Surface modification of a granular activated carbon by citric acid for enhancement of copper adsorption

In this study, citric acid was used to modify a commercially available activated carbon to improve copper ion adsorption from aqueous solutions. The carbon was modified with 1.0 M citric acid, followed by an optional step of reaction with 1.0 M sodium hydroxide. It was found that the surface modification reduced the specific surface area by 34% and point of zero charge (pH_pzc) of the carbon by 0.5 units. Equilibrium results showed that citric acid modification increased the adsorption capacity to 14.92 mg Cu/g, which was 140% higher than the unmodified carbon. Higher initial solution pH resulted in higher copper adsorption. The chemical surface modification adversely affected the copper adsorption rate. Adsorption kinetic mechanisms were investigated with an intraparticle diffusion model. It was found that the modification did not change both external diffusion and intraparticle diffusion.     

The effects of picolinic acid and pH on the adsorption of Cu(II) by activated carbon fibers

The adsorption characteristics of Cu(II) on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) from simulated wastewater was investigated in the picolinic acid concentration range from 0.15 to 15 mM by varying pH from 2 to 8. When pH is below 4, the removal fraction of Cu(II) ions decreased with the decrease of pH. The removal fraction of Cu(II) ions is almost constant above pH 4. The removal efficiency of Cu(II) ions increased as the molar ratio of picolinic acid to Cu(II), specific surface area of ACFs and pH of the solution increased. In the case of [Pic]/[Cu(II)]=10, complete adsorption of Cu(II) was performed on ACF, even at pH 2.     

Evolution of BET internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermal oxidation

It is demonstrated that glassy carbon powder can be thermochemically activated. During activation, a film with open pores is created on the glassy carbon particles. This film has a large internal surface area, which is accessible to liquids and gases. A simple model for the evolution of the internal surface area in glassy carbon powder during thermochemical gas-phase oxidation is also presented and compared with experimental data. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with the model. We found that a sharp particle size distribution is desirable with regard to potential technical applications.     

Mechanisms of surfactant adsorption on non-polar, air-oxidized and ozone-treated carbon surfaces

Ozone treatment of fly ash carbon has recently been reported to inhibit the adsorption of commercial surfactants in concrete paste, thus mitigating the known negative effects of carbon on ash utilization. This paper examines the general mechanism of surfactant adsorption on carbon and its suppression by surface oxidation. Experimental results are presented for two carbon types (carbon black, fly ash carbon), both raw and surface oxidized (by ozone and molecular oxygen) and several commercial anionic and non-ionic surfactants (Darex II, SDS, Tergitol). The treated carbon surfaces were characterized with XPS, FT-IR, thermal desorption in N₂ and H₂/He, surface acidity, hygroscopic behavior, interfacial energy and its components through contact angle measurement involving standard liquid probes. Surface oxidation is found to decrease surfactant adsorption in each of the carbon/oxidant/surfactant systems examined, and its effect correlates with the amount of surface oxides by XPS. The combined results suggest that surfactant adsorption primarily occurs on non-polar carbon surface patches where it is driven by hydrophobic interactions. The main mechanism of oxidative suppression is the destruction of this non-polar surface, though micropore blockage and increased negative surface charge may also contribute for some systems.     

Effects of activated carbon surface chemistry and pore structure on the adsorption of organic contaminants from aqueous solution

The objective of this research was to develop activated carbon selection criteria that assure the effective removal of trace organic contaminants from aqueous solution and to base the selection criteria on physical and chemical adsorbent characteristics. To systematically evaluate pore structure and surface chemistry effects, a matrix of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with three activation levels and four surface chemistry levels was prepared and characterized. In addition, three granular activated carbons (GACs) were studied. Two common drinking water contaminants, relatively polar methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) and relatively nonpolar trichloroethene (TCE), served as adsorbate probes. TCE adsorbed primarily in micropores in the 7-10 Å width range while MTBE adsorbed primarily in micropores in the 8-11 Å width range. These results suggest that effective adsorbents should exhibit a large volume of micropores with widths that are about 1.3 to 1.8 times larger than the kinetic diameter of the target adsorbate. Hydrophobic adsorbents more effectively removed both TCE and MTBE from aqueous solution than hydrophilic adsorbents, a result that was explained by enhanced water adsorption on hydrophilic surfaces. To assure sufficient adsorbent hydrophobicity, the oxygen and nitrogen contents of an activated carbon should therefore sum to no more than about 2 to 3 mmol/g.     

