Separating surface and solvent effects and the notion of critical adsorption energy in the adsorption of phenolic compounds by activated carbons

A modified form of the Freundlich equation in which the solute equilibrium concentration is normalized with respect to the solute solubility is analyzed and applied to adsorption isotherms of phenol, 4-nitrophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and 2-chlorophenol at different values of pH on commercial activated carbon before and after oxidation. The analysis confirms the importance of normalizing the solute equilibrium concentration when analyzing the adsorption isotherms, and it is suggested that a parameter, K-F10, obtained by taking 10% solubility as the reference point when applying the Freundlich equation, is probably the best comparative estimate of the relative adsorption capacity of the carbon for different phenolic compounds. In combination with the Freundlich exponent, n(F), estimates of the adsorption capacity at any other reference point can then be obtained. Analysis of the experimental results also indicates a need to distinguish between two regimes of adsorption, characterized by an adsorption energy, E-ads, greater than or less than a critical value, E-ca. When E-ads > E-ca, the shape of the adsorption isotherm is determined by solute-solid interactions. On the other hand, when E-ads < E-ca solute-solution interactions become more important.