Adsorption Properties Evaluation of Active Carbons Derived from Nitrogen Enriched Lignite

Only few studies concerning the development of new solid catalysts and adsorbents are devoted to the preparation of active carbon modified by incorporation on nitrogen. Our interest is focused on the preparation of active carbons starting from coals enriched in nitrogen before the step of activation. The samples (lignite and derivatives) are tested by frontal chromatography to determine the phenol adsorption capacities. The choice of this technic is based on the dynamic process that reflects more closely the use of adsorbent in industrial conditions comparing to batch process. We also describe a new method to determine the quantity of phenol adsorbed, based on the difference of two chromatographic profiles obtained respectively by a non-adsorbed substance and the adsorbed substance.