Removal of chlorophenols in aqueous solution by carbon black low-cost adsorbents. Equilibrium study and influence of operation conditions

The adsorption process of chlorophenols (CPs) by low-cost adsorbents such as carbon blacks has been studied. The influence of different parameters such as temperature, pH, ionic strength and textural properties of the adsorbents on the adsorption process of pentachlorophenol has been analyzed. The adsorption process is exothermal and parameters such as pH and ionic strength exert a noticeable influence on the adsorption capacity of the solute. These parameters influence the adsorption capacity in an opposite manner. Thus an increase in pH seems to unfavor the adsorption process, whereas the adsorption capacity increases with increasing ionic strength. In order to analyze the influence of the number of chlorine atoms in the molecule of solute the adsorption process of different chlorophenols (i.e., 4-chlorophenol, 3,5-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol) was analyzed. As the number of chlorine atoms (and thus the volume of the molecule) increases, the penetration of the solute through the porous texture of the adsorbent is difficult and, consequently, the adsorption capacity decreases.