• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.220-225
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• 2013

The adsorption characteristics of phenol by the powdered activated carbon (PAC) were investigated by series of batch experiments. The pseudo-second-order model described the adsorption kinetics adequately with correlation coefficients over 0.999, indicating chemical adsorption as the rate-limiting step. The kinetic rate constants were from 0.55 to 19.81 mg $mg^{-1}min^{-1}$. The adsorption isotherm followed the Langmuir isotherm, indicating the homogeneous mono-layer adsorption onto the surface of the adsorbent. The values of activation energy, enthalpy and entropy were 17.44 kJ $mol^{-1}$, -8.26 kJ $mol^{-1}$ and -18.94 J $mol^{-1}K^{-1}$, respectively. The Gibbs free energy was in the range of -2.89~-2.14 kJ $mol^{-1}$. The results show that the phenol adsorption is physical, spontaneous and exothermic reaction.