ADSORPTION

Objective:
To verify whether the adsorption of oxalic acid from an aqueous solution on activated charcoal
follows the Freundlich’s adsorption isotherm and to determine the % adsorption of oxalic acid,
amount of oxalic acid adsorbed onto unit amount of charcoal and Freundlich’s constants.

Theory:
Adsorption is the adhesion of a chemical substance (adsorbate) onto the surface of a solid
(adsorbent). The most widely used adsorbent is activated carbon. The adsorption process is being
widely used by various researchers for the removal of heavy metals from waste streams, and
activated carbon has been frequently used as an adsorbent.
Adsorption isotherm is an empirical relationship used to predict how much solute can be adsorbed
by activated carbon. Adsorption isotherm is defined as a graphical representation showing the
relationship between the amount adsorbed by a unit weight of adsorbent (e.g., activated carbon)
and the amount of adsorbate remaining in a test medium at equilibrium, and it shows the
distribution of adsorbable solute between the liquid and solid phases at various equilibrium
concentrations. The two well-known isotherms are (a) Freundlich, (b) Langmuir isotherm.

Procedure:
1. Prepare 1 litre of 0.1 N oxalic acid solution.
2. Prepare 250 ml of approximately 0.1 N NaOH solution.
3. Standardize NaOH by titrating10 ml of oxalic acid against NaOH.
4. To each of six numbered conical flasks given, put 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 gm of activated charcoal
and add 150 ml of 0.1 N oxalic acid.
5. Shake all the flasks at 200 rpm for time the duration of 50 min. When it is ensured, allow the
contents in the solution to settle.
6. Filter the solution in the various flask separately using Whatman filter.
7. Pipette out 10 ml from each flask and titrate against NaOH to find titre values.

Observations and Calculations:

Normality of oxalic acid solution N1 = 0.1 N
N2 = Strength of NaOH = V1 N1 / V2 = 10*0.1/12.5 = 0.08 N

Table 1: Standardization of NaOH

 Sl. No. Volume of Oxalic Acid Volume of NaOH V2(ml) Strength of NaOH V1(ml)
V1(ml)
1 10
2 10
3 10

Co = N1 * 63 / 1000 gm/cc = 0.1

Ce = N * 63 / 1000 gm/cc = 0.00848

Table 2: Adsorption of oxalic acid on activated carbon

Sl. No Amount of V*(ml) N Co Ce % V=150/W qe

charcoal added (gm/cc) (gm/cc) adsorption (cc/gm) (gm/gm)
W (gm)
1
2
3
4
5
6

Where V* = Titre Value of NaOH

N = Normality of unadsorbed oxalic acid can be neutralized with NaOH

Plot log qe versus log Ce in normal coordinates and plot a straight line through the points plotted.
Determine the slope 1/n and the intercept kf by using this plot .

Sample Calculation
% adsorption of oxalic acid = (Co −C e)/Co * 100 = (0.1-0.0848)/0.1*100 = 91.52 %
Amount of oxalic acid adsorbed onto unit amount of activated charcoal at equilibrium,
qe = (CO – Ce) V = (0.1 - 0.0848) * 12.5 = 0.19 gm oxalic acid /gm charcoal

Calculation:
Diagram:

Graph:

Freundlich equation is expresses as

qe = KF Ce1/ n
Result and Discussion:
The adsorption of oxalic acid from an aqueous solution on activated charcoal follows
Freundlich’s equation.
1. The Freundlich’s constants are n = and kf = cc/g charcoal
2. % adsorption of solute = (write the maximum % adsorption )
3. Amount of oxalic acid adsorbed/amount of charcoal = gm/gm (write the maximum qe )

The rate of adsorption will increase as the surface area of the adsorbent, i.e. , activated charcoal
is increased, this is why powdered form of activated charcoal is used. The rate of adsorption will
increase with increase in pressure but will decrease with increase in temperature as adsorption is
accompanied by an increase in temperature.