Determination of surface groups of activated carbons from different sources and their application for heavy metals treatment

Abstract

Investigation of the carbon content and the concentration of surface groups is important for making activated carbons selective to pollutant adsorption. Potentiometric Boehm titration was applied to study the quantitative composition of the surface groups for three activated carbons – granulated activated carbon and biochars prepared from pea peels and grape woody vine. It was found that all examined activated carbons have carboxylic groups, which make a major contribution to their acidity. The most basic character due to total basicity/total acidity ratio had the biochar prepared from pea peels. The ability of the activated carbons to remove Ni(II), Fe(III), Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II) ions from aqueous solutions by adsorption was tested.