Premium
Surface chemistry of wood‐based phosphoric acid‐activated carbons and its effects on adsorptivity
Author(s) -
Baker FS,
Daley RA,
Bradley RH
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.1255
Subject(s) - adsorption , phosphoric acid , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , chemistry , oxygen , phosphate , inorganic chemistry , activated carbon , carbon fibers , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , materials science , composite number , engineering , composite material
The surface oxygen content of selected wood‐based phosphoric acid‐activated carbons was quantified using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and correlated with the residual bulk phosphate levels of the carbons and their adsorptivity in solution. The adsorption of Al 3+ , Cu 2+ , and para ‐chlorophenol, respectively, from water decreased as a function of increasing surface oxygen content of the carbons. When the carbon of lowest surface oxygen content was oxidized with ozone to impart a surface oxygen content comparable to that of a carbon with a much higher phosphate level, adsorption of Al 3+ , Cu 2+ , and para ‐chlorophenol from water decreased proportionally. The increase in polarity of the carbon surface was accompanied by a decrease in pH and appeared to be the dominant factor with respect to the adsorption of the target species from water. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry