Adsorption  of  Acetic  Acid  on  Activated  

Charcoal  
 
Danielle  Filer,  Isaac  Curtis  
University  of  Idaho  
Chem307-­‐54  
December  9,  2014  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adsorption   is   used   for   a   broad   range   of   chemical   and   physical   processes   in   the   environmental   field,  
particularly  water  purification.  Activated  charcoal  is  an  extremely  effective  adsorbent  for  these  processes,  
due   to   its   highly   porous   structure.   Adsorption   of   acetic   acid   on   activated   charcoal   can   be   found   by  
titrating  the  acetic  acid  and  charcoal  solutions,  with  sodium  hydroxide,  to  determine  the  initial  and  final  
moles   of   acetic   acid   left   in   the   solution.   Freundlich   and   Langmuir   isotherms   can   be   applied   by   finding   the  
moles   of   acetic   acid   adsorbed   per   gram   of   charcoal.   Linear   trend   lines   should   be   observed   if   the   data  
obeys  the  isotherms.  For  the  Freundlich  isotherm,  a  linear  regression  was  found  with  R  squared  values  of  
0.99107  and  0.9983  for  trials  one  and  two  respectively.  The  Langmuir  isotherm  had  a  linear  regression  
line,  as  well,  with  R  squared  values  of  0.98206  and  0.99007  for  trials  one  and  two  respectively.  We  were  
able   to   find   the   constants   for   both   isotherms   with   small   standard   deviations   for   both   trials.   For   better  
results,   it   would   be   best   to   run   the   experiment   again.   It   was   found   that   acetic   acid   works   well   with  
activated  carbon  for  adsorption,  but  it  would  be  interesting  to  look  at  other  adsorbates  and  how  well  they  
work.  
Introduction  
Adsorption   is   the   process   when   a   gas   or   a   liquid   gathers   on   the   surface   of   a   solid   or   a   liquid,  
forming   a   molecular   film.   In   this   case,   acetic   acid   was   accumulating   on   activated   charcoal.   The  
adsorbent  is  the  solid  phase,  which  was  activated  carbon,  or  activated  charcoal.  Charcoal  made  
from   coconut   shells   or   bone   makes   an   effective   adsorbent   due   to   its   exceedingly   porous  
structure;   it   has   a   greater   surface   area,   allowing   more   room   for   the   adsorbate   to   accumulate.  
Activated   charcoal   is   also   a   covalently   bonded   solid,   allowing   it   adsorb   molecules   more  
effectively  than  ions.1  The  adsorbate  is  the  molecular  film  formed  from  acetic  acid  adsorbing  on  
the   activated   charcoal.   There   are   two   main   types   of   adsorption;   physisorption   and  
chemisorption.  Chemisorption  occurs  when  the  molecules  adhere  to  the  surface  of  the  solid  by  
forming  chemical  bonds.  In  this  case,  we  see  physisorption;  the  acetic  acid  adheres  to  the  surface  
of   activated   charcoal   through   Van   der   Waals   forces,   weak   intermolecular   forces.   Adsorption   is  
used  for  a  broad  range  of  processes  in  the  environmental  field,  especially  in  water  purification.2  
Adsorption   can   be   described   in   terms   of   isotherms,   which   relate   the   concentration   of   the  
adsorbate  to  the  amount  adsorbed  at  constant  temperature.  The  objective  of  the  experiment  was  
to  determine  the  amount  of  acetic  acid  adsorbed  per  gram  of  activated  charcoal.  We  were  able  to  
calculate  this  from  our  data  and  from  that  we  were  able  to  plot  the  isotherm  equations.  In  this  
experiment   we   looked   at   two   different   isotherms   as   described   in   Sime:   the   Freundlich   and  
Langmuir  isotherms.1  The  Freundlich  isotherm  is  one  of  the  earliest  attempts,  1909,  to  describe  
!
adsorption   mathematically.   The   Freundlich   equation   is  𝑌 = 𝑘𝑐 ! ,   where   Y   is   the   moles   of  
adsorbate  per  gram  of  adsorbent,  c  is  the  concentration  in  mol/L,  and  k  and  n  are  experimentally  
determined   constants.   In   order   to   test   the   validity   of   the   isotherm,   we   took   the   log   of   the  
equation   and   plotted   log   Y   versus   log   c.   Data   that   fits   the   Freundlich   isotherm   will   result   in   a  
linear  regression.  The  two  empirically  determined  constants  n  and   k  describe  the  strength  of  the  
adsorption   and   the   capacity   of   the   adsorbent   for   adsorption   respectively.   The   Langmuir  
! ! !
adsorption   equation   is   ! = !! ! − ! ,   where   Y   and   c   are   the   same   as   discussed   in   the  
!"# !"#
Freundlich  equation,  however  k  is  just  the  adsorption  constant  for  the  Langmuir  isotherm.  The  
Langmuir  isotherm  equation  has  four  assumptions  that  it  follows.  The  assumptions  are  that  the  
adsorbed   layer   is   a   monolayer,   the   system   is   in   equilibrium   so   the   rate   of   adsorption   and  
desorption  are  equal,  the  rate  of  adsorption  is  proportional  to  the  concentration  of  the  adsorbate  
and  the  surface  of  the  adsorbent,  and  the  rate  of  desorption  is  proportional  to  the  surface  of  the  
adsorbent  already  covered.1  Most  of  these  assumptions  are  not  actually  observed,  which  makes  
the   Freundlich   isotherm   more   accurate   and   a   better   model   than   the   Langmuir,   although   the  
Freundlich  isotherm  is  not  a  valid  model  when  dealing  with  high  pressures.3  
 
