GROUP 15

ADSORPTIVE METHODS;
INCLUDING ACTIVATED
CARBON

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GROUP MEMBERS
ASHLEIGH NYAMAYARO R193553T

TANAKA GURIRA R199641G

RONALDO CHIUREKI R193524P

WILLIS T DHLIWAYO R189401K

DESCEND MAGEZI R201989U

CONTENT
1. Introduction
2. Adsorption vs Absorption
3. Adsorbate Migration
4. Adsorption Categories
5. Adsorption Methods
6. Definition of activated carbon
7. Use of activated carbon adsorption
8. Properties and factors affecting activated carbon adsorption
9. Application of activated carbon
10. Advantages and Limitations of activated carbon
 INTRODUCTION

• Adsorption is a process by which a gas or liquid solute from gasses

or liquids stick to the interface of a solid or a liquid (adsorbent)
thus forming a molecular or atomic film (adsorbate).

• Adsorption is a quick, affordable, and effective approach with

additional unique uses to eliminate dissolved pollutants such as
the elimination of inorganic contaminants like arsenic (Pillai,
2020).

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ADSORPTION vs ABSORPTION

• This process differs from absorption, which occurs when a fluid

(the absorbate) dissolves or permeates a liquid or solid (the

absorbent).

• Adsorption is a surface phenomenon in which the adsorbate does

not permeate past the surface, whereas absorption includes the
absorbate being transferred into the volume of the material
(Atkins, de Paula and Keeler, 2018).

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ADSORBATE MIGRATION
•Adsorbate migration occurs in three sequential steps:

(1) migration of adsorbate to the border shell of the adsorbent,

(2) intraparticle diffusion into pores, and

(3) Adsorption and desorption of solute.

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ADSORPTION ILLUSTRATION

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Adsorption Categories

• Adsorption can be categorized into two types based on the kind of

attraction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate: chemical and physical
adsorption, commonly referred to as chemisorption and physisorption
(Pillai, 2020).

• Chemisorption – molecules of atoms are attracted to and adhere to a solid

surface through strong chemical bonds between the adsorbate and
adsorbent e.g., covalent and ionic bonds and compound formation.

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CONT….

• Physisorption – molecules or atoms are attracted to a surface by weak Van der Waals
forces such as London dispersion forces, dipole – dipole interactions and Hydrogen
bonding.

It is a reversible reaction which does not include formation of chemical bonds between
the adsorbate and the surface.

Commonly used in processes like adsorption of gases into activated carbon or

adsorption of solutes onto a solid surface in chromatography etc.

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ADSORPTION METHODS

SOURCE: (Bhatnagar, Sillanpää and Witek-Krowiak, 2015).

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CONVENTIONAL METHODS

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NON-CONVENTIONAL METHODS

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WHAT IS ACTIVATED CARBON??

• A form of carbon that has been processed to increase its

surface area and adsorption capacity.

• Process of activating carbon typically involves exposing it to

high temperatures and activating agents such as steam/gas

• The treatment creates tiny pores in the carbon and allow it to

adsorb a greater number of molecules.

ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORPTION
• Activated carbon adsorption is a mechanism where compounds in the air or
water react with carbon in the filter.

• The adsorption is commonly due to the micropores in the carbon and or the
weak Van der Waals forces which can attract the impurities.

• The activated carbon physically attaches gas or liquid phase molecules to the
surface of the activated atoms. (Physisorption)

• Carbon adsorption remove pesticides, and other synthetic organic chemicals,

including chlorinated hydrocarbons, gasoline, industrial solvents and
disinfection by-products.

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Cont…
• Activated carbon (AC) is considered the most efficient adsorbent

material for removing many types of pollutants from wastewater

(Azam et al. 2020).

• Activated carbon exhibits excellent adsorption capacity because of

the large surface area and tunable porosity (Hassan et al. 2020)
Cont…
Adsorption process:

1. Diffusion of the adsorbate onto the surface of activated carbon

2. Diffusion of the adsorbate molecules into the larger pores of the activated
carbon through the liquid film,

3. Reaching the micropores due to surface diffusion

4. Adsorption of the adsorbent molecules on the surface of the activated carbon

pores.

