Theory:

Adsorption Isotherm: Adsorption isotherm describes the

equilibrium of the adsorption of a material at a surface at
constant temperature.

The main objectives for this experiment are:

• Understand the application of adsorbent in the removal of

organic matter such as acetic acid. Figure-01: Adsorption
Isotherm

• Determine the adsorption capacity at different initial concentration

• Interpret the mechanisms of adsorption through the use of appropriate isotherms.

For the adsorption process, two components are required,

 Adsorbate: Substance that is deposited on the surface of another substance. For

example, H2, N2 and O2 gases.

 Adsorbent: Surface of a substance on which adsorbate adsorbs. For

example, Charcoal, Silica gel, Alumina.

On the basis of interaction forces between adsorbate and adsorbent, adsorption is of two
types:

1. Physical Adsorption: When the particles of the adsorbate are held to the surface of
the adsorbent by the physical forces such as Van der Waals forces, the adsorption is
called physical adsorption. This type of adsorption is also known as physisorption. It
is due to weak Van der Waals forces between adsorbate and adsorbent. 
2. Chemical Adsorption: When the molecules of the adsorbate are held to the surface
of the adsorbent by the chemical forces the adsorption is called chemical adsorption.
This type of adsorption is also known as chemisorption. It is due to strong chemical
forces of bonding type between adsorbate and adsorbent. We can take the example
involving the formation of iron nitride on the surface when the iron is heated in N 2 gas
at 623 K. Adsorption of gas on a solid is a spontaneous exothermic reaction.
Adsorption mechanism is usually described through adsorption isotherms, that is, functions
which connect the amount of adsorbate on the adsorbent, with its pressure (if gas) or
concentration (if liquid).

Three common types of isotherms:

 Langmuir
 BET
 Freundlich

Langmuir isotherm: Langmuir isotherm for a liquid (adsorbate) adsorbed on solid

(adsorbent) can be mathematically expressed by,

The linear form of the Langmuir isotherm is:

Where,

qe = Quantity of adsorbate adsorbed per unit weight of adsorbent at equilibrium (mg/g)

Ce = Concentration of adsorbate at equilibrium in solution after adsorption (mg/L)

qmax = Maximum adsorption capacity(mg/g)

b = Langmuir adsorption equilibrium constant (L/mg)

Activated carbon, also called activated charcoal or activated coal, is a general term that
includes carbon material derived from wood, coconut shells, lignite or bituminous coals etc.
It has exceptionally high surface area (~500 m2⁄g) and porosity. The major types are
powdered and granular activated carbon and both types have their specific advantages and
applications. Activated carbon is frequently used in everyday life, in – industry, food
production, medicine, pharmacy, etc.

Experimental Set-up and Materials:

 Erlenmeyer’s flasks (250 mL)

 Funnels ▪ Titrimetric flasks (100 mL)
 Burettes and pipettes (also micropipette)
 Filter paper
 Aqueous solution of Acetic acid (1M) and NaOH (0.2M).
 Powdered activated charcoal
 Phenolphthalein
 Weighing balance
 Reciprocating shaker
 Measuring cylinder

Observed Data:

Table-1: Scheme for acetic acid dilution.

Flask No. Volume of acetic acid (aq.) Volume of distilled water

(cm3) (cm3)
01 6 54
02 12 48
03 18 42
04 30 30
05 42 18
06 60 00
Table-2: Volumes of the acetic acid solutions (analyte) used for titration.

Flask No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Volume Solution – V (ml) 10 10 5 5 5 2

Sample Calculation:

Here,

The volume of the analyte, V=10ml

The known concentration of Acetic Acid Solution, CT= 0.20 M

The volume of the titrant (before adsorption), X i0=5 ml(flask No.1)

The actual concentrations of the acetic acid solution before Adsorption, (Flask No.1)

0 X 0i CT
Ci =
V

5× 0.2
= =0.1 M
10

And,

X i × CT 4 ×0.2
The concentration after adsorption, C i= = =0.08 M
V 10

Also Given,

The volume of the adsorbate solution, VA=50 mL

The activated charcoal dose, M=1gm

The adsorption capacity, q e =

( C0i −Ci ) × V A (0.1−0.08)×50
= =1mmol g−1
M 1
We know,

Langmuir isotherm for a liquid (adsorbate) adsorbed on solid (adsorbent) can be

mathematically

b qmax
Expressed by, qe=
1+b c e

The linearized form of the equation is:

1 1 1
= +
qe b Ce qmax q max

1
The equation looks like a straight-line equation. We plot the graph here y are and x are
qe
1
.
Ce

1
Above equation slop,
bqmax

1
Intercept,
qmax

From the graph,

y = 0.0829x - 0.0604

Here,

1
Intercept, =−0.0604 ;q max =−16.55=16.55 [Neglect negative sign]
qmax

1
Above equation slop, =¿ 0.0829; b=−0.728865 = 0.728865
bqmax
Calculated Data:

Table-03

Flask X i0 (ml) C 0i (mol X i (ml) C i(mol qe 1 1

qe Ce
No. L ¿
−1 −1
L ¿ (mmol
−1
g ¿
1 5 0.1 4 0.08 1 1 12.5

2 10 0.2 7.6 0.152 2.4 0.4166 6.5789

7 5
3 15 0.3 12 0.24 3 0.3333 4.1666
3 7
4 25 0.5 17.5 0.35 7.5 0.1333 2.8571
3 4
5 35 0.7 26 0.52 9 0.1111 1.9230
1 8
6 50 1 37 0.74 13 0.0769 1.3513
2 5

Graph:

Absorption Capacity VS Initial Concentration

14

f(x) = 13.5639534883721 x − 0.346511627906976

12

10
sorption capacity

6
 2

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2

Initial concentration

Figure-02: Adsorption Capacity VS Initial concentrations

1/qe vs 1/ce
1.2

1
f(x) = 0.082850732458497 x − 0.0604256312098429
0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

1 1
Figure-03: VS
qe Ce

Calculation for Freundlich adsorption isotherm

Table-4: Calculated data for Freundlich isotherm

 Flask ci (mol L−1) qe (mmol g−1) Lnqe Lnce
No.
1 0.08 1 0 -2.5257
2 0.152 2.4 0.8754 -1.8838
3 0.48 6 1.7917 -0.7339
4 0.7 15 2.7080 -0.3566
5 1.04 18 2.8903 0.0392
6 3.7 65 4.1743 1.3083

Figure-04: ln qe vs ln ce

Results

The maximum adsorption capacity, q max =16.55(mmol g−1)

Langmuir equilibrium constant,b=0.728865

& the value of Freundlich intensity parameter is 1.0873 And The value of capacity factor is16.87.
Discussion:
The validity of Freundlich adsorption isotherm is proved from the mentioned plot &
Langmuir adsorption isotherm is proved from mentioned plot. The activated charcoal adsorbs
the acids in their porous the meanwhile this process follows the adsorption isotherm of
Freundlich as well as isotherm of Langmuir. We know that Freundlich absorption isotherm
for chemisorption and Langmuir adsorption isotherm for physisorption. We apply Freundlich
adsorption isotherm to even physisorption like acetic acid with charcoal.