INFLUENCE OF RESIN CONTENT ON THE SORPTION PROPERTIES OF ADSORBENTS PRODUCED FROM NOVOLAC-BIOMASS COMPOSITES

Carbonaceous adsorbents produced from mixtures of novolac resin and ol ive stone biomass in various proportions were investigated with respec t to their ability to adsorb toluene and cyclohexane from the vapour p hase. The adsorption of toluene on all adsorbents was found to be high er than that of cyclohexane. The overall diffusion coefficient, D, of the adsorption process, the specific surface area and the pore volume of the adsorbents have been calculated. The results are discussed in t erms of the size and shape of the pores, the polarity of the adsorbate and the dispersion forces between adsorbent and adsorbate. It is conc luded that slit-shaped pores are also present in the adsorbents which are characteristic of carbon molecular sieves. Toluene can enter more pores than cyclohexane for the adsorbents used. The adsorbent derived from the mixture of novolac/biomass=20/80 shows the highest adsorption (i.e. equilibrium uptake, diffusion coefficient, specific surface are a and pore volume) of toluene and cyclohexane.