Effect of metal additives on the physico-chemical characteristics of activated carbon exemplified by benzene and acetic acid adsorption

The effects of treatment with inorganic salts exemplified by Mg (NO3), or Ba (NO3)(2) on the physical-chemical characteristics of activated carbon were studied. Results indicate that the pore volume remains relatively unchanged upon salt treatment when the pore diameter ranges between 7 Angstrom and 20 Angstrom. Significant variation in pore volume was observed when pore diameter is less than 7 Angstrom; generally, the pore volume of AC is greater than AC-Ba and AC-Mg. Major oxygen functional groups such as hydroxyl group for AC, carboxyl group for AC-Ba, and hydroxyl and carbonyl groups for AC-Mg were created. Regenerated at a temperature of 400 degrees C, creates more pore volume especially when treated with Mg(NO3)(2) with an increase of 13.0%. The regenerated AC-Mg exhibits the greatest acetic acid adsorption capacity among all activated carbons studies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.