COMPETITIVE ACTIVATED CARBON ADSORPTION OF PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS

Phenolic, and particularly chlorinated phenolic, compounds are toxic to many aquatic organisms and cause taste and odor problems. Competitive adsorption, by activated carbon, of phenolic compounds from 2- and 3-solute mixtures was studied. Phenols with 2 or 3 chlorine substituents (2,4-dichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol) were strongly adsorbable and adsorbed preferentially to 2-chlorophenol, phenol and m-cresol. Data generally fit Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The dichloro- and trichlorophenols adsorbed more strongly than predicted by the Polanyi-based model when in competition with other phenolics. The cumulative adsorption capacities for the mixtures containing all phenolic compounds were lower than those for individual compounds.