Effects of carbon surface chemistry and solution pH on the adsorption of binary aromatic solutes

Adsorption of p-cresol, nitrobenzene and p-nitrophenol on treated and untreated carbons is investigated systematically. The effects of carbon surface chemistry and solution pH are studied and discussed. All adsorption experiments were carried out in pH-controlled solutions to examine the adsorption properties of the adsorption systems where the solutes are in molecular as well as ionic forms. Using the homogeneous Langmuir equation, the single solute parameters are determined. These parameters are then used to predict the binary solute adsorption isotherms and gain further insights into the adsorption process. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.