Study on the Adsorption of Trichloroethylene in Water on Activated Carbon and Activated Carbon Fibers

Abstract

The removal of trichloroethylene (TCE) from water using activated carbon fibers (ACF) and activated carbon (AC) was investigated. Adsorption, as an efficient process to remove TCE from water was chosen; in particular with ACF and AC as adsorbents. The results showed that physisorption play important roles for adsorption of TCE onto activated carbon fibers, while the less important chemisorption. Langmuir and Freundlich models were then employed to correlate the equilibria data. The Langmuir model best described the AC adsorption isotherm of TCE, with R2 0.9942. Freundlich model best fitted the ACF adsorption isotherm of TCE, with R2 0.9978.