 
Experimental  Procedure  
The   experimental   procedure   was   followed   from   the   one   explained   in   Sime.1   First,   we  
standardized   NaOH   solution   of   0.1   M   and   Acetic   Acid   solution   of   0.4   M.   Then,   the   acetic   acid  
solution   was   diluted   to   0.4,   0.3,   0.2,   0.1,   0.04,   and   0.02   M   solutions   using   volumetric   flasks.  
Approximately   1.5   g   of   charcoal   was   measured   and   added   to   twelve   different   stoppered  
Erlenmeyer   flasks.   Then,   100   mL   of   each   dilution   was   added   to   the   Erlenmeyer   flasks.   Having  
twelve   flasks   allowed   us   to   run   each   dilution   twice.   The   acetic   acid   charcoal   solutions   were   then  
shaken  vigorously,  capped,  and  allowed  to  sit  for  a  week.  The  solutions  were  then  filtered  with  
filter   paper   and   a   funnel,   keeping   the   filtered   liquid   acetic   acid.   These   solutions   were   titrated  
with   NaOH   with   10,   10,   10,   25,   25,   and   50   mL   aliquots   respectively   to   determine   the   final  
concentration  of  acetic  acid.  From  this  the  initial  and  final  moles  of  acetic  acid  were  calculated  by  
multiplying   the   molarity   by   the   volume   of   the   solution.   The   difference   of   these   values   is   the  
number   of   moles   of   acetic   acid   adsorbed   on   the   charcoal.   We   found   Y,   moles   of   acetic   acid  
adsorbed  per  gram  of  charcoal,  by  taking  these  values  and  dividing  them  by  the  mass  of  charcoal  
used  for  each  solution.  Y  was  plugged  into  both  isotherm  equations  and  plotted,  shown  in  results.  
 
 
Results  
 
Table  1.  Displays  the  determined  molarities  of  NaOH  and  Acetic  Acid  from  titrations  with  KHP.  
 
  Molarity  (mol/L)  
NaOH   0.09926  
Acetic  Acid   0.4063  
 
 
Table   2.  Displays  the  results  from  trials  one  and  two,  including  the  initial  and  final  molarities,  
moles  adsorbed,  Y  value,  log  (c),  log  (Y),  and  c/Y.  
 
Flask  #   Aliquot   Charcoal   Mass   Acetic   Acid   Water   Initial   Final  M   Moles  
(mL)   (g)   (mL)   (mL)   M   Adsorbed  
1   10   1.5007   100   0   0.4063   0.367600   0.00387  
2   10   1.5017   75   25   0.3047   0.270200   0.00345  
3   10   1.5006   50   50   0.2032   0.172900   0.00303  
4   25   1.5015   25   75   0.1016   0.077900   0.00237  
5   25   1.5028   10   90   0.0406   0.025700   0.00149  
6   50   1.5008   5   95   0.0203   0.010700   0.00096  
7   10   1.5023   100   0   0.4063   0.364600   0.00417  
8   10   1.5019   75   25   0.3047   0.266100   0.00386  
9   10   1.5031   50   50   0.2032   0.172300   0.00309  
10   25   1.5015   25   75   0.1016   0.078400   0.00232  
11   25   1.5016   10   90   0.0406   0.026400   0.00142  
12   50   1.5006   5   95   0.0203   0.010700   0.00096  
Table  2.  Cont’d  
Flask  #   Y  (mole  adsorbate/  g  adsorbent)   log  c  (c  is  final  M)   log  Y   c/Y  
1   0.002578797   -­‐0.434624497   -­‐2.588582918   142.5471111  
2   0.002297396   -­‐0.568314655   -­‐2.638764086   117.6114029  
3   0.002019192   -­‐0.762205007   -­‐2.694822314   85.62829703  
4   0.001578422   -­‐1.108462542   -­‐2.801776991   49.35310127  
5   0.000991483   -­‐1.590066877   -­‐3.003714918   25.92077852  
6   0.000639659   -­‐1.970616222   -­‐3.194051588   16.72766667  
7   0.002775744   -­‐0.438183336   -­‐2.556620612   131.3521775  
8   0.002570078   -­‐0.574955125   -­‐2.590053713   103.5377176  
9   0.002055751   -­‐0.763714723   -­‐2.687029395   83.8136343  
10   0.001545122   -­‐1.105683937   -­‐2.811037352   50.74034483  
11   0.000945658   -­‐1.578396073   -­‐3.024265915   27.91707042  
12   0.000639744   -­‐1.970616222   -­‐3.193993709   16.7254375  
 
