -  PhD student in the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences - PPGCiamb - at the Federal University of Tocantins - UFT, Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering (2005) at the São Paulo State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho - UNESP - Faculty of Engineering of Ilha Solteira, Graduation in Full Degree in Mathematics (2002) at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS. She is currently a Professor in the bachelor's degree course in Electrical Engineering at the Federal University of Tocantins - UFT - Palmas Campus, on an exclusive dedication basis.

Marcelo Mendes Pedroza, Instituto Federal do Tocantins, Department of Electrical Engineering, Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil.

Marcelo Mendes Pedroza - Degree in Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Paraíba (1997), Master in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Paraíba (2000) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (2011). I am currently Professor at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Tocantins (IFTO), Campus Palmas. I have experience in Sanitary Engineering, with emphasis on Environmental Sanitation. Acting mainly on the following topics: Solid waste utilization, waste pyrolysis, water and wastewater treatment, experimental planning with process optimization and chemical reactors.

Daniel Assumpção Bertuol, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Department of Chemical Engineering, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Daniel Assumpção Bertuol - Graduated in Chemical Engineering from FURG, master's and doctorate in Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering - PPGE3M - UFRGS. Area of concentration: Materials Science and Technology. During her doctorate, she did a sandwich internship at the Fraunhofer Institute IPA - Stuttgart - Germany. Post-Doctorate at the Open University - United Kingdom. He is currently a professor of the Chemical Engineering course and the Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering at the Federal University of Santa Maria- UFSM. Coordinator of the Laboratory of Environmental Processes (LAPAM), where he works in the provision of services to the productive sector. He is a reviewer for different national and international journals. He has experience in the area of Unit Operations and Materials.He works in the area of development of recycling and recovery processes for solid waste (E-waste, biomass, industrial solid waste), with emphasis on the application of leaching techniques, liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption, pyrolysis, mechanical processing, nanofibers and material characterization (SEM-EDS; FRX, DRX, DSC, TGA, PY/EGA/GC-MS).

Magale Karine Diel Rambo, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Tocantins, Brazil.

Magale Karine Diel Rambo - Graduated in Chemistry from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2007), Master's degree in Chemistry from the Federal University of Santa Maria (2009) and PhD in Chemistry from the State University of Campinas (2013). He did an internship at the Carbolea group at the University of Limerick (UL), Ireland, participating in the DIBANET project (www.dibanet.org) between the European Community and Latin America. She is currently a productivity researcher at the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT) and Professor of the Environmental Engineering Course and the Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences at UFT. He has experience in the area of Analytical Chemistry, with an emphasis on Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Biofuels, Biorefineries and Chemometrics.

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Published

2026-02-18

How to Cite

Barbazelli, R. C., Pedroza, M. M., Bertuol, D. A., & Rambo, M. K. D. (2026). Optimization and Statistical Modeling of the Adsorptive Capacity of Activated Carbon from Elephant Grass. Food Science and Technology, 46. https://doi.org/10.5327/fst.576

Issue

Vol. 46 (2026)

Section

Original Articles