Global non-ideality effects in adsorption of organic substances from dilute aqueous solutions on activated carbon

Summary A method for the quantitative estimation of the global non-ideality of the adsorption of weak organic electrolytes on activated carbon from dilute aqueous solutions is presented. The method is based on the analysis of aGraham plot which reflects the adsorption isotherm deviations from ideality. Averaging these deviations over the whole range of adsorption, one gets a single value representing the global non-ideality of a system. The method also allows to estimate the contributions of heterogeneity and interactions in the adsorbed phase to the global non-ideality effect. The theoretical considerations are illustrated by some model calculations. The usefulness of the method is tested for experimental data of benzoic and salicyclic acid adsorption over a wide range ofpH and concentrations.

---

Globaler Effekt der Nicht-Idealität bei der Adsorption organischer Substanzen aus verdünnten wässerigen Lösungen an Aktivkohle

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur quantitativen Abschätzung der globalen Nicht-Idealität für die Adsorption schwacher organischer Elektrolyte aus verdünnten wässerigen Lösungen an Aktivkohle vorgestellt. Diese Methode basiert auf der Analyse der bekanntenGraham-Abhängigkeit, die die Abweichung der Adsorptionsisotherme von der Idealität zeigt. Bei Errechnung des Durchschnittwertes dieser Abweichung über den ganzen Asorptionsbereich erhält man einen Wert, der die globale Nicht-Idealität für ein Adsorptionssystem charakterisiert. Die Methode erlaubt auch, den Beitrag der Heterogenität und der Wechselwirkungen in der Adsorptionsphase zum globalen Effekt der Nicht-Idealität abzuschätzen. Die theoretischen Erörterungen werden an Hand von Modellberechnungen illustriert. Die Nutzbarkeit der Methode wurde mit experimentellen Daten der Benzoe- und Salicylsäureadsorption in einem weiten Bereich vonpH und Konzentration getestet.

     

Water vapor adsorption and microporous structure of carbon adsorbents. 18. Effect of surface chemistry of activated carbons on water vapor adsorption

This investigation has been devoted to a study of the chemical composition of the surfaces of activated carbons. A study has been made of the way in which changes in the surface chemistry of a series of carbons, as a result of heat treatment, affects the nature of their adsorption of water vapor. A differentiation has been made between oxygen-containing groups found on the surface of activated carbons before and after their heat treatment. It has been established that the original adsorption centers, which play a determining role in water vapor adsorption by activated carbons, comprise functional groups like strongly acidic free hydrogen ions, carboxylic and phenolic groups, situated on on the pore surface of the activated carbons. The number of these functional groups on the pore surface of the activated carbons has been correlated with the parametera ₀ (the number of original adsorption centers) in the isotherm equation for water vapor adsorption. The relative pressure corresponding to the formation of an adsorption layer on the surface of the activated carbons has been shown to depend on the number of original adsorption centers, the acidic functional groups.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 35–40, January, 1991.     

Surface chemistry of nanoporous carbon and the effect of pH on adsorption from aqueous phenol and 2,3,4-trichlorophenol solutions

Granular nanoporous activated carbon prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was investigated as a means of removing weak aromatic acids from aqueous solutions. This carbon is highly nanoporous, the BET surface area being 544 m²/g with V_tot=0.278 cm³/g, and V_micro=0.266 cm³/g. Aqueous treatment reduced the surface area to 364 m²/g.

Granular nanoporous carbon prepared from PAN contains O and N related surface functional groups. The surface concentration of both oxygen and nitrogen atoms was found by XPS to be 5.3%. Surface groups containing these hetero atoms are responsible for the acid–base character of this carbon in aqueous solutions. The pH_PZC of the carbon is 8.4. The microporous pore network produces a wide hysteresis loop, observed when the granular carbon was studied by continuous titration. This loop, which was found to diminish, but not to disappear completely when the particle size was reduced, is attributed to irreversible hydrolysis of surface esters and/or lactones. The surface concentration of the functional groups titrated by the equilibrium Boehm method is 449.2 μeq./g, of which 112.9 μeq./g have acidic and 336.3 μeq./g have basic character. Within the acidic species three subgroups, namely the regions pK_a<6.37, 6.37K_a<10.25 and 10.25K_a<15.74.

