The adsorption characteristics of the methylene blue (MB) were studied using three activated carbons such as ACA and ACB with similar specific surface area (1,185 and 1,105 m2/g), and ACC with relatively high specific surface area (1,760 m2/g). The surface chemical properties of these activated carbons were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that ACA had more functional groups (with phenol, carbonyl, and carboxyl etc.) than ACB (with carbonyl and carboxyl) and ACC (with carboxyl). The isotherm data were fitted well by Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption capacities of ACA, ACB, and ACC for MB were 454.7 mg/g, 337.7 mg/g, and 414.0 mg/g, respectively. As phenol and carboxyl content of the surface on activated carbon increased, MB adsorption capacity was increased. Although ACA had a smaller specific surface area than ACC, the content of phenol and carboxyl group was abundant, so MB adsorption capacity was found to be higher than ACC.

In this study, PVC-LMO beads were prepared by immobilizing lithium manganese oxide (LMO) with poly vinyl chloride (PVC) diluted in dioxane solvent. XRD and SEM analysis confirmed that LMO was immobilized well in PVC-LMO beads. The diameter of PVC-LMO beads prepared by dioxane solvent was about 2 mm. The adsorption experiments of lithium ions by PVC-LMO beads were conducted batchwise. The optimum pH was pH 10. The adsorption characteristics of lithium ions by PVC-LMO beads was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir model was 24.25 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters such as △H°, △S° and △G° were evaluated. The calculated ΔG° was between −6.16 and −4.14 kJ/mol (below zero), indicating the spontaneous nature of Li+ adsorption on PVC-LMO beads. Also, the results showed that PVC-LMO beads prepared in this study could be used for the removal of lithium ions from seawater containing coexisting ions such as Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+.

The solid phase extractant (PVC-D2EHPA bead) was prepared by immobilizing di-2-ethylhexyl-phosphoric acid (D2EHPA) with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The prepared PVC-D2EHPA beads were characterized by using fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The removal experiments of Cu(II) by PVC-D2EHPA beads conducted batchwise. The removal kinetics of Cu(II) was found to follow the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium data fitted well with Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum removal capacity was 2.6 mg/g at 20℃. The optimum pH region was in the range of 3.5 to 6. and the standard free energy (△Go) was between –4.67 ∼–4.98 kJ/mol, indicating the spontaneous nature of Cu(II) removal by PVC-D2EHPA beads.

The adsorption experiments of lithium ions were conducted in the fixed bed column packed with activated carbon modified with nitric acid. Effect of inlet concentration, bed hight and flow rate on the removal of lithium ions was investigated. The experimental results showed that the removal and the adsorption capacity of lithium ions increased with increasing inlet concentration, and decreased with increasing flow rate. When the bed height increased, the removal and the adsorption capacity increased. The breakthrough curves gave a good fit to Bohart-Adams model. Adsorption capacity and breakthrough time calculated from Bohart-Adams model, these results were remarkably consistent with the experimental values. The adsorption capacity was not changed in the case of 3 times repetitive use of adsorbent.

In order to remove fluoride ions from aqueous solution, PVC-Al(OH)3 beads were prepared by immobilizing Al(OH)3 with polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The prepared PVC-Al(OH)3 bead was characterized by using SEM, EDS and Zeta potential. Dependences of pH, contact time and initial fluoride concentration on the adsorption of fluoride ions were studied. The optimal pH was in the range of 4～10. The adsorption was rapid during the initial 12 hr, and equilibrium was attained within 72 hr. The adsorption rate of fluoride ions by PVC-Al(OH)3 beads obeyed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained from Langmuir isotherm model was found to be 62.68 mg/g.

Adsorption of phenol on activated carbon in a fixed bed was studied. The effects of fixed-bed length, superficial velocity (flow rate) and particle size of adsorbent on fixed-bed performance were investigated. Some characteristic parameters such as the breakthrough time (t0.05), saturation time (t0.95), length of mass transfer zone (LMTZ), adsorptive capacity (W), and adsorption rate constant (Ka) were derived from the breakthrough curves. Adsorbent particle sizes significantly affected the shape of the breakthrough curve. Larger particle sizes resulted in an earlier breakthrough, a longer LMTZ and a lower adsorption rate. Superficial velocity was a critical factor for the external mass transfer during fixed-bed adsorption process. The external mass transfer resistance was dominant as increasing superficial velocity.

The adsorption ability of wood-based activated carbon to adsorb methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) from aqueous solution has been investigated. Adsorption studies were carried out on the batch experiment at different initial MB and CV concentrations (MB=150 mg/L～400 mg/L, CV=50 mg/L～350 mg/L), contact time, and temperature. The results showed that the MB and CV adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic and intraparticle diffusion was the rate-limiting step. Adsorption equilibrium data of the adsorption process fitted very well to both Langmuir and Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) by Langmuir constant was 416.7 mg/g for MB and 462.4 mg/g for CV. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG° were evaluated. The MB and CV adsorption process was found to be endothermic for the two dyes.