Adsorption of iron ions from aqueous solution using modified active carbon

摘要

The adsorption of iron (Ⅲ) from aqueous solution has been investigated using commercially available active carbon. The active carbon was deashed and then subjected to three different modification procedures: high-temperature treatment under vacuum and in ammonia atmosphere as well as oxidation with cone, nitric acid. The chemical character of the modified carbons was determined by various spectral (FTIR, XPS) and adsorption methods. The effect of pH of the external solution on the isotherms of iron ions adsorption was investigated. It was found that the presence of both oxygen- and nitrogen-containing surface functionalities significantly increased the adsorption capacity for iron (Ⅲ). The character of metal bond to carbon surface was studied by XPS. Some possible interactions between iron ions and carbon surface are discussed.