ADSORPTION

DEFINITION
• Adsorption is the process in which matter is
extracted from one phase and concentrated
at the surface of a second phase. (Interface
accumulation).
• This is a surface phenomenon.
• Adsorption process is mainly used for waste
water treatment
Types of adsorption
 1) Physical adsorption
• The gas molecules adhere to the
surface of the solid adsorbent as a
result of intermolecular attractive
forces (van der Waals forces)
between them
• The process is exothermic: the heat
liberated is in the order of the the
enthalpy of condensation of vapor
(2-20 kJ/gmole)
• The process is reversible (recovery
of adsorbent material or adsorbed
gas is possible) by increasing the
temperature or lowering the
adsorbate conc.
• Physical adsorption usually directly
proportional to the amount of solid
surface area
• Adsorbate can be adsorbed on a
monolayer or a number of layers
• The adsorption rate is generally
quite rapid
 2) Chemical adsorption
• Results from a chemical interaction between
the adsorbate and adsorbent. Therefore formed
bond is much stronger than that for physical
adsorption
• Heat liberated during chemisorption is in the
range of 20-400 kj/g mole
• It is frequently irreversible. On desorption the
chemical nature of the original adsorbate will
have undergone a change.
• Only a monomolecular layer of adsorbate
appears on the adsorbing medium
Adsorption Mechanism
 Common Adsorbents
• Activated carbon - a char-like material with high
surface area.
• Silica gel - hard, granular, porous material made by
precipitation from sodium silicate solutions treated
with an acid
• Activated alumina - aluminum oxide activated at
high temperature and used primarily for moisture
adsorption.
• Aluminosilicates (molecular sieves) – porous
synthetic zeolites used primarily in separation
processes.
 Activated Carbon as an
Adsorbent
• Activated carbon is by far the most common
adsorbent used in wastewater treatment.
• Since, during adsorption, the pollutant is
removed by accumulation at the interface
between the activated carbon (absorbent) and
the wastewater (liquid phase) the adsorbing
capacity of activated carbon is always
associated with very high surface area per
unit volume.
 Scanning
Electron
Microscope
Image of
GAC
Adsorption for water
treatment
 Adsorption in water
treatment (flow sheet)
• Carbon absorption removes disagreeable tastes
and odors, including objectionable chlorine.
• Activated carbon effectively removes many
chemicals and gases, and in some cases it can be
effective against microorganisms.
• However, generally it will not affect total
dissolved solids, hardness, or heavy metals.
How Activated Carbon
works?
• GAC will improve the quality of drinking water by removing:
1. Taste and odour forming compounds (compounds such as MIB and
geosmin)
2. Pesticides including byproducts (e.g. atrazine)
3. Colour
4. Trihalomethanes and other disinfection byproducts (DBP removal)
5. Algal toxins
6. Chlorinated hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds
(VOC removal)
7. Endocrine distrupting compounds (EDC removal) and other
micropollutants
8. Pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCP removal)
 Carbon Adsorption

Advantages Disadvantages

•Removes
•Can generate
dissolved organics
carbon fines.
and chlorine
•Does not remove
effectively.
or treat many
•Long life (high
contaminants.
capacity).