Preparation of highly porous carbon from fir wood by KOH etching and CO2 gasification for adsorption of dyes and phenols from water

Fir wood was first carbonized for 1.5 h at 450 degrees C, then soaked in a KOH solution KOH/char ratio of 1, and last activated for 1 h at 780 degrees C. During the last hour CO2 was poured in for further activation for 0, 15, 30, and 60 min, respectively. Carbonaceous adsorbents with controllable surface area and pore structure were chemically activated from carbonized fir wood (i.e., char) by KOH etching and CO2 gasification. The pore properties, including the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter, of these activated carbons were first characterized by the t-plot method based on N2 adsorption isotherms. Fir-wood carbon activated with CO2 gasification from 0 to 60 min exhibited a BET surface area ranging from 1371 to 2821 m2 g(-1), with a pore volume significantly increased from 0.81 to 1.73 m2 g(-1). Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) results showed that the surfaces of honeycombed holes in these carbons were significantly different from those of carbons without CO2 gasification. The adsorption of methylene blue, basic brown 1, acid blue 74, p-nitrophenol, p-chlorophenol, p-cresol, and phenol from water on all the carbons studied was examined to check their chemical characteristics. Adsorption kinetics was in agreement with the Elovich equation, and all equilibrium isotherms were in agreement with the Langmuir equation. These results were used to compare the Elovich parameter (1/b) and the adsorption quantity of the unit area (q(mon)/Sp) of activated carbons with different CO2 gasification durations. This work facilitated the preparation of activated carbon by effectively controlling pore structures and the adsorption performance of the activated carbon on adsorbates of different molecular forms.     

Structural and adsorptive properties of activated carbons prepared by carbonization and activation of resins

Four activated carbons (S1-S4) possessing different structural characteristics were prepared by carbonization of commercial resins (used for ion exchange) and subsequent activation. Their textural parameters were determined on the basis of nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77.4 K, analyzed by applying several local and overall adsorption isotherm equations. The nature of carbon surface functionalities was analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The GC and solid-phase extraction (SPE) techniques were applied to study the influence of the texture of carbonaceous materials on their adsorptive properties. The adsorption efficiency of synthesized carbons with respect to alkylhalides used as probe compounds in the GC measurements varied over a range from 28% (C(2)H(3)Cl(3)/S2) to 85% (CHBr(3)/S1) depending on the type of adsorbates and adsorbents. The concentrating efficiency of these carbons in SPE of explosive materials changed over a larger range from 12% (trinitroglycerin/S4) and 13% (trinitrotoluene/S2) up to 100% (octogen/S1). Active carbon prepared using Zerolite 225x8 as a precursor demonstrated better results than other carbons in two types of adsorption with average values of the efficiency of 75.4% for explosives and 60.8% for alkylhalides.     

Empirical Relationships Describing Energetics of Adsorption at Low Coverages on Microporous Carbons

The fundamental empirical relationships that correlate the adsorption energy with physicochemical parameters of adsorbates are discussed. Based on the experimental data of the adsorption enthalpy of different organic adsorbates on microporous activated carbons some new correlations between adsorption enthalpy and entropy at zero surface coverage and physicochemical parameters of adsorbed molecules are proposed. It is shown that they can be applied for the calculation of carbon porosity. The influence of carbon surface oxidation on its energetic heterogeneity is also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Adsorption of volatile organic compounds onto carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, and high-surface-area graphites

The adsorption of different alkanes (linear and cyclic), aromatics, and chlorohydrocarbons onto different nonmicroporous carbons--multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and high-surface-area graphites (HSAGs)--is studied in this work by inverse gas chromatography (IGC). Capacity of adsorption was derived from the isotherms of adsorption, whereas thermodynamic properties (enthalpy of adsorption, surface free energy characteristics) have been determined from chromatographic retention data. HSAGs present the highest adsorption capacity, followed by CNTs and CNFs (although CNTs present an intermediate surface area between the two HSAG studied). Among the different adsorbates tested, benzene exhibits the highest adsorption capacity, and the same trend is observed in the enthalpy of adsorption. From surface free energy data, enthalpies of adsorption of polar compounds were divided into dispersive and specific contributions. The interactions of cyclic (benzene and cyclohexane) and chlorinated compounds (trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and chloroform) with the surfaces are mainly dispersive over all the carbons tested, CNTs being the material with the highest dispersive contribution, as was deduced also from the entropy parameter. Adsorption parameters were correlated with morphological and chemical properties of the materials.     

