Equilibrium Adsorption Capacity of Estrogens onto Activated Carbon

• Published in: ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH Vol. 42; pp. 253 - 263
• Main Authors: CHEONG, Eunjeong, YUASA, Akira, LI, Fusheng, MATSUI, Ybshihiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Society of Civil Engineers 2005
• Subjects: Activated Carbon; Adsorption; Estrogens; Isotherm
• ISSN: 1341-5115; 1884-829X
• DOI: 10.11532/proes1992.42.253

Batch activated carbon adsorption experiments were performed for investigation of the adsorption capacity of estrone, 17β-estradiol and estriol using single-solute and mixed-solute solutions. The single-solute isotherm data for all three adsorbates were well described by the Freundlich isotherm expression and the associated adsorption parameters (Freundlich constant K and exponent 1/n) were thus determined. The K values were relatively large, 493.6, 347.8 and 194.4 (mg/g)/(mg/L)1/n for E1, E2 and E3, respectively, which indicated strong adsorbabilities. In regard of 1/n, the determined values fell in a range below 0.3 (0.264, 0.227 and 0.197 for El, E2 and E3, respectively), suggesting strong affinity of these compounds to the activated carbon used (Filtrasorb 400). When subjected to adsorption in mixed solutions with different solute and concentration combinations, the adsorption capacity of all these three compounds decreased obviously, as compared to that in single-solute solutions. However, the order assessed in terms of the magnitude of adsorption capacity was found not changed as it was in single solute solutions, i. e., E1>E2>E3.