 Y  vs.  c  
0.003  
0.0025  
Y  (mol/g)  

0.002  
0.0015  
0.001  
0.0005  
0  
0.000   0.050   0.100   0.150   0.200   0.250   0.300   0.350   0.400  
c  (mol/L)  
 
Figure  1.   Displays   the   typical   adsorption   isotherm   relationship   from   the   collected   data   for   trials  
1  and  2.  
 
 

Log10Y  vs.  Log10c  

0  
-­‐2.5   -­‐2   -­‐1.5   -­‐1   -­‐0.5   -­‐0.5   0  
y  =  0.3863x  -­‐  2.406  
Run  1  
R²  =  0.99107   -­‐1  
log10Y  

Run  2   y  =  0.4209x  -­‐  2.3593   -­‐1.5  

R²  =  0.9983  
-­‐2  
-­‐2.5  
-­‐3  
-­‐3.5  
log10c  
 
Figure   2.   Displays   the   Freundlich   adsorption   isotherm   for   trials   1   and   2.   This   is   a   linear  
relationship  between  the  log  of  the  concentration  of  the  adsorbate,  c,  and  the  log  of  the  amount  
of   adsorption,   Y.   The   least   squares   best-­‐fit   regression   is   a   line   where   the   slope   is   1/n   and   the  
intercept  is  log  k.  
 
 
Table  3.  Displays  the  Freundlich  experimentally  determined  constants,  n  and  k,  for  both  trials.  
Trial  1   n1   2.588661662   k1   0.003926449  
Trial  2   n2   2.375861250   k2   0.004371193  
Standard  Deviation  Between  1  and  2     0.150472615     0.000314481  
 
 
 c/Y  vs.  c  
160  
140  
120  
c  Y-­‐1  (g/L)  

100  
80  
60   Run  1   y  =  314.57x  +  20.859  
40   R²  =  0.98206  
Run  2  
20   y  =  353.78x  +  18.424  
0   R²  =  0.99007  
0.000   0.050   0.100   0.150   0.200   0.250   0.300   0.350   0.400  
c  (mol/L)  
 
Figure   3.   Displays   the   Langmuir   adsorption   isotherm   for   trials   1   and   2.   This   is   a   linear  
relationship   between   the   concentration   of   the   adsorbate,  c,   and   the   concentration   divided   by   the  
amount   of   adsorption,   c/Y.   The   least   squares   best-­‐fit   regression   is   a   line   where   the   slope   is  
1/Ymax  and  the  intercept  is  1/kYmax.  
 
 
Table   4.   Displays   the   Langmuir   experimentally   determined   constants,   Ymax   and   k,   for   both  
trials.  
Trial  1   Ymax1   0.003178943   k1   15.08078048  
Trial  2   Ymax2   0.002826615   k2   19.20212766  
Standard  Deviation  Between  1  and  2     0.000249133     2.914232539  
 