Mercury (II) adsorption by activated carbon made from sago waste

The preparation of activated carbon (AC) from sago industry waste is a promising way to produce a useful adsorbent for Hg (II) removal, as well as dispose of sago industry waste. The AC was prepared using sago industry waste with H₂SO₄ and (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and physico-chemical properties of AC were investigated. Adsorptive removal of mercury (II) from aqueous solution onto AC prepared from sago industry waste has been studied under varying conditions of agitation time, metal ion concentration, adsorbent dose, particle size and pH to assess the kinetic and equilibrium parameters. Adsorption equilibrium was obtained in 105 min for 20 mg l⁻¹ and 120 min for 30, 40, and 50 mg l⁻¹ Hg (II) concentrations. The Langmuir and Freundlich equilibrium isotherm models were found to provide an excellent fitting of the adsorption data, with r² 0.9999 and 0.9839, respectively. The adsorption capacity of Hg (II) (Q_o) obtained from the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm model was found to be 55.6 mg g⁻¹ at pH 5.0 for the particle size range of 125-250 μm. The percent removal increased with an increase in pH from 2 to 10. This adsorbent was found to be effective and economically attractive.     

Surface graphitization of Furan-resin-derived carbon

Furan-resin-derived carbon generally produces a glass-like carbon having entangled graphene layers (graphite structure) after high temperature heat-treatments. However, Raman spectroscopy reveals that it produces well-graphitized thin skins on surfaces. The graphitization is promoted on the faces that are formed at lower heat-treatment temperatures. Fractured faces of specimens pre-heat-treated at 1000°C result in well-developed structures in graphitization after re-heat-treatment at 3000°C. It is considered that the surfaces, i.e. free faces, play an important role in the graphitization.     

Phosphoric acid activated carbon discs for methane adsorption

Phosphoric acid has been used as activating agent in the preparation of binderless activated carbon discs. The granular precursor was impregnated with different solutions of phosphoric acid, hot pressed in discs, heat treated under a flow of nitrogen and washed with distilled water to extract the excess acid. The role of the impregnation ratio and the temperature of conforming have been analysed. The discs have a bulk density higher than the granular activated carbon because there is a considerable reduction of the interparticle space, the contribution of non-microporous volume being small. The discs exhibit a high volume of microporosity accessible to both nitrogen and methane molecules. Best results (storage capacity of 131, v/v) were obtained when using an impregnation ratio X_P=0.35 g phosphorous/g precursor (maximum micropore volume and minimum interparticle space) and conforming at 100 °C (higher temperatures reduce the volume of micropores). Some discs were additionally activated under a flow of carbon dioxide, the maximum methane storage capacity (near 150, v/v) being obtained when burn-off is in the 10-40% range.     

Ligand adsorption on different activated carbon materials for catalyst anchorage

Adsorption of naphtoic acid was investigated as a initial stage for the preparation of catalysts by heterogenisation of metal complexes. Four granular activated carbons and a carbon cloth showing different physical and chemical properties were used as sorbents. Adsorption of naphtoic acid was accomplished by all materials, being clear that an oxygen-rich surface chemistry has a negative effect on the physical adsorption of this molecule. The naphtoic acid molecule accommodates on the surface of narrow micropores. After adsorption, the samples were subjected to conditions similar to those used in hydrogenation reactions in order to quantify the amount of naphtoic acid that leaches from the surface of the adsorbent. According to the purpose of this research, all the carbons retain enough naphtoic acid.     

