Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Extraction of Lignin with High β-O-4 Content by Mild Ethanol Extraction and Its Effect on the Depolymerization Yield
Published on: January 7, 2019
The effect of functional groups on oligomerization of phenolics on activated carbon
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0071, USA.
Abstract:
Adsorption of seven phenolic compounds, namely phenol, 2-methylphenol, 2-ethylphenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 4-nitrophenol on granular activated carbon (GAC) F400 and two activated carbon fibers (ACFs), ACC-10 and ACC-15 were conducted to study the impact of functional groups on oligomerization. Single solute adsorption and binary solute adsorption were conducted under anoxic (absence of molecular oxygen) and oxic (presence of molecular oxygen) conditions at 23+/-1 degrees C. For F400, the critical oxidation potential (COP), influenced by substitution of functional group, was found to be a limiting factor in oligomerization of adsorbates. For ACC-10, which has narrow pore size distribution (PSD) and small critical pore diameter (8.0A), only phenol and 2-methylphenol showed occurrence of oligomerization under oxic conditions. The degree of oligomerization under oxic conditions was related to the PSD of the adsorbent. The micro-pore diameter of the ACFs effectively reduced the oligomerization process. The oxic and anoxic binary adsorption isotherms of phenol/2-ethylphenol and 2-methylphenol/2-nitrophenol on ACC-10 overlapped indicating hampering of oligomerization by the limited micro-pore diameter of ACFs. The Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory (IAST), using the Myers equation for correlating the single-solute anoxic isotherms, well predicted both anoxic and oxic binary isotherms.
Related Concept Videos
02:08Introduction to Functional Groups
Functional groups are group of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups are found along the carbon backbone of macromolecules can form chains or rings of carbon atoms. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of common functional groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry. (The...
02:32Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols
Alcohols possess a higher boiling point than aliphatic hydrocarbons of similar...
02:22Overview of Advanced Functional Groups
Functional groups are groups of atoms with specific chemical properties that occur within organic molecules and are sometimes denoted as “R”. Functional groups can “functionalize” a compound by enabling it to adopt different physical and chemical properties.
Types of Advanced Functional Groups
The table below summarizes some of the major functional groups in organic chemistry.
02:23Structure and Nomenclature of Alcohols and Phenols
Alcohols are one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry. The name of alcohol comes from the hydrocarbon from which it is derived. Alcohols are organic molecules containing the functional hydroxyl or –OH group directly bonded to carbon. Phenols have an OH group directly attached to a benzene ring. While alcohols are colorless, phenol is a white crystalline compound with a characteristic "hospital smell" odor.
As with other organic compounds, alcohols and phenols...
01:19Overview of Functional Groups
02:45Functional Groups