Removal of organic compounds by alginate gel beads with entrapped activated carbon

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2005-04, Vol.120 (1), p.237-241
• Main Authors: Lin, Yong-Bo, Fugetsu, Bunshi, Terui, Norifumi, Tanaka, Shunitz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption; Adsorption isotherm; Alginate gel beads entrapping activated carbon; Alginates - chemistry; Applied sciences; Carbon; Chemical engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Molecular Weight; Organic Chemicals - isolation & purification; Pollution; Removal of organic compounds; Temperature; Water Pollutants - isolation & purification; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2005.01.010

The adsorption of alginate gel (AG) beads and AG with activated carbon entrapped (AG–AC) beads prepared using different types of metal ions were investigated by measuring the removal of several organic compounds with different charges and size. AG–AC beads prepared in a CaCl 2 solution adsorbed strongly positively charged compounds as well as electrically neutral and low molecular weight compounds such as p-chlorophenol. However, a high molecular weight humic acid was not adsorbed by AG–AC. The AG–AC selectively adsorbed p-chlorophenol from a humic acid solution. The adsorption capacity obtained from the adsorption isotherm of AC entrapped in AG was compared with that of AC. The AG–AC beads prepared in a solution of FeCl 3 were able to specifically adsorb negatively charged gallic acid. Thus, entrapping AC into AG resulted in the selective adsorption.