Activated carbon/iron oxide magnetic composites for the adsorption of contaminants in water

In this work the adsorption features of activated carbon and the magnetic properties of iron oxides were combined in a composite to produce magnetic adsorbents. These magnetic particles can be used as adsorbent for a wide range of contaminants in water and can subsequently be removed from the medium by a simple magnetic procedure. Activated carbon/iron oxide magnetic composites were prepared with weight ratios of 2:1, 1.5:1 and 1:1 and characterized by powder XRD, TG, magnetization measurements, chemical analyses, TPR, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms, Mössbauer spectroscopy and SEM. The results suggest that the main magnetic phase present is maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) with small amounts of magnetite (Fe₃O₄). Magnetization enhancement can be produced by treatment with H₂ at 600 °C to reduce maghemite to magnetite. N₂ adsorption measurements showed that the presence of iron oxides did not significantly affect the surface area or the pore structure of the activated carbon. The adsorption isotherms of volatile organic compounds such as chloroform, phenol, chlorobenzene and drimaren red dye from aqueous solution onto the composites also showed that the presence of iron oxide did not affect the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon.     

Effects of carbon surface chemistry and solution pH on the adsorption of binary aromatic solutes

Adsorption of p-cresol, nitrobenzene and p-nitrophenol on treated and untreated carbons is investigated systematically. The effects of carbon surface chemistry and solution pH are studied and discussed. All adsorption experiments were carried out in pH-controlled solutions to examine the adsorption properties of the adsorption systems where the solutes are in molecular as well as ionic forms. Using the homogeneous Langmuir equation, the single solute parameters are determined. These parameters are then used to predict the binary solute adsorption isotherms and gain further insights into the adsorption process.     

Relationship between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) electron density of adsorption sites on carbon and the Freundlich exponent

This paper discusses the relationship between the electron density for various groups of phenolic compounds and their adsorption capacity on activated carbon. Chloro- and nitrophenols were used as test adsorbates, and as-received or HNO₃-modified granular activated carbon (GAC) samples were used as adsorbents. The isotherms for these systems were determined by the batch bottle technique. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) electron density at the adsorption site was estimated using the CAChE program, and a relationship between the Freundlich exponent 1/n and the HOMO density of the adsorbent was found by combining the experimental and computational results for the modified GAC. The Freundlich equation is described as: n_ads=k(C)^1/n, where n_ads, k, C, 1/n are the weight of adsorbate per weight of adsorbent (g g⁻¹), the Freundlich coefficient, the concentration of adsorbate in bulk solution (g l⁻¹), and the Freundlich exponent, respectively. The value of the Freundlich exponent 1/n for the systems investigated decreased linearly with an increase in ‘adsorbent’ HOMO density. The HOMO electron density of both the adsorbate and the adsorbent were the major factors determining the value of the Freundlich exponent, 1/n, for phenolic adsorbate-carbonaceous adsorbent systems.     

Exponential growth of electrochemical double layer capacitance in glassy carbon during thermal oxidation

The evolution of the electrochemical double layer capacitance of glassy carbon during thermochemical gas phase oxidation was studied with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Particular attention was paid to the initial oxidation stage, during which the capacitance grows exponentially. This stage could be experimentally assessed by lowering the reaction temperature and oxidant partial pressure. After a specific oxidation time the capacitance growth experiences a cross-over to a logistic growth.     

A new structural model of glass-like carbon

The results of an experimental study of X-ray diffraction, diamagnetic susceptibility, thermoelectricity and electron emission are presented for glass-like carbons. They lead to a new model of glass-like carbon structure and its modification due to heat treatment. At the initial stage of pyrolysis the stacks of narrow graphite-like sheets are formed being surrounded by a chain-like matrix. The main factor determining such system behavior under heat treatment is mutual parallelism of layer borders and adjacent chains. The most important feature of the model is the destruction of chain-like fragments with simultaneous formation of interstitials above 2000°C. The proposed model is consistent with many other properties of the material.