A. Torrents et al., LOW-TEMPERATURE THERMAL-DESORPTION OF AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS FROM ACTIVATED CARBON, Journal of hazardous materials, 54(3), 1997, pp. 141-153
Low-temperature thermal desorption of three aromatic compounds (toluen
e, chlorobenzene, and nitrobenzene) loaded on activated carbon was inv
estigated, Desorption kinetics of these compounds followed an exponent
ial-decay-type model assuming a distribution of sites over a range of
activation energies. The activation energies of toluene, chlorobenzene
and nitrobenzene were 17.6, 26.0, and 35.6 kJ mol(-1), corresponding
to initial surface concentrations of 190, 300, and 610mg g(-1), respec
tively, The desorption parameters determined using a simplified model
predicted the aqueous phase adsorption of toluene and nitrobenzene and
were used to estimate the residual contaminant concentrations as a fu
nction of time and temperature, The presence of electron-withdrawing f
unctional groups increases the activation energy and thus the higher t
emperature required for desorption. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.