Adsorption of Phenol from Aqueous Solutions on Activated Carbons with Different Oxygen Contents

Abstract

The effect of the chemical character of the surface of an activated carbon on phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions is described. The adsorbents used consisted of five types of activated carbon obtained by modification of the raw material. The results obtained indicate that the principal factor influencing adsorption is the oxygen contained in those surface functional groups which exhibit an acidic character. Moderately and slightly acidic groups are the most important in this context.