• Carbon letters
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2001

In this work, activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were plated with copper metal using electroless plating method and the effects of surface properties and pore structures on chromium adsorption properties were investigated. Surface properties of ACFs have been characterized using pH and acid/base values. BET data with $N_2$ adsorption were used to obtain the structural parameters of ACFs. The electroless copper plating did significantly lead to a decrease in the surface acidity or to an increase in the surface basicity of ACFs. However, all of the samples possessed a well-developed micropore. The adsorption capacity of Cr(III) for the electroless Cu-plated ACFs was higher than that of the as-received, whereas the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) for the former was lower than that of the latter. The adsorption rate constants ($K_1$, $K_2$, and $K_3$) were also evaluated from chromium adsorption isotherms. It was found that $K_1$ constant for Cr(III) adsorption depended largely on surface basicity. The increase of Cr(III) adsorption and the decrease of Cr(VI) adsorption were attributed to the formation of metal oxides on ACFs, resulting in increasing the surface basicity.

• Carbon letters
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-23
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• 2003

In this work, the effect of anodic oxidation treatment on Cr(VI) ion adsorption behaviors of activated carbon fibers (ACFs) was investigated. The aqueous solutions of 10 wt% $H_3PO_4$ and $NH_4OH$ were used for acidic and basic electrolytes, respectively. Surface characteristics and textural properties of ACFs were determined by XPS and $N_2$ adsorption at 77 K. The heavy metal adsorption of ACFs was conducted by ICP. As a result, the adsorption amount of the anodized ACFs was improved in order of B-ACFs > A-ACFs > pristine-ACFs. In case of the anodized treated ACFs, the specific surface area was decreased due to the pore blocking or pore destroying by acidic electrolyte. However, the anodic oxidation led to an increase of the Cr(VI) adsorption, which can be attributed to an increase of oxygen-containing functional groups, such as, carboxylic, lactonic, and phenolic groups. It was clearly found that the Cr(VI) adsorption was largely influenced by the surface functional groups, in spite of the reduced specific surface area of the ACFs.

• Journal of Korea Soil Environment Society
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.11-31
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• 1999

Removal of hexavalent chromium from artificial groundwater (AGW) by granular activated carbon (GAC) was investigated in batch and continuous-flow column studies. Experimental parameters that were examined included solution pH, presence of dissolved oxygen (DO), and GAC pretreatment with Fe(II). As the solution pH increased from 4 to 7.5, the amount of Cr(VI) removed by both GACs decreased significantly. Exclusion of DO from the experimental systems resulted in greater removal of Cr(VI) from solution, possibly as a result of reduction to Cr(III). However, pretreatment of the GAC with a reductant (Fe(II)) did not improve Cr(VI) removal. Equilibration With 0.01 M $K_2$$HPO_4$[to extract adsorbed Cr(VI)] followed by a wash with 0.02 N $K_2$$HPO_4$[to remove precipitated/sorbed Cr(III)] proved to be a viable approach for the regeneration of carbons whose Cr(VI) removal capacities had been exhausted. The performance of the regenerated carbons exceeded that of the virgin carbons, primarily because of the favorable adsorption of Cr(VI) at lower pH values and the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), The presence of Cr(III) in acid wash solutions provides direct evidence that Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(III) in GAC systems under relatively acidic conditions. GAC performance over five complete cycles was consistently high, which suggests that such a system will be able to function over many operation cycles without deleterious effects.

• Advances in environmental research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.95-111
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• 2017

The valorization of swine manure samples, i.e., de-watered cake (SMc) and solid digestate (SMd), in products with beneficial value, i.e., low cost activated carbons (ACs), is studied. For this purpose slow pyrolysis and steam activation at three different duration times are applied. Additionally, the obtained ACs are characterized and tested towards removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. It is revealed that BET surface area varies in the range of $236-267m^2/g$ for ACs prepared from SMc sample and in the range of $411-432m^2/g$ for ACs prepared from SMd sample. Despite the low determined surface area of prepared ACs, a high total Cr removal capacity is observed occurring through a "coupled adsorption-reduction" mechanism. Higher Cr(VI) removal capacity is demonstrated for ACs having higher surface area ($q_m$ is 140.9 mg/g according Langmuir modelling). Cr(VI) removal is found to be pH dependent with a maximum at pH 1. However at that pH significant amounts of Cr remain in the solution as Cr(III). At pH 2 lower amount of Cr(VI) is removed compensated by a higher removal of Cr(III) resulting in a higher amount of adsorbed $Cr_{tot}$. Therefore adsorption at pH 2 is found to be appropriate. The removal capacity of the studied ACs towards Cr(VI) is almost independent of activation time.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.275-282
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• 2008

Chemically activated carbons were prepared from maize cobs, using phosphoric acid of variable concentration. The textural parameters of the activated carbons were determined from the nitrogen adsorption isotherms measured at 77 K. The chemistry of the carbon surface was determined by measuring the surface pH, the pHPZC and the concentration of the carbon - oxygen groups of the acid type on the carbon surface. Kinetics of Cr(VI) sorption/reduction was investigated at 303 K. Two processes were investigated in terms of kinetics and equilibrium namely; Cr(VI) removal and chromium sorption were studied at various initial pH (1-7). Removal of Cr(VI) shows a maximum at pH 2.5. At pH<2.5, sorption decreases because of the proton competition with evolved Cr(III) for ion exchange sites. The decrease of sorption at pH>2.5 is due to proton insufficiency and to the decrease of the extent of Cr(VI) reduction. The chemistry of the surface of activated carbon is an important factor in determining its adsorption capacity from aqueous solutions particularly when the sorption process involves ion exchange.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2005