The acid–base behavior influences the adsorption performance of the granular carbon in aqueous solutions of weak aromatic acids, in this case phenol and 2,3,4-trichlorophenol. Both the adsorption capacity and the overall interaction parameter, K (both derived from a fit to the Langmuir equation) depend on the adsorbed species and on the pH. The former is a consequence of the different water solubilities of the solute molecules, while the latter stems from the pH sensitivity of both the surface functional groups and these weak acids. The K values show a sequence pH=3K values indicate different adsorption mechanisms. The effect of pH is more marked for 2,3,4-trichlorophenol.     

Cadmium ion adsorption on different carbon adsorbents from aqueous solutions. Effect of surface chemistry, pore texture, ionic strength, and dissolved natural organic matter

Adsorption of Cd(II) species at pH = 5 was studied on three carbon adsorbents: granular activated carbon, activated carbon fiber, and activated carbon cloth. As-received and oxidized adsorbents were used. Cd(II) adsorption greatly increased after oxidation due to the introduction of carboxyl groups. The use of a buffer solution to control the pH introduced some changes in the surface chemistry of carbons through the adsorption of one of the compounds used, biphthalate anions. The increase in ionic strength reduced Cd(II) uptake on both as-received and oxidized carbons due to a screening of the electrostatic attractions between the Cd(II) positive species and the negative surface charge, which in the case of as-received carbons derived from the biphthalate anions adsorbed and in the oxidized ones from the carboxyl groups. Tannic acid was used as a model compound for natural organic matter. Its adsorption was greatly reduced after oxidation, and most of the carbon adsorbents preadsorbed with tannic acid showed an increase in Cd(II) uptake. In the case of competitive adsorption between Cd(II) species and tannic acid molecules, there was a decrease in Cd(II) uptake on the as-received carbon whereas the contrary occurred with the oxidized carbons. These results illustrate the great importance of carbon surface chemistry in this competitive adsorption process. Finally, under all experimental conditions used, when the adsorption capacity of carbons was compared under the same conditions it increased in the following order: granular activated carbon < activated carbon fiber < activated carbon cloth.     

Effect of surface chemistry on the adsorption of basic dyes on carbon aerogels

This paper focuses on how the surface chemical groups of carbon aerogels (CAs) affect their adsorption properties of basic dyes. First of all, the surface structures of CAs were tailored by controlling carbonization temperatures and oxidation treatments including HNO₃ oxidation, H₂O₂ oxidation and hot air oxidation. The pore structures of samples were investigated by N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis. In addition, their surface chemistries were characterized by Boehm titration, elemental analysis and XPS analysis. Subsequently, the adsorption capacities of the typical basic dyes on them were determined by UV Spectroscopy. The results show that the surface chemistry of CAs plays a key role in dye adsorption performance. HNO₃ oxidation can produce much acidic groups on the surface of sample, such as carboxyl, lactone and phenolic groups, resulting in an increase in the adsorption amounts of basic dyes.     

Thermodynamic study of triclosan adsorption from aqueous solutions on activated carbon

The change in the thermodynamic properties of triclosan adsorption on three activated carbons with the different surface chemistry was studied through immersion calorimetry and equilibrium data; the amount adsorbed of triclosan (Q) during calorimetry was determined and correlated with the energy associated with adsorbate–adsorbent interactions in the adsorption process. It was noted that triclosan adsorption capacity decreases with an increase in oxygenated surface groups. For an activated carbon oxidized with HNO₃ (OxAC), the amount adsorbed was 8.50?×?10^?3 mmol g^?1, for a activated carbon without modification (GAC) Q?=?10.3?×?10^?3 mmol g^?1 and for a activated carbon heated at 1073 K (RAC1073) Q?=?11.4?×?10^?3 mmol g^?1. The adsorbed amounts were determined by adjusting the isotherms to the Sips model. For the activated carbon RAC1073, the immersion enthalpy (ΔH_imm) was greater than those of the other two activated carbons due to the formation of interactions with the solvent (ΔH_immOxAC?=?? 27.3 J g^?1?<?ΔH_immGAC?=?? 40.0 J g^?1?<?ΔH_imm RAC1073?=???60.7 J g^?1). The changes in the interaction enthalpy and Gibbs energy are associated with adsorbate–adsorbent interactions and side interactions such as the adsorbate–adsorbate and adsorbate–solvent interactions.

