Adsorption of chromium by activated carbon from aqueous solution Original Research Article

Adsorption isotherms of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions on two samples of activated carbon fibres and two samples of granulated activated carbons from aqueous solutions in the concentration range 20–1000 mg/l have been studied. The adsorption isotherms have been determined after modifying the activated carbon surfaces by oxidation with nitric acid, ammonium persulphate, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen gas at 350°C and after degassing at different temperatures. The adsorption of Cr(III) ions increases on oxidation and decreases on degassing. On the other hand, the adsorption of Cr(VI) ions decreases on oxidation and increases on degassing. The increase of Cr(III) and the decrease of Cr(VI) on oxidation and the decrease of Cr(III) and the increase of Cr(VI) on degassing have been attributed to the fact that the oxidation of the carbon surface enhances the amount of acidic carbon–oxygen surface groups while degassing eliminates these surface groups. Thus while the presence of acidic surface groups enhances the adsorption of Cr(III) cations, it suppresses the adsorption of Cr(VI) anions.