Environ . Sci . 5 ( 2 ) ( 2014 ) 476-483 Slimani

This work aims to prepare adsorbents based on low cost cattle bones. The bones have sustained a carbonization in inert atmosphere at two different temperatures 400°C and 600 °C in a traditional furnace, followed by activation by hydrochloric acid. The charcoals obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (EDX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller technique (BET). The results showed that the specific surface area of these coals reached 83 m 2 /g, in addition to a considerable mesoporous texture that has been developed, the dominance of calcium and phosphorus detected by EDX and the presence of functional groups of carbonates and hydroxyl, with a dominance of phosphate ions (PO4 3) shown by FT-IR. The previous results have clearly showed that the coals can be used for the adsorption of various organic pollutants that derive from industrial discharges.