Evaluación del potencial de adsorción de la mazorca de maíz y fibra de coco para la eliminación de cafeína presente en medio acuoso

Abstract

This study assessed the potential of coconut fiber and corn cob in the elimination of caffeine present in an aqueous medium. Proximal analysis, cellulose, lignin, extractives, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to determine the physicochemical characteristics of the materials. The trials were conducted using small particle sizes (125 µm-150 µm), median (300 µm-600 µm), and large (800 µm-2 mm), with a caffeine concentration of 30 mg/L. Maximum caffeine removal (96.4% and 58.6%) was obtained using the small particle, with a material concentration of 5 and 11 g/L, at a time of 30 and 180 min, for coconut fiber and corn cob, respectively. As for adsorption isotherms, it was determined that coconut fiber is better suited to the Langmuir model. In the case of the corn cob, the small and medium particles were coupled to the Langmuir model, while the large particle to the Freundlich model. On the other hand, it was determined that the two materials fit appropriately to the kinetic model of pseudo second order.