RESEARCH ON ION EXCHANGE CAPACITY OF OXIDIZEDACTIVATED CARBON
Ion exchange capacity of oxidized activated carbon (OAC) by HNO3 and surface treatment by NaOH solution was investigated. The HNO3oxidizedfunctional groups on the activated carbon surface, such as ketone, carboxylic acid and its derivatives, to maximum oxidation state. The OAC surface played the role as cation exchanger for adsorption of inorganic compounds, especially metallic cations. The adsorption capacity of OAC was investigated in batch mode with three representative ions with different valence from +1 to +3 (NH4+, Ca2+, Cr3+). The adsorption process was demonstrated by Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal model, and the maximum adsorption capacity according to Langmuir isothrermal equation was 20.4 mg/g for NH4+, 43.5 mg/g for Ca2+ and 38.5 mg/g for Cr3+. The results showed the OAC modified by HNO3 and surface treatment by NaOH solution improved adsorption capacity of AC for cations in solution to a higher level.