Utilization of Thermal Analysis to Establish the Optimal Conditions for Regeneration of Activated Carbons

Thermoanalytical methods (TG, DTG and DTA) were used to determine the temperature interval (140–350°C) in which p-nitroaniline undergoes thermal desorption from the surface of activated carbons obtained from the shells of oxidized plum stones and impregnated with aqueous solutions of Cu, Fe and Ti salts, which simulate the processes of activated carbon regeneration. It was established that the impregnation of the activated carbons facilitated the regeneration processes in the sense that they can occur at lower temperatures: 135–320 (Cu), 150–340 (Ti) and 130–320°C (Fe). The utilized activated carbons were preliminarily characterized by BET surface area, DSC and scanning electron microscopic methods. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.