Adsorption energy distribution model for VOCs onto activated carbons

An adsorption isotherm model was proposed for two types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on a heterogeneous carbon surface. The Langmuir isotherm was used as a local isotherm for describing heterogeneous surfaces to obtain the adsorption energy distribution. The adsorption temperature studied ranged from 30 to 50 degrees C, and the pressure of VOCs varied from 0 to 0.35 atm. The present model differed from previous studies in assuming that the pre-exponential factor was not to be a constant. The pre-exponential factors were determined directly from the experimental data, and the result empirically showed that the pre-exponential factor was correlated with the adsorption energy by a simple exponential function. We found that both adsorption energy distributions of two VOCs were essentially step functions over the restricted pressure range, indicating adsorbates on the carbon surface with its own uniform distribution. By incorporation of the energy distribution and the relationship between the pre-exponential factor and the adsorption energy, the adsorption isotherms for the two VOCs on the carbons can be well predicted.     

Correlation and Calculation of Multicomponent Adsorption Equilibria Data Using a Generalized Adsorption Isotherm

Enhanced by the need for reliable and accurate data of multicomponent gas adsorption equilibria on porous solids like activated carbons or zeolites, a new method to measure and correlate coadsorption equilibria has been developed. This method is a combination of gravimetric or volumetric measurements of the total load of pure or multicomponent adsorbates (Staudt, 1994; Gregg and Sing, 1982) and a correlation and calculation procedure using a new adsorption isotherm (AI) (Keller, 1990). This AI is thermodynamically consistent and describes adsorbates with fractal dimension for single- or multicomponent systems and load dependent adsorption energies. This method allows calculation of partial loads of multicomponent coadsorption equilibria from pure component data and the total loads of the mixture adsorption equilibria. This will be demonstrated for binary and ternary adsorption equilibria of CH₄, C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ on activated carbon (Reich et al., 1980).     

Adsorption and desorption kinetics of benzene derivatives on mesoporous carbons

Adsorption and desorption of benzoic and salicylic acids and phenol from a series of synthesized mesoporous carbons is measured and analyzed. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms are best described by the Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm. Intraparticle diffusion and McKay’s pore diffusion models, as well as mixed 1,2-order (MOE), integrated Langmuir kinetic equation (IKL), Langmuir–Freundlich kinetic equation and recently derived fractal-like MOE (f-MOE) and IKL models were compared and used to analyze adsorption kinetic data. New generalization of Langmuir kinetics (gIKL), MOE and f-MOE were used to describe desorption kinetics. Analysis of adsorption and desorption half-times shows simple relation to the size of carbon pores.     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Adsorption of VB12 onto Mesoporous Carbon Coated with PMMA

Ordered mesoporous carbons CMK-3, CMK-1 coated with poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)(CMK-3- PMMA and CMK-1-PMMA) and pristine mesoporous carbons CMK-3, CMK-1 were employed to adsorb vitamin B12(VB12) from water solution. Adsorption isotherm and kinetics of adsorption were investigated via batch experi- ments. It was found that the adsorption capacity of VB12 at 30, 40 and 50 °C can reach 688.2, 572.4 and 428.7 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption isotherm can be described by Langmuir model. The pseudo first- and second-order kinetic models were employed to fit the dynamic adsorption. It was found that the dynamic adsorption follows the pseudo second-order model. The thermodynamic equilibrium coefficients obtained at different temperatures were used to evaluate the thermodynamic constants ΔG0, ΔH0 and ΔS0. The negative value of Gibbs free energy, ΔG0 indicates that the adsorption occurred via a spontaneous process. The increase in the value of –ΔG0 with increasing temperature indicates that higher temperatures were favourable to the sorption process. The enthalpy values of ΔH040 kJ/mol(66.36 kJ/mol and 56.43 kJ/mol) for CMK-3-PMMA and CMK-1-PMMA confirm that chemisorption were involved in the adsorption process. This is consistent with the IR spectra and is another evidence for the formation of hydrogen bond between PMMA in the pore of CMK-3 and VB12.     

Comparisons of porous and adsorption properties of carbons activated by steam and KOH

In this work, fir woods and pistachio shells were used as source materials to prepare porous carbons, which were activated by physical (steam) and chemical (KOH) methods. Pore properties of these activated carbons including the BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and pore diameter were first characterized by a t-plot method based on N(2) adsorption isotherms. Highly porous activated carbons with BET surface area up to 1009-1096 m(2)/g were obtained. The steam and KOH activation methods produced carbons with mesopore content in the range 9-15 and 33-49%, respectively. The adsorption equilibria and kinetics of tannic acid, methylene blue, 4-chlorophenol, and phenol from water on such carbons at 30 degrees C were then investigated to check their chemical characteristics. The Freundlich equation gave a better fit to all adsorption isotherms than the Langmuir equation. On the other hand, the intraparticle diffusion model could best follow all adsorption processes. In comparison with KOH-activated carbons, it was shown that the rate of external surface adsorption with steam-activated carbons was significantly higher but the rate of intraparticle diffusion was much lower.     

