IRREVERSIBLE ADSORPTION OF PHENOL ONTO AC TIVE CARBONS IN PRESENCE OFA SURFACTANT

Adsorption isotherms of phenol and of the surfactant Marion PS 65 onto active carbon C 40/1 and CG 1-3 (from Carbotech Essen) at 20-degrees- C have been studied as single components as well as mixtures. The sing le components are adsorbed in similar quantities. The mixture measurem ents yield different results for different ways of addition of the com ponent solutions to the adsorbents. If phenol and the surfactant are a dded contemporaneously, the surfactant is adsorbed almost as strongly as in case of single component adsorption, whereas phenol is restraine d substantially. if surfactant solution is first added to active carbo n and phenol only after one week, almost same results are obtained. In the inverse case, phenol is stronger adsorbed than surfactant. This e ffect may be caused by irreversible adsorption of the first added adso rptive and such way desorption of phenol by the surfactant seems not t o be possible.