A process aimed at the recovery of terbium from liquid solutions using activated carbon (AC) derived from spent coffee grounds (SCG) was assessed. AC was obtained using the hydro-alcoholic treatment of SCG, followed by the physical activation of the as-obtained product. The AC exhibited both microporous and mesoporous structures, which were shown by the corresponding nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. In addition, a certain graphitic character was found in the micro-Raman measurements. By use of this AC, terbium adsorption was investigated, and the influence of solution pH, temperature, and the adsorbent amount on terbium uptake was tested. In addition, adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies were also evaluated. The best fit was found for the type-1 Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model. Thermodynamic studies revealed that terbium adsorption is an endothermic and spontaneous process. Terbium desorption by the use of acidic solutions was also investigated. This work demonstrated that it is possible to recover this valuable metal from liquid solution using the present AC.

The preparation of a low-cost cellulose-based bioadsorbent from cellulosic material extracted from rose stems (CRS) was carried out; rose stems are considered agricultural waste. After the required pretreatment of this waste and further treatment with an acidic mixture of acetic and nitric acids, the CRS product was produced. The resulting bioadsorbent was characterized by several techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, which revealed diffraction maxima related to the cellulose structure, whose calculated crystallinity index (CrI) was 75%. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) showed signs of acetylation of the sample. The thermal properties of the solid were also evaluated through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed cellulose fibers before and after the adsorption process, and some particles with irregular shapes were also observed. The CRS bioadsorbent was used for the effective adsorption of valuable Tb(III) from an aqueous solution. The adsorption data showed a good fit to the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models; however, chemisorption was not ruled out. Finally, desorption experiments revealed the recovery of terbium ions with an efficiency of 97% from the terbium-loaded bioadsorbent.