Please cite this article in press as: V.O. Njoku, et al., Preparation of mesoporous activated carbon from coconut frond for the adsorption of carbofuran insecticide, J. Anal. Appl. Pyrol. (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2014.08.020 ARTICLE IN PRESS G Model JAAP-3274; No. of Pages 9 Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis xxx (2014) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis journal h om epage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jaap Preparation of mesoporous activated carbon from coconut frond for the adsorption of carbofuran insecticide V.O. Njoku a,b , M. Azharul Islam a,c , M. Asif d , B.H. Hameed a,∗ a School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia b Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imo State University, P.M.B. 2000 Owerri, Nigeria c Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh d Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Saud University, PO Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia a r t i c l e i n f o Article history: Received 26 June 2014 Accepted 16 August 2014 Available online xxx Keywords: Carbofuran Coconut frond activated carbon H3PO4 Isotherm Kinetic a b s t r a c t This paper provides a scientific research about the novel activated carbon produced from coconut frond for the removal of toxic pesticide carbofuran. The coconut frond was chemically modified by H 3 PO 4 with an impregnation ratio of 1:1 and later activated at 500 ◦ C for 2 h. The produced coconut frond activated carbon (CFAC) were characterized by surface area measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The CFAC had a BET surface area of 483 m 2 /g and a cumulative pore volume of 0.21 cm 3 /g. Over 80% of 250 mg/L carbofuran was adsorbed within 4 h at 30 ◦ C and the adsorption was not dependent on pH due to the nonionic nature of carbofuran. The adsorption kinetic was best represented by the pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption equilibrium data fitted best to the nonlinear Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters obtained showed that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Adsorption mechanisms were analyzed using intraparticle diffusion and Boyd kinetic models, and film diffusion was confirmed as the rate-controlling step. These results indicate that CFAC is an efficient adsorbent for the removal of the nonionic pesticide, carbofuran from aqueous solution. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Malaysia is presently one of the world’s dominant exporters of palm oil, natural rubber and cocoa. However, rice, pepper, pineapple and tobacco are also adding extra value to the Malaysian agro-economy mainly the agro-food based industry. In order to meet the present demand of the growing population as well as realize the desired sound economy, the flow of agricultural production should be in a sustained manner by selecting high yield varieties of crops (HYV), improvised techniques and sound agricultural policies. As a result, Malaysian agriculture turned into a monoculture technology with HYVs which needed very effective plant protection strategies. The major challenge of monoculture is that if a crop is infested by a certain pest and disease, then it will spread in epidemic form. Besides, as a tropical country, the Malaysian crops are always susceptible to various fungi and insect invasion which hamper the desired crops production. Therefore, application of pesticides is adopted to ensure the control of ∗ Corresponding author: Tel.: +604 5996422; fax: +6045941013. E-mail address: chbassim@usm.my (B.H. Hameed). disease-borne pests in this regard. Almost all the pesticides used in Malaysia are applied in the rubber, oil palm, and rice sectors of agriculture [1]. However, indiscriminate and intensive use of pesticides may cause several environmental problems through contamination of surface and ground water. Besides, reckless dis- posal of empty containers and accidental or intentional discharge of pesticides may perhaps contaminate the adjacent water bodies. The toxic effect of these chemicals brings myriad sufferings to the non target population including aquatic organisms and humans. Carbofuran is an insecticide and nematicide used in the rice fields for the control of rodents and in the oil palm plantations for the control of the rhinoceros beetle in Malaysia [2]. It is moderately soluble in water, non-volatile and, based on its chemical properties, has high potential for groundwater contamination [3,4]. It is not persistent in soil but one study by Farahani et al. [2] stated that car- bofuran is more stable in ground water than in other types of water in Malaysia due to the low pH value. The mammalian toxicity of car- bofuran is high but bioaccumulation potential is less. Carbofuran is an endocrine disruptor and a probable reproduction/development intoxicant [3]. It is highly toxic to birds and honeybees whilst hav- ing a moderate to high toxicity to most aquatic organisms including sediment dwelling organisms. The acute toxicity (LC50) data on http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2014.08.020 0165-2370/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.