Effect of surface modification of an engineered activated carbon on the sorption of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and benazolin from water

The performance of a conventional (F400) and a surface modified activated carbon (F400AN) has been investigated for the sorption of benazolin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) from water. It was observed that the modified carbon, F400AN, which was obtained by annealing the conventional sample had a higher BET surface area (960 m2 g−1 compared to 790 m2 g−1) and it had a higher proportion of micropores. This was attributed to the loss of oxygen containing functional groups during the thermal treatment. Zeta potential and pH titration measurements also showed that acidic functionality had been lost on the F400AN sample. The adsorption data were analysed and were fitted well using the Langmuir isotherm. The modified carbon marginally out-performed the conventional activated carbon for sorption of these two herbicides. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG0ΔG0, ΔH0ΔH0, and ΔS0ΔS0) were determined and their values indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic for both herbicides. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model was employed for analysing the kinetic data. It was concluded that the herbicide sorption process was controlled by a film diffusion mechanism.

Graphical abstractThe performance of a conventional (F400) and a surface modified activated carbon (F400AN) has been investigated for the sorption of benazolin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) from water. It was observed that the modified carbon, F400AN, which was obtained by annealing the conventional sample had a higher BET surface area (960 m2 g−1 compared to 790 m2 g−1) and it had a higher proportion of micropores. This was attributed to the loss of oxygen containing functional groups during the thermal treatment. Zeta potential and pH titration measurements also showed that acidic functionality had been lost on the F400AN sample. The adsorption data were analysed and were fitted well using the Langmuir isotherm. The modified carbon marginally out-performed the conventional activated carbon for sorption of these two herbicides. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG0ΔG0, ΔH0ΔH0, and ΔS0ΔS0) were determined and their values indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic for both herbicides. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model was employed for analysing the kinetic data. It was concluded that the herbicide sorption process was controlled by a film diffusion mechanism.