Competitive adsorption amongst several organic pollutants on activated carbon

For the advanced treatment of drinking water by activated carbon (AC, C1 new carbon, C2 used 1.5 years´ carbon and C3 used 2.5 years´ carbon ), the competitive adsorption among benzene, toluene, styrene, chlorobenzene, dichloromethane and trichloromethane with higher concentration in water were investigated. The results showed that octanol/water partition coefficient, dipole of adsorbate respond lipophilic and polar character of substances had greater effects on competitive adsorption on AC than that of HOMO energy and molar refraction. AC easily adsorbed the matters with small polarity, strong polarization of valence electrons, hydrophobic lipophilicity and volatile organic electronics.