Effects of activated carbon properties on chlorobenzene adsorption and adsorption product analysis

• The AC microporosity much favours chlorobenzene adsorption than the AC basic groups.
• The desorption energy for chemisorbed chlorobenzene is 99.2 kJ/mol.
• Chlorobenzene adsorption decreased lactone/quinone groups with AC structure damaged.

Activated carbon (AC) adsorption is highly effective for the removal of volatile organic compounds. The effects of AC properties on chlorobenzene adsorption were investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. The AC microporosity is more favourable for chlorobenzene adsorption than the basic groups. The interactions between chlorobenzene and AC with the adsorption products were investigated by temperature programed desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectrum, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectrum measurements. The results show that chlorobenzene is both physically and chemically adsorbed by AC, with the chemically adsorbed chlorobenzene accounting for approximately 13.1% of the total adsorbed amount. The desorption activation energy for chemically adsorbed chlorobenzene was determined to be 99.2 kJ/mol. The chlorobenzene chemical adsorption process changes both the functional groups and the carbon crystal structure of AC. The lactone and quinone groups on AC decrease in number, and the carbon crystal structure of AC is slightly damaged after chlorobenzene adsorption.