Agro-industrial waste are seen as potential precursors in the development of adsorbents for the removal of phenolic compounds,
which exhibit a harmful effect to human health due to their high toxicity. This work evaluated the use of coal prepared from coconut
tree agro-industrial waste, for the adsorption of phenol in aqueous solutions. Three coal samples were prepared as follows:
carbonized only (Cb), activated with synthetic air (Cair) and activated with CO2 (CCO2). Based on the results of characterization, it
was observed that these adsorbents are mesoporous, with a predominantly amorphous structure. The CCO2 demonstrated the highest
thermal stability. Based on pHPZC, it was found that after the activation process, the surface of the material became positively
charged at a higher pH range of the solution; therefore, favouring the adsorption of phenol. In the kinetic study the pseudo-nth
order model obtained the best adjustment to the experimental data. The intra-particle diffusion model indicated that the adsorption
processes are controlled by various steps. The experimental data of the equilibrium adsorption study were also evaluated; with no
significant difference being found between the models that were better adjusted (Fritz-Schlunder, Redlich-Peterson, Radke-
Prausnitz and Sips) according to the F-test at a 95% confidence level. The maximum adsorptive capacity for Cb, Cair and CCO2 were
of 32, 41 and 56 mg g-1, respectively. In this study, the coconut tree straw, an abundant agro-industrial residue that has not been
previously evaluated as a precursor for the preparation of coal was valued being used as an adsorbent in the removal of phenol.