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PROPERTIES OF ACTIVATED CARBON
• It has large surface area, through its microporous structure
(macropores, mesopores, micropores)

• The structure is stable at high temperatures (even above 1000K),

in the absence of air

• It has the ability to absorb gas/liquid particles like poisons,

pollutants and residues,

• The structure is resistant to acidic or basic media

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FACTORS AFFECTING ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORPTION
• pH value of water: Activated carbon generally has a higher
adsorption rate in acidic solutions than in alkaline solutions.
• Coexistence substances: In the presence of multiple adsorbates,
the adsorption capacity of activated carbon to a certain adsorbate
is worse than that of activated carbon containing only such
adsorbate.
• Temperature: Temperature has a linear effect on the adsorption
of activated carbon.
• Contact time: The contact time between activated carbon and
adsorbate should be guaranteed to make the adsorption close to
equilibrium and make full use of the adsorption capacity.

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FACTORS AFFECTING ACTIVATED
CARBON ADSORPTION CONT..
• Surface area: The larger the surface area, the stronger the
adsorption capacity.
• Particle size: The size of the activated carbon particles affects the
adsorption capacity.
• Pore structure and distribution: The pore structure and
distribution of activated carbon also have a significant impact on
adsorption.
• Surface chemical properties: The surface chemical properties
of activated carbon, such as polarity, also play a role in adsorption.
• Properties of adsorbates: Depending on its solubility,
surface free energy, polarity, adsorbate molecule size and
unsaturation, adsorbate concentration
APPLICATIONS OF ACTIVATED CARBON

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WATER PURIFICATION

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ADVANTAGES OF ACTIVATED CARBON

• Versatility

• Chemical stability

• High adsorption capacity

• Regenerabilty

• Cost-effectiveness

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LIMITATIONS OF ACTIVATED CARBON

• May not effectively remove some pollutants e.g. heavy metals

• Saturation and Breakthrough

• Particle Size and Bed Stability

• Adsorbent Regeneration process

• Disposal of spent carbon

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APPLICATION

• Activated carbon is often used in municipal water treatment plants

to improve the taste, smell and colour of water.

• For example, the city of Austin, Texas implemented granular

activated carbon (GAC) filtration to treat surface water from the
Colorado River.

• This helps remove organic matter and organic matter, leading to

better water quality for city dwellers.

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APPLICATION
Mineral water companies like Bonaqua still water, Tingamira mineral water,
Aquaclear bottled water etc. They use Activated carbon in the water treatment
process to help to enhance the quality and safety of the water before it is
packaged and sold.

Here are some specific applications of activated carbon in treating water for
bottled water companies:

• Pre-Treatment Filtration

• Taste and Odor Improvement.

• Removal of Disinfection By-Product

• Reduction of Heavy Metals

• Microbial Control
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CONCLUSION
In conclusion; factors to consider when choosing adsorbent are:

• Cost

• Availability

• Suitability

• Environmental impacts

• Regeneration

• Effectiveness
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CONT…….
• Activated carbon is effective and is a widely used method of water
treatment.

• Activated carbon is effective in removing a wide range of

contaminants, including organic compounds, volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), pesticides, industrial chemicals, and some
heavy metals (lead, mercury, chromium).

• It maintains its integrity and adsorption capacity at a wide range

of pH and temperature conditions.

• It can be regenerated hence being cost effective

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REFERENCES
Atkins, P.W., de Paula, J. and Keeler, J.J. (2018). Atkins’ physical chemistry. Eleventh edition ed. [online]
K10plus ISBN. Oxford New York: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-876986-6. [Accessed 14 Nov. 2023].

Bhatnagar, A., Sillanpää, M. and Witek-Krowiak, A. (2015). Agricultural waste peels as versatile biomass
for water purification – A review. Chemical Engineering Journal, 270, pp.244–271. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.01.135. [Accessed 14 Nov 2023].

Pillai, S.B. (2020). Adsorption in Water and Used Water Purification. Handbook of Water and Used Water
Purification, pp.1–22. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66382-1_4-1. [Accessed 14 Nov 2023].

Raval, N.P., Shah, P.U. and Shah, N.K. (2016). Adsorptive removal of nickel(II) ions from aqueous
environment: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 179, pp.1–20. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.04.045. [Accessed 15 Nov 2023].

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