AQUEOUS-PHASE ADSORPTION OF TRICHLOROETHENE AND CHLOROFORM ONTO POLYMERIC RESINS AND ACTIVATED CARBON

The adsorption of the EPA priority pollutants trichloroethene (TCE) and chloroform (CHCl3) from aqueous solutions onto activated carbon and macroporous polymeric resins was investigated over a wide concentration range. Over much of the concentration range studied, activated carbon adsorbed more TCE and CHCl3on a weight basis and on a surface area basis than did the polymer resins. At concentrations greater than 1000 µg/L, the adsorption capacity, on a surface area basis, for the different resins and for activated carbon was similar. The adsorption isotherms were fitted by the empirical Freundlich isotherm and the semiempirical isotherm of Jossens et al. The affinity of the solutes for the different resins was qualitatively described by a simple Hildebrand solubility parameter correlation. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.