Molecular insight into the high selectivity of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Combining experimental knowledge with molecular simulations, we investigated the adsorption and separation properties of double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) against flue/synthetic gas mixture components (e.g. CO(2), CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) at 300 K. Except molecular H(2), all studied nonpolar adsorbates assemble into single-file chain structures inside DWNTs at operating pressures below 1 MPa. Molecular wires of adsorbed molecules are stabilized by the strong solid-fluid potential generated from the cylindrical carbon walls. CO(2) assembly is formed at very low operating pressures in comparison to all other studied nonpolar adsorbates. The adsorption lock-and-key mechanism results from perfect fitting of rod-shaped CO(2) molecules into the cylindrical carbon pores. The enthalpy of CO(2) adsorption in DWNTs is very high and reaches 50 kJ mol(-1) at 300 K and low pore concentrations. In contrast, adsorption enthalpy at zero coverage is significantly lower for all other studied nonpolar adsorbates, for instance: 35 kJ mol(-1) for CH(4), and 14 kJ mol(-1) for H(2). Applying the ideal adsorption solution theory, we predicted that the internal pores of DWNTs have unusual ability to differentiate CO(2) molecules from other flue/synthetic gas mixture components (e.g. CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) at ambient operating conditions. Computed equilibrium selectivity for equimolar CO(2)-X binary mixtures (where X: CO, N(2), H(2), O(2), and CH(4)) is very high at low mixture pressures. With an increase in binary mixture pressure, we predicted a decrease in equilibrium separation factor because of the competitive adsorption of the X binary mixture component. We showed that at 300 K and equimolar mixture pressures up to 1 MPa, the CO(2)-X equilibrium separation factor is higher than 10 for all studied binary mixtures, indicating strong preference for CO(2) adsorption. The overall selective properties of DWNTs seem to be superior, which may be beneficial for potential industrial applications of these novel carbon nanostructures.     

DFT-based prediction of high-pressure H2 adsorption on porous carbons at ambient temperatures from low-pressure adsorption data measured at 77 K

Hydrogen adsorption isotherms were measured both at cryogenic temperatures below 1 atm and at ambient temperature at high pressures, up to 90 atm, on selected porous carbons with various pore structures. The nonlocal density functional theory (NLDFT) model was used to calculate the pore size distributions (PSDs) of the carbons, from H2 adsorption isotherms measured at 77 K, and then to predict H2 adsorption on these carbons at 87 and 298 K. An excellent agreement between the predicted and measured data was obtained. Prior to analyzing the porous carbons, the solid-fluid interaction parameters used in the NLDFT model were derived from H2 adsorption data measured at 77 K on nonporous carbon black. The results show that the NLDFT model with appropriate parameters may be a useful tool for optimizing carbon pore structures and designing adsorption systems for hydrogen storage applications.     

Mesopore control of high surface area NaOH-activated carbon

Activated carbon with BET surface areas in a narrow range from 2318 to 2474 m2/g was made by soaking the char made from corncob in a concentrated NaOH solution at NaOH/char ratios from 3 to 6; the mesopore volumes of the activated carbon were significantly changed from 21 to 58%. The relationships between pore properties (Sp, Vpore, Vmicro/Vpore, Dp) and NaOH dosage were investigated. Comparisons between the methods of NaOH and KOH activation revealed that NaOH activation can suitably control the mesopore specific volume of the activated carbon. Elemental analysis revealed that the H/C and O/C values of the activated carbons of NaOH/char ratios from 3 to 6 were significantly lower. SEM observation of surface hole variation of the activated carbon ascertained that the reaction process was inner pore etching. Based on the above three measurements and experimental investigations, the assumption made by previous researchers, namely that NaOH and KOH produce similar results, was challenged. Furthermore, the adsorption kinetics was used to investigate the adsorption rate of an Elovich equation to determine the relationships between the adsorption behavior on larger molecules (dyes) and smaller molecules (phenols) and the pore structure of the activated carbon.     

