Relationship between surface-modified activated carbons and volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons

The interactions between surface-modified activated carbons and trichloroethylene (TCE) or tetrachloroethylene (PCE) were estimated based on the adsorption isotherms and constants of the Freundlich and Langmuir equations. This result indicated that PCE strongly interacts with the activated carbon surface compared to TCE, because PCE is a more hydrophobic compound than TCE. The adsorption of TCE onto the activated carbon was effected to the presence of water, while that for PCE was not. The removal of TCE has to use for more hydrophobic activated carbon, that is, the activated carbon treated with hydrogen gas (AC-Red). On the other hand, the removal of PCE in water could be removed by the untreated activated carbon (AC).