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Synthesis and characterisation of acid/basic modified adsorbents. Application for chlorophenols removal
Joaquín R Domínguez1, Carlos J Durán-Valle2, Germán Mateos-García1
1Department of Chemical Engineering and Physical Chemistry. Area of Chemical Engineering. Faculty of Sciences, University of Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas, S/n, E-06071, Badajoz, Spain.
Modified activated carbon effectively removes chlorophenols from water. Acid-modified carbon showed superior adsorption capacity, indicating its potential for water treatment applications.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Adsorption Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Chlorophenols are persistent organic pollutants in water, posing environmental and health risks.
- Activated carbon is a widely used adsorbent, but its efficiency can be enhanced through surface modification.
- Tailoring surface properties of adsorbents is crucial for optimizing contaminant removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop acid- and base-modified activated carbon adsorbents.
- To investigate the adsorption performance of these modified carbons for various chlorophenols in water.
- To understand the thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the adsorption process.
Main Methods:
- Commercial activated carbon was modified using sulfuric acid (acidic) and pentaethylenehexamine (basic).
- Characterization included elemental analysis, N2 adsorption, XPS, and point of zero charge measurements.
- Adsorption experiments were conducted for five chlorophenols at different temperatures, analyzed using the Langmuir model.
Main Results:
- Modified adsorbents exhibited distinct surface acid/base characteristics.
- Adsorption capacity increased with temperature and decreased with increasing chlorophenol substitution.
- Acid-modified activated carbon showed significantly higher adsorption capacities (426.9–742.3 mg g−1 for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol) compared to basic-modified carbon (142.9–238.0 mg g−1).
Conclusions:
- The adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic, with positive entropy.
- Acid-modified activated carbon is a highly effective adsorbent for chlorophenol removal from water.
- The Langmuir model accurately describes the adsorption equilibrium of chlorophenols onto the modified carbons.
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