Sorption Equilibria and Kinetics of Hydrocarbons onto Activated Carbon Samples Having Different Micropore Size Distributions

This paper deals with the prediction of adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of hydrocarbons onto activated carbon samples having different micropore size distribution (MPSD). The microporous structure of activated carbon is characterised by the distribution of slit-shaped micropores, which is assumed to be the sole source of surface heterogeneity. The interaction between adsorbate molecule and pore walls is described by the Lennard-Jones potential theory. Different adsorbates have access to different pore size range of activated carbon due to the size exclusion, a phenomenon could have a significant influence on both multicomponent equilibria and kinetics. Activated carbons with three different MPSDs are studied with ethane and propane as the two model adsorbates. The Heterogeneous Macropore Surface Diffusion model (HMSD) is employed to simulate adsorption kinetics. The simulation results show that the MPSD is an important factor affecting both the multicomponent equilibria and kinetics.     

Gaseous adsorption properties of a silica-pillared layered manganese oxide

Adsorptions of N(2), H(2)O, and organic vapors including CH(2)Cl(2), CCl(4), c-C(6)H(12), C(6)H(6), n-C(6)H(14), and n-C(9)H(20) on a silica-pillared layered manganese oxide (SiHMnO) and nonane-preadsorbed SiHMnO were examined. It is found that SiHMnO has a microporosity with a wide pore width distribution showing different pore wall affinities. Micropores with smaller width preferentially accommodate the nonane preadsorbate while the surface hydrophilicity of pore wall leads to an easier detachment of the adsorbed nonane molecules. H(2)O adsorption influences both the porosity and the surface properties by accelerating a sufficient hydrolysis of the remained TEOS molecules in SiHMnO. Examinations using Dubinin-Radeshkevich (DR) equation and isosteric heat of adsorption of organic molecules provide evidences that the wall surface of micropores with smaller and larger width have less affinity toward nonpolar and polar organic vapors, respectively.     

Modeling of gas adsorption equilibrium over a wide range of pressure: a thermodynamic approach based on equation of state

A thermodynamic approach based on the Bender equation of state is suggested for the analysis of supercritical gas adsorption on activated carbons at high pressure. The approach accounts for the equality of the chemical potential in the adsorbed phase and that in the corresponding bulk phase and the distribution of elements of the adsorption volume (EAV) over the potential energy for gas-solid interaction. This scheme is extended to subcritical fluid adsorption and takes into account the phase transition in EAV. The method is adapted to gravimetric measurements of mass excess adsorption and has been applied to the adsorption of argon, nitrogen, methane, ethane, carbon dioxide, and helium on activated carbon Norit R1 in the temperature range from 25 to 70 degrees C. The distribution function of adsorption volume elements over potentials exhibits overlapping peaks and is consistently reproduced for different gases. It was found that the distribution function changes weakly with temperature, which was confirmed by its comparison with the distribution function obtained by the same method using nitrogen adsorption isotherm at 77 K. It was shown that parameters such as pore volume and skeleton density can be determined directly from adsorption measurements, while the conventional approach of helium expansion at room temperature can lead to erroneous results due to the adsorption of helium in small pores of activated carbon. The approach is a convenient tool for analysis and correlation of excess adsorption isotherms over a wide range of pressure and temperature. This approach can be readily extended to the analysis of multicomponent adsorption systems.     

Characteristics of Nonafluorobutyl Methyl Ether (NFE) Adsorption onto Activated Carbon Fibers and Different-Size-Activated Carbon Particles

The characteristics of adsorption of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4-nonafluorobutyl methyl ether (NFE), a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) replacement, onto six different activated carbon; preparations (three activated carbon fibers and three different-sized activated carbon particles) were investigated to evaluate the interaction between activated carbon surfaces and NFE. The amount of NFE adsorbed onto the three activated carbon fibers increased with increasing specific surface area and pore volume. The amount of NFE adsorbed onto the three different-sized-activated carbon particles increased with an increase in the particle diameter of the granular activated carbon. The differential heat of the NFE adsorption onto three activated carbon fibers depended on the porosity structure of the activated carbon fibers. The adsorption rate of NFE was also investigated in order to evaluate the efficiency of NFE recovery by the activated carbon surface. The Sameshima equation was used to obtain the isotherms of NFE adsorption onto the activated carbon fibers and different-sized-activated carbon particles. The rate constant k for NFE adsorption onto activated carbon fibers was larger for increased specific surface area and pore volume. The rate of NFE adsorption on activated carbons of three different particle sizes decreased with increasing particle diameter at a low initial pressure. The adsorption isotherms of NFE for the six activated carbons conformed to the Dubinin-Radushkevich equation; the constants BE(0) (the affinity between adsorbate and adsorbent) and W(0) (the adsorption capacity) were calculated. These results indicated that the interaction between the activated carbon and NFE was larger with the smaller specific surface area of the activated carbon fibers and with the smaller particle diameter of the different-sized-activated carbon particles. The degree of packing of NFE in the pores of the activated carbon fibers was greater than that in the pores of the granular activated carbons. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.