Open AccessThe Hydrophobic Effect in the Adsorption Process of Alkyltrimethylammonium Bromides on to Activated Carbon
Author(s) -
Jinben Wang,
Yao Lu,
Buxing Han,
Ming Dai,
Haike Yan,
Robert K. Thomas
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
adsorption science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.682
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2048-4038
pISSN - 0263-6174
DOI - 10.1177/026361749801600705
Subject(s) - chemistry , adsorption , activated carbon , bromide , aqueous solution , cationic polymerization , hydrophobic effect , carbon fibers , hydrocarbon , inorganic chemistry , pulmonary surfactant , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering , biochemistry , materials science , composite number , composite material
This paper describes the hydrophobic effect in the process of adsorption of alkyltrimethylammonium bromides from aqueous solution on to an activated carbon surface. Measurements of the adsorption isotherms of a series of alkyltrimethylammonium bromides with different hydrocarbon tail lengths at the activated carbon surface were carried out. In order to investigate the temperature dependence of the adsorption process, the determination of the adsorption of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was undertaken at different temperatures in the range 20–60°C. From the experimental results obtained, the relevant thermodynamic quantities have been calculated. The role played by the hydrophobic effect in the adsorption process of cationic surfactants on to activated carbon and the factors affecting the adsorption mechanism were discussed.