Adsorption of pollutants on to activated carbon in fixed beds

The adsorption of certain pollutants, namely phenol, p‐chlorophenol, sodium dodecyl sulphate and mercuric ions, on to activated carbon has been studied using fixed bed systems. There are three main methods of contacting in solid/liquid adsorption systems, namely batch, fixed bed and fluidized bed systems. In fixed bed adsorption the adsorption rate is determined on the basis of adsorption equilibrium (unfavourable, linear, favourable or completely irreversible) and the controlling mechanism (external film mass transport, internal pore diffusion, internal solid phase diffusion or longitudinal diffusion). One or more of the previous transport mechanisms may be rate controlling depending on the solute‐adsorbent system. For an adsorbent like activated carbon which is highly porous both external transport and pore diffusion will be very important. An adsorption model, based on external mass transport and internal pore diffusion, has been applied to the systems to predict theoretical breakthrough curves. These curves have then been compared with experimental data and using a ‘best fit’ technique, an effective pore diffusion coefficient can be determined for each sorbate–carbon system.