Theory of Adsorption by Activated Carbon. I. Microscopic Aspects

Abstract

The adsorption of solutes by activated carbon is modeled at the microscopic level by means of the equations of continuity and mass balance. Two competing solutes are assumed present. The effects of the following parameters are considered: pore depth, radius, and variability of radius; solute diffusion constants; solute Langmuir isotherm parameters; and the rate constants for solute chemisorption. The results of this approach are then compared with a much simpler lumped parameter model for activated carbon adsorption of two competing solutes. Quite good agreement is obtained, which validates the utility of the simpler model.