     

Adenosine,adenosine monophosphate,and adenosine triphosphate adsorption from aqueous solutions on the surface of multiwall carbon nanotubes

Adenosine, adenosine monophosphate, and adenosine triphosphate adsorption from aqueous solutions on the surface of carbon nanotubes is studied. Adsorption isotherms are plotted and adsorption free energies, as well as areas per molecules of the adsorbates, are calculated at their concentrations in solutions of 0–10⁻³ mol/dm³. It is shown that the monomolecular adsorption is characterized by rather loose packing of adsorbate molecules on the nanotube surface, with the packing density increasing in the presence and upon a rise in the concentration of phosphate groups in adsorbate molecules. In the range of the polymolecular adsorption, at high adsorbate concentrations in solutions (C > (5–6) × 10⁻⁴ mol/dm³), the adsorption decreases in a series adenosine > adenosine monophosphate > adenosine triphosphate, i.e., with an increase in the solubility of the examined compounds in water.     

Novel three-stage kinetic model for aqueous benzene adsorption on activated carbon

We propose a novel kinetic model for adsorption of aqueous benzene onto both granular activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC). The model is based on mass conservation of benzene coupled with three-stage adsorption: (1) the first portion for an instantaneous stage or external surface adsorption, (2) the second portion for a gradual stage with rate-limiting intraparticle diffusion, and (3) the third portion for a constant stage in which the aqueous phase no longer interacts with activated carbon. An analytical solution of the kinetic model was validated with the kinetic data obtained from aqueous benzene adsorption onto GAC and PAC in batch experiments with two different solution concentrations (C(0)=300 mg L(-1), 600 mg L(-1)). Experimental results revealed that benzene adsorption for the two concentrations followed three distinct stages for PAC but two stages for GAC. The analytical solution could successfully describe the kinetic adsorption of aqueous benzene in the batch reaction system, showing a fast instantaneous adsorption followed by a slow rate-limiting adsorption and a final long constant adsorption. Use of the two-stage model gave incorrect values of adsorption coefficients in the analytical solution due to inability to describe the third stage.     

Removal of lead from aqueous solutions by adsorption with surface precipitation

An activated carbon from Coconut (Cocos nucifera) shells was prepared by physical activation with carbon dioxide and water vapor. The activated carbon obtained has a surface area of 1058 m² g^?1 and such a high micropore volume of 0.49 cm³ g^?1. This carbon was studied for the removal of lead from water. Sorption studies were performed at 30 °C, at different pH and adsorbent doses, in batch mode. Lead precipitation was observed on the surface of the activated carbon. Maximum adsorption occurred at pH 9 for an adsorbent dose of 2 g L^?1. Kinetic studies, at the initial concentration of 150 mg L^?1 of lead, pH 5 and an adsorbent dose of 1 g L^?1, yielded an equilibrium time of 50 h for this activated carbon. The kinetic data were modeled with the pseudo first order, the pseudo second order and the Bangham models. The pseudo second order model fitted the data well. The sorption rate constant (7 × 10^?4 mol^?1 Kg s^?1) and the maximum amount of lead adsorbed (0.23 mol kg^?1) are quite good compared to the data found in literature. Sorption equilibrium studies were conducted in a concentration range of lead from 0 to 150 mg L^?1. In an aqueous lead solution with an initial concentration of 30 mg L^?1, at pH 5, adsorbent dose 1 g L^?1, activated Coconut shell carbon removed at equilibrium 100 % of the heavy metal. The equilibrium data were modeled with the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, of which the former gave the best fit. The Langmuir constants Q_{max eq} (0.23 mol kg^?1) and K_L (487667 L mol^?1) are in good agreement with literature. XPS studies identified adsorbed species as lead carbonates and/or lead oxalates and precipitates as lead oxide and/or lead hydroxide on the activated carbon surface. The Coconut shell activated carbon is a very efficient carbon due to its high surface area, to the presence of many micropores on its surface and to the presence surface groups like hydroxyls promoting adsorption in the porous system and lead crystal precipitation on the activated carbon surface.     

TheLangmuir-Freundlich equation in adsorption from dilute solutions on solids

Correlation between parameters obtained from the signle-solute and bisolute adsorption data by means of theLangmuir-Freundlich equation has been studied.     

Temperature dependence of herbicide adsorption from aqueous solutions on activated carbon fiber and cloth

Diuron and amitrole adsorption from aqueous solution on an activated carbon fiber and an activated carbon cloth were studied as a function of temperature. Diuron adsorption was greater than that of amitrole and increased with rising temperature, whereas amitrole adsorption decreased when the temperature increased. Endothermicity of diuron adsorption was due to an increase in the planarity and diffusion of diuron molecules with higher temperatures. However, the exothermicity found for amitrole was due to the increase in amitrole solubility and in vibrational energy of adsorbed molecules with higher temperature. External mass transfer resistance was also found to play an important role in diuron adsorption on activated carbon cloth.     

