Adsorption of Vapor of Aromatic Volatile Compounds by Modified BAU-A Activated Carbon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-5-167-179Keywords:
birch activated carbon, vapor adsorption of aromatic compounds, modification of activated carbons, air purification, environmental safetyAbstract
The article presents the results of modifying Russian-made industrial birch BAU-A activated carbon and its use for the vapor adsorption of benzene, toluene and xylene (BTK). The modified adsorbent sample was obtained by chemical treatment of the original activated carbon with 0.5 M aqueous citric acid solution, followed by drying and activation at 300 °C. The specific sorption capacity of the original activated carbon (BAU-A) and its modified analog (mBAU-A), as well as the kinetic patterns of the vapor adsorption of benzene, toluene, and xylene isomers, were determined by gravimetric analysis at 25 °C and atmospheric pressure. The kinetic data obtained were analyzed using the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Yelovich, and Morris-Weber models. The results showed that modification with citric acid significantly increases the specific adsorption capacity of the sorbent (7.4–14.0 %). The greatest improvement was observed for o-xylene vapors. The adsorption behavior of benzene and toluene vapors on both the original and modified carbon adsorbents was well described by the pseudo-second order kinetic equations, indicating the limiting nature of the adsorbate molecules chemisorption. The kinetic data for the adsorption of o-xylene and p-xylene vapors were better described by the pseudo-first order equation, suggesting the limiting nature of the physical adsorption stage. The results obtained using the Morris-Weber model were also in good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting a possible contribution of diffusion processes to vapor absorption of the aromatic compounds. The observed improvement in the technical performance of the modified activated carbon compared to the original adsorbent is due to the formation of acidic functional groups on its surface, which facilitate the binding of adsorbate molecules and increase the specific adsorption capacity. Overall, modification with citric acid improves the adsorption properties of the industrial BAU-A activated carbon, enhancing its competitive advantages over other brands of carbon adsorbents, including foreign ones.
For citation: Sahle T.T., Cherednichenko A.G., Markova E.B., Glinushkin A.P. Adsorption of Vapor of Aromatic Volatile Compounds by Modified BAU-A Activated Carbon. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2026, no. 5, pp. 167–179. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2026-5-167-179
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Copyright (c) 2026 Sahle T.T., Cherednichenko A.G., Markova E.B., Glinushkin A.P.
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