Adsorption of chlorinated organic compounds from water with cerium oxide-activated carbon composite

Adsorptive removal of dichloromethane, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride from aqueous solutions at 25 °C by activated carbon (AC) that was loaded with cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂-NP/AC) was investigated. The developed adsorbent was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The effect of contact time, initial concentration, and the adsorbent dosage were also studied. The equilibrium and kinetics of adsorption were studied in a batch-type adsorption system, and the equilibrium experimental data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. Freundlich adsorption isotherm showed the best fit for the equilibrium adsorption data. Three adsorption kinetic models, pseudo first- and second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models were applied to test the kinetic data. Kinetic characterization of the adsorption process onto CeO₂-NP/AC is well-described by the pseudo second-order model, and the adsorption best-fit by the intraparticle diffusion model. Our study shows that at optimum conditions, 82.72%, 99.40% and 89.42% of dichloromethane, chloroform, and tetrachloride, respectively, were removed by CeO₂-NP/AC, at concentration between 0.25 and 5.00 g/L.