Kinetics of the adsorption of polystyrene macromolecules from dilute solutions in methyl ethyl ketone on carbon black

The kinetics of the adsorption of a mixture of three polystyrenes (the weight-average molecular weight M _w = 8300, 34000, and 195000) on nonporous carbon (carbon black pretreated in the argon flow at 3800 K) from dilute solutions in methyl ethyl ketone at 298 K is studied. The kinetic dependences of the adsorption of polystyrenes on carbon black nanoparticles from solutions in methyl ethyl ketone are described by adsorption kinetics equations previously used for describing the adsorption of aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions by active carbon. The correlation between the kinetic coefficients and the molecular weights of polystyrenes is discussed.     

Ligand adsorption on an activated carbon for the removal of chromate ions from aqueous solutions

The results presented in this work are related to the design of a guideline to develop specific properties at the surface of an activated carbon (AC). For this, two model aromatic compounds have been synthesized and their electrolytic behavior in aqueous solutions was studied by a potentiometric method. The textural characteristics of the activated carbon were determined by porosimetry methods. The nature of oxygen-carrying functions and the acid-base behavior of the AC surface were characterized by TPD and potentiometric titration methods, respectively. The adsorption and desorption equilibria of the aromatic compounds on activated carbon were measured in aqueous solutions, and the hysteresis between adsorption and desorption, which reveals irreversible adsorption, was discussed on the basis of the frontier orbital theory. HOMO and LUMO orbitals of the adsorbent and adsorbates were calculated, and irreversible adsorption was attributed to the small energy difference between HOMO and LUMO of the aromatic adsorbates and the adsorbent. Adsorption equilibria of K2CrO4 in aqueous solution on the AC alone and on the AC-aromatic ligand adsorbents, respectively, prove the efficient development of specific chemical functions at the carbon surface provided by the adsorbed aromatic compounds.     

The adsorption of biogenic amines on the surface of highly dispersed silica from aqueous solutions

The adsorption of some biogenic amines (histamine, tryptamine, and tyramine) on the surface of highly dispersed silica from aqueous solutions is studied as a function of pH and ionic strength. It is established that biogenic amines in a protonated form interact with dissociated silanol groups of SiO₂ surface forming outer-sphere complexes. The constants of the formation of surface complexes are calculated.     

A solute vapor pressure study of complexes between benzene and caffeine in aqueous solutions

Highly precise vapor pressure-solubility measurements have been obtained for aqueous solutions of caffeine at temperatures in the range 15 to 45°C. Values of the fugacity of benzene at known total concentrations of benzene and caffeine have been calculated and used to derive equilibrium constants for the interaction of benzene molecules with monomers and aggregates of caffeine. Data are quite precisely represented by a mass action model in which benzene attaches to associated caffeine species with a binding constant that increases in direct proportion to the molecular weight of the caffeine aggregate. An equilibrium constant for the reaction benzene monomer+caffeine monomer-benzene·caffeine is reported at each temperature. The role of hydrophobic association effects in stabilizing the various complexes is considered.     

Effect of 60Co gamma-irradiation on dilute aqueous solutions of surfactants

Present work deals with the effects of gamma irradiation from 60Co gamma-ray source upon aqueous solutions of three kinds of surfactants. When dilute aqueous solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS, anionic), cethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC, cationic), and polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (POE, non-ionic) were irradiated with gamma-rays at a room remperature, the residual concentration, products, surface tension, and forming power were examined by colorimetric method, IR spectrophotometric method, gaschromatography, Ross-Miles method, and Traube's stalagnometer etc.. These surfactants were decomposed by the irradiation and thus the surface tension increased and the forming power, on the contrary, decreased with dose. Radiation chemical yields (G-value) of the degradation were about 1 for the solutions of SDS and CTAC, and about 0.3 for the POE solution. From the experimental results, it was found that following chemical reactions seem to occur followed by the radiolysis of water; a) bond cleavage of ester for SDS, of CN for CTAC, and of oxyethylene for POE, b) hydrogen abstraction from the surfactants, c) production of CO bond in the presence of dissolved oxygen.