Effect of wood particle size on uptake and desorption study of chlorophenols by woody materials

Abstract

The impact of particle size on biosorbent performance is not well researched. Batch tests found pine and hardwood (HW) had a chlorophenol (CP) uptake of 3.1–7.1 mg g−1 with an initial rapid uptake but equilibrium within 72 h. Pine particle size (0.6–4.75 mm) was relatively independent of surface area and equilibrium CP uptake. This was due to the elongate nature of the ground particles which had a length to width ratio of between 4:1 and 8:1 and a sieved particle size closely aligned with particle width rather than particle length. Intra-particle diffusion was a dominant sorption mechanism. Sorption–desorption isotherms of CP on pine and HW can be best described by the Freundlich equation. Desorption of CP showed greater hysteresis with increased hydrophobicity.