Cotton fabric was treated with a reactive anionic agent in order to have anionic sites(-S03-) on it, which made it possible for the fabric to adsorb various cationic materials. In this study, the adsorptivity of various heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Cd(II), Cr(III), Co(II), Cu(II), Ni (II) and Cr(VI) on the cotton fabrics treated with anionic agent was examined at the various conditions; concentrations of heavy metal ions, pHs of solution, reaction time and temperature. As a result, the adsorptivity of the heavy metal ions on the cotton fabrics treated with the anionic agent was highly increased comparing to that of untreated cotton fabrics. The order of the adsorptivity was as follows: $Pb(II)>Cd(II)>Cu(II)\geqNi(II)\geqCo(II)>Cr(III)\ggCr(VI)$. The adsorption amounts of most heavy metal ions were increased in weak alkaline conditions and were reached to an adsorption equilibrium within 10 ~ 30 minutes. The maximum adsorption ratios of Pb(II) and Cd(II) were respectively 99% and 80% of the initial concentration of heavy metal ions. Therefore the anionized cotton fabrics seem to be utilized as an adsorption fabrics for the removal of heavy metal ions in the waste water.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.95-107
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• 2017

Adsorption equilibrium and kinetic behavior of two toxic heavy metals hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and mercury [Hg(II)] on mustard oil cake (MOC) was studied. Isotherm of total chromium was of concave type (S1 type) suggesting cooperative adsorption. Total chromium adsorption followed BET isotherm model. Isotherm of Hg(II) was of L3 type with monolayer followed by multilayer formation due to blockage of pores of MOC at lower concentration of Hg(II). Combined BET-Langmuir and BET-Freundlich models were appropriate to predict Hg(II) adsorption data on MOC. Boyd's model confirmed that external mass transfer was rate limiting step for both total chromium and Hg(II) adsorptions with average diffusivity of $1.09{\times}10^{-16}$ and $0.97m^2/sec$, respectively. Desorption was more than 60% with Hg(II), but poor with chromium. The optimum pH for adsorptions of total chromium and Hg(II) were 2-3 and 5, respectively. At strong acidic pH, Cr(VI) was adsorbed by ion exchange mechanism and after adsorption reduced to Cr(III) and remained on MOC surface. Hg(II) removal was achieved by complexation of $HgCl_2$ with deprotonated amine ($-NH_2$) and carboxyl (COO-) groups of MOC.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2207-2219
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• 2018

Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from Phoenix dactylifera stones and then modified by $CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic nanocomposite for use as a Cr(VI) adsorbent. Both $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ composite and AC were fully characterized by FTIR, SEM, XRD, TEM, TGA, and VSM techniques. Based on the surface analyses, the addition of $CoFe_2O_4$ nanoparticles had a significant effect on the thermal stability and crystalline structure of AC. Factors affecting chromium removal efficiency like pH, dosage, contact time, temperature, and initial Cr(VI) concentration were investigated. The best pH was found 2 and 3 for Cr adsorption by AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ composite, respectively. The presence of ion sulfate had a greater effect on the chromium sorption efficiency than nitrate and chlorine ions. The results illustrated that both adsorbents can be used up to seven times to adsorb chromium. The adsorption process was examined by three isothermal models, and Freundlich was chosen as the best one. The experimental data were well fitted by pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The half-life ($t_{1/2}$) of hexavalent chromium using AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic composite was obtained as 5.18 min and 1.52 min, respectively. Cr(VI) adsorption by AC and $AC/CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic composite was spontaneous and exothermic. In general, our study showed that the composition of $CoFe_2O_4$ magnetic nanoparticles with AC can increase the adsorption capacity of AC from 36 mg/L to 70 mg/L.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1985-1992
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• 2007

Ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41) materials with different textural properties were prepared using alkyl (dodecyl, cetyl, eicosane) trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB, CTAB, ETAB, respectively) as structure directing surfactants, functionalized with amine groups and used as adsorbent for the toxic metal ions, Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II). Amino functionalization of mesoporous MCM-41 was achieved by cocondensation of N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl] aniline with tetraethyl orthosilicate. Adsorption isotherm and adsorption capacity of the amine functionalized materials for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions were followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results demonstrate that amine functionalized MCM-41 prepared with ETAB showed higher adsorption capacity for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions in comparison to MCM-41 prepared with CTAB and DTAB. The higher adsorption capacity for MCM-41(ETAB) was correlated with amine content in the material (determined by CHN analysis) and relative decrease in pore volume and pore diameter. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, nitrogen adsorptiondesorption measurements and Fourier Transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were used to follow the changes in the textural parameters and surface properties of the mesoporous materials as a result of amine functionalization to correlate with the adsorption characteristics. The adsorption process was found to depend on the pH of the medium.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.223-233
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• 2010

The effects of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on adsorption and redox state alteration of dissolved As, Cr and U were investigated through batch experiments. Surfaces of bacterial cells were either vigorously washed or unwashed. Solutions of As(V), Cr(VI) and U(VI) were inoculated with the bacterial cells under no nutrient condition, and total aqueous concentrations and redox state alteration were monitored over time. No As adsorption occurred onto bacteria or EPS; however, unwashed bacteria reduced about 60% As(V) to As(III). Unwashed bacteria also led to removal of 45% total dissolved Cr and reduction of 64% Cr(VI). About 80% U(VI) was removed from solution with unwashed bacteria as well. Such electrochemical reduction of the elements was likely due to reducing capacity of EPS itself or detoxifying reduction of the bacteria which kept their viability under protection of EPS. The results indicated that bacterial biofilm may significantly control the redox state and subsequent mobility of As, Cr and U in natural geologic settings.