Highly mesoporous activated carbon electrode for capacitive deionization

The capacitive deionization (CDI) technology using different activated carbon electrodes was investigated to desalinate. The effect of specific surface area and pore structure of the activated carbon electrodes on the amount of ions removed in CDI was demonstrated. A highly mesoporous activated carbon (ACk2) was chosen to study desalination performance in detail. It is found that the electrosorption kinetics follows pseudo-first-order model. The electrosorption isotherm investigation shows that Langmuir isotherm can better describe experimental data. The maximum electrosorption capacity (qm) of the ACk2 electrode decreases from 10.9 to 9.4 mg/g when solution temperature increases from 289 to 308 K. Good reproducibility in regeneration phase was achieved because of highly mesoprous distribution of ACk2 electrodes.

► Low-cost highly mesoporous activated carbons were used as electrodes for CDI.
► BET and pore structure of electrodes have an important influence on capacity.
► The electrosorption kinetics follows pseudo-first-order model.
► Langmuir isotherm can better describe experimental data.
► Good reproducibility in regeneration phase was achieved.