This work describes the adsorption of Pb²⁺ in aqueous solution onto an activated carbon (AC) produced from winemaking waste (cluster stalks). After characterizing the AC using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and micro-Raman spectroscopy, the influence of different physico-chemical factors (stirring rate, temperature, pH, adsorbent concentration, etc.) on its capacity to adsorb Pb²⁺ was examined. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption of the Pb²⁺ follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and fits the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AC was 58 mg/g at 288 K temperature and pH of 4. In conclusion, ACs made from waste cluster stalks could be successfully used to remove Pb²⁺ from polluted water.

This work reports the preparation of activated carbons via the hydrothermal treatment at 523 K/30 bar of two common winemaking wastes: bagasse and cluster stalks. The hydrothermal carbons produced by the above treatment were turned into activated carbons via their exposure to KOH and carbonization at 1073 K. These were then subjected to Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy examination, and the determination of their Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area. The ability of the activated carbons to adsorb methylene blue in aqueous solution was then examined, determining the influence of time, methylene blue concentration, and temperature. Equilibrium conditions were reached for reaction times between 180 and 240 min at pH 7. The adsorption isotherms were found to better fit the Langmuir than the Freundlich model, and the adsorption kinetics fitted a pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption at 303 K was 714–847 mg g⁻¹. Thermodynamic studies revealed the adsorption of methylene blue to be spontaneous and exothermic. These results show that high-quality activated carbons can be produced from winemaking waste.

This paper describes the physicochemical study of the adsorption of dysprosium (Dy³⁺) in aqueous solution onto two types of activated carbons synthesized from spent coffee ground. Potassium hydroxide (KOH)-activated carbon is a microporous material with a specific Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of 2330 m²·g⁻¹ and pores with a diameter of 3.2 nm. Carbon activated with water vapor and N₂ is a solid mesoporous, with pores of 5.7 nm in diameter and a specific surface of 982 m²·g⁻¹. A significant dependence of the adsorption capacity on the solution pH was found, but it does not significantly depend on the dysprosium concentration nor on the temperature. A maximum adsorption capacity of 31.26 mg·g⁻¹ and 33.52 mg·g⁻¹ for the chemically and physically activated carbons, respectively, were found. In both cases, the results obtained from adsorption isotherms and kinetic study were better a fit to the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. In addition, thermodynamic results indicate that dysprosium adsorption onto both activated carbons is an exothermic, spontaneous, and favorable process.

A valorization process of spent coffee grounds (SCG) was studied. Thus, a two-stage process, the first stage of polyphenols extraction and synthesis of a carbonaceous precursor and a subsequent stage of obtaining activated carbon (AC) by means of a carbonization process from the precursor of the previous stage, was performed. The extraction was carried out with a hydro-alcoholic solution in a pressure reactor, modifying time, temperature and different mixtures EtOH:H₂O. To optimize the polyphenols extraction, a two-level factorial experimental design with three replicates at the central point was used. The best results were obtained by using a temperature of 80 °C during 30 min with a mixture of EtOH:H₂O 50:50 (v/v). Caffeine and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant compounds in the analysed extracts, ranging from 0.09 to 4.8 mg∙g⁻¹ and 0.06 to 9.7 mg∙g⁻¹, respectively. Similarly, an experimental design was realized in order to analyze the influence of different variables in the AC obtained process (reaction time, temperature and KOH:precursor ratio). The best results were 1 h, 850 °C, and a mixture of 2.5:1. The obtained activated carbons exhibit a great specific surface (between 1600 m²∙g⁻¹ and 2330 m²∙g⁻¹) with a microporous surface. Finally, the adsorption capacity of the activated carbons was evaluated by methylene blue adsorption.