Effect of Two-step Surface Modification of Activated Carbon on the Adsorption Characteristics of Metal Ions in Wastewater I. Equilibrium and Batch Adsorptions

The two-step surface modifications of activated carbon was carried out to improve the adsorption capacity of toxic heavy metal ions in liquid phase. Physical and chemical properties of the as-received activated carbon (AC) and two kinds of surface-modified activated carbons ($1^{st}AC$ and $2^{nd}AC$) were evaluated through the BET analysis, surface acidity, and oxides measurements. Specific surface area and pore volume did not significantly change, but surface oxide-group remarkably increased by the surface modification. Equilibrium and batch adsorptions of the various metals, such as Pb, Cd, and Cr, using AC, $1^{st}AC$, and $2^{nd}AC$ were performed at initial pH 5. The adsorption capacity and rate of $2^{nd}AC$ were higher than those of AC and $1^{st}AC$. The carboxylic/sodium carboxylate complex groups were developed from the two-step surface modification of activated carbon, which strongly affected the adsorption of metal ions.