Effect of metal additives on the physico-chemical characteristics of activated carbon exemplified by benzene and acetic acid adsorption Original Research Article

The effects of treatment with inorganic salts exemplified by Mg (NO3)2 or Ba (NO3)2 on the physical-chemical characteristics of activated carbon were studied. Results indicate that the pore volume remains relatively unchanged upon salt treatment when the pore diameter ranges between 7 Å and 20 Å. Significant variation in pore volume was observed when pore diameter is less than 7 Å; generally, the pore volume of AC is greater than AC–Ba and AC–Mg. Major oxygen functional groups such as hydroxyl group for AC, carboxyl group for AC–Ba, and hydroxyl and carbonyl groups for AC–Mg were created. Regenerated at a temperature of 400°C, creates more pore volume especially when treated with Mg(NO3)2 with an increase of 13.0%. The regenerated AC–Mg exhibits the greatest acetic acid adsorption capacity among all activated carbons studies.