 
Discussion  
Figure   1   shows   how   the   rate   of   adsorption   between   acetic   acid   and   activated   charcoal   takes  
place,  according  to  Sime.1  The  rate  of  adsorption  is  very  rapid  at  first,  as  we  see  a  large,  positive  
slope  when  c  is  almost  0.  This  is  because  the  surface  of  the  activated  charcoal  is  practically  free.  
As   the   surface   fills   with   the   adsorbate,   the   rate   of   adsorption,   dY/dc   starts   to   decrease,   and   it  
begins   to   level   out.   Once   the   area   of   the   activated   charcoal   is   completely   filled,   we   see   no   further  
increase  in  the  amount  adsorbed  relative  to  the  concentration.  The  amount  adsorbed  when  the  
surface  is  completely  covered  is  called  Ymax.  We  see  that  our  data  fits  this  model  very  closely.  
Had   we   done   more   samples   with   higher   concentrations   of   acetic   acid,   we   would   have   seen   the  
graph  level  out  even  more  when  it  got  up  to  around  0.4  and  0.5  moles  per  liter.  Figure  2  shows  
the  Freundlich  isotherm,  which  we  got  by  taking  the  Log  of  both  sides  of  Figure  1.  Both  of  our  
trials   came   out   to   be   very   linear,   with   R   squared   values   of   0.99107   and   0.9983   respectively.  
Therefore,  we  can  conclude  that  the  data  obeys  the  Freundlich  isotherm  very  well.  From  the  least  
squares  regression  line,  we  can  find  the  experimentally  determined  constants,  k  and  n,  by  using  
the  slope  and  intercept;  these  values  can  be  found  in  Table  3.  The  y-­‐intercept  from  the  equation  
is   log   k,   and   from   that   we   were   able   to   find   k   values   of   0.003926449   and   0.004371193   with   a  
standard  deviation  of  0.000314481.  This  constant  describes  the  capacity  of  the  adsorbent,  so  it  
would   be   interesting   to   see   how  k   changes   with   other   experiments.   The   slope   for   the   Freundlich  
isotherm  is  1/n  and  the  intercept  is  log  k.  The  slope  value  must  be  between  0  and  1  to  obey  the  
isotherm.   For   trials   1   and   2,   the   slope   came   out   to   be   0.3866   and   0.4209   respectively.   From   that,  
the  experimentally  determined  constant,  n,  comes  out  to  2.588661662  and  2.37586125,  with  a  
standard  deviation  of  0.150472615.  According  to  the  Soil  Science  Society  of  America,  an  n  value  
between   0   and   10   means   that   the   adsorption   process   is   favorable.4   Figure   3   displays   the  
Langmuir   isotherm,   which   examines   the   relationship   between   the   concentration   and   the  
concentration  over  the  amount  of  adsorption.  We  examined  a  linear  relationship  for  both  trials,  
with  R  squared  values  of  0.98206  and  0.99007.  Since  the  data  is  linear,  it  follows  the  Langmuir  
equation  where  the  slope  is  1/Ymax  and  the  intercept  is  1/kYmax.  From  the  slope  and  intercept,  
we   were   able   to   calculate   the   experimentally   determined   constants,   Ymax   and   k,   for   the  
Langmuir   isotherm;   these   results   are   displayed   in   Table   4.   Ymax   is   the   maximum   amount   of  
acetic   acid   adsorbed   per   gram   of   activated   charcoal,   which   we   found   to   be   0.003178943   and  
0.002826615   for   trials   1   and   2   respectively   with   a   standard   deviation   of   0.000249133.   The   k  
values   for   the   Langmuir   equation   came   out   to   15.08078048   and   19.20212766   with   a   standard  
deviation  of  2.914232539.  It  would  be  interesting  to  compare  k  values  from  different  adsorbates  
to   see   how   they   change.   We   would   expect   to   see   a   larger   k   value   when   more   moles   were  
adsorbed.    
 
 
Conclusion  
In  conclusion,  the  data  follows  both  Langmuir  and  Freundlich  isotherms,  because  of  the  observed  
linear   regression   for   both   trials.   The   empirically   determined   constants   were   determined   and  
compared   between   the   two   trials   with   small   standard   deviations.   These   constants   were   also  
compared   to   literature   values   from   the   Soil   Science   Society   of   America.   We   found   that   our  
numbers   match   the   trends   of   a   high   adsorption   process,   making   our   results   very   favorable.   In  
order  to  get  even  more  accurate  results,  it  would  be  best  to  run  another  two  or  more  trials  of  the  
experiment.   It   would   also   be   interesting   to   see   how   changing   the   adsorbate   from   acetic   acid  
would   affect   the   overall   adsorption   of   the   process,   since   acetic   acid   works   so   well   with   activated  
charcoal.  The  adsorption  process  and  the  Langmuir  and  Freundlich  isotherms  prove  to  be  very  
useful  for  environmental  process,  particularly  in  wastewater  treatment  and  water  purification.    
 
 
References  
 
(1)  Sime,  R.  J.  Physical  Chemistry:  Methods,  Techniques,  and  Experiments;  Saunders  College  
Publishing,  1990,  528-­‐532  
(2)  Kinniburgh,  David  G.  General  Purpose  Adsorption  Isotherms.  Environ.  Sci  Technol.  
[Online]  1986,  20,  895-­‐904  http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es00151a008  
(accessed  Dec  2014).  
(3) Levine,  Ira  N.  Physical  Chemistry.    6th  ed.    2009.    Print.  
(4) S.  Goldberg.  “Equations  and  Models  Describing  Adsorption  Processes  in  Soils‘‘.  Soil  Science  
Society  of  America,  677  S.  Segoe  Road,  Madison,  WI  53711,  USA.  Chemical  Processes  in  
Soils.  SSSA  Book  Series,  (2005)  8.