Effect of Surface Characteristics of Activated Carbon on the Adsorption of Chloroform from Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Chloroform adsorption on two activated carbons of different surface characteristics was investigated. The chemical and physical characteristics of the carbon surfaces were evaluated. The equilibrium and kinetic studies indicate different adsorptive behaviors for these systems. For the equilibrium concentration range of 10-200 µg/L, the data fit the Langmuir isotherm. The observed differences in adsorption isotherms cannot be explained by differences in pore size distributions, but can be explained by the chemical nature of the carbon. The carbon with the least amount of oxygen exhibits the highest affinity for chloroform. The relative capacities of the carbons to adsorb chloroform are a function of the solution equilibrium concentrations. For equilibrium concentrations below 270 µg/L, the carbon with the least amount of oxygen exhibits the highest capacity.