The electrically conducting and partially porous graphite based adsorbent (called NyexTM 2000) was tested for its adsorption capacity and electrochemical regeneration ability for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution. NyexTM 2000 was tested in comparison with NyexTM 1000, which is currently being used for a number of industrial waste water treatment applications. NyexTM 1000 exhibited small adsorption capacity of 0.1 mg g^(-1) for phenol because of having small specific surface area of 1 m2 g^(-1). In contrast, NyexTM 2000 with specific surface area of 17 m2 g^(-1) delivered an adsorption capacity of 0.8mg g^(-1), which was eight-fold higher than that of NyexTM 1000. NyexTM 2000 was successfully electrochemically regenerated by passing a current of 0.5 A, charge passed of 31 C g^(-1) for a treatment time of 45 minutes. These electrochemical parameters were comparable to NyexTM 1000 for which a current of 0.5 A, charge passed of 5 C g^(-1) for a treatment time of 20 minutes were applied for complete oxidation of adsorbed phenol. The comparatively high charge density was found to be required for NyexTM 2000, which is justified with its higher adsorption capacity. The FTIR results validated the mineralization of adsorbed phenol into CO2 and H2O except the formation of few by-products, which were in traces when compared with the concentration of phenol removed from aqueous solution. The electrical energy as required for electrochemical oxidation of phenol adsorbed onto NyexTM 1000 & 2000 was found to be 214 and 196 J mg^(-1), respectively. The comparatively low energy requirement for electrochemical oxidation using NyexTM 2000 is consistent with its higher bed electrical conductivity, which is twice that of NyexTM 1000.

Phenol Improved Adsorption Bed Electrical Conductivity Reduced Electrical Cost

Mishra DS, Bhattachara DL, M. J. Chem., 9, 51 (2008)
Qadeer R, Turk J. Chem., 26, 357 (2002)
Michalowicz J, Duda W, Pol. J. Environ. Stud., 16, 347 (2007)
Walker GM, Weatherley LR, Environ. Pollut., 99, 133 (1997)
Sharma YC, Upadhyay USN, Gode F, J. Appl. Sci. Tech. Environ. Sanit., 4, 21 (2009)
Leng CC, Pinto NG, Carbon., 35, 1375 (1996)
Korbahti BK, J. Hazard. Mater., 145(1-2), 277 (2007)
Brown NW, Roberts EPL, Garforth AA, Dryfe RAW, Electrochim. Acta, 49(20), 3269 (2004)
Brown NW, Roberts EPL, Chasiotis A, Cherdron T, Sanghrajaka N, Water Res., 38, 3067 (2004)
Brown NW, Roberts EPL, Garforth AA, Dryfe RAW, Water Sci. Technol., 49, 219 (2004)
Brown NW, Roberts EPL, J. Appl. Electrochem., 37(11), 1329 (2007)
Narbaitz RM, J. Cen, Water Res., 28, 1771 (1994)
Hararah MA, Ibrahim KA, Al-Muhtaseb AH, Yousef RI, Abu-Surrah A, Qatatsheh A, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 117(4), 1908 (2010)
Vasu AE, Electron. J. Theor. Chem., 5(2), 224 (2008)
Nadia R, Tezel FH, J. Environ. Manage., 70, 157 (2004)
Asghar HMA, Roberts EPL, Hussain SN, Campen AK, Brown NW, J. Appl. Electrochem., 42(9), 797 (2012)
Asghar HMA, Hussain SN, Roberts EPL, Brown NW, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 30(7), 1415 (2013)
Asakawa T, Ogino K, Yamabe K, The Chemical Society of Japan, 58, 2009 (1985)
Hussain SN, Water treatment using graphite adsorbents with electrochemical regeneration, PhD Thesis, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK (2012)
Streat M, Patrick JW, Perez MJC, Water Res., 29(2), 467 (1994)
Juang RS, Tseng RL, Wu FC, Lee SH, Sep. Sci. Technol., 31(14), 1915 (1996)
Asghar HMA, Development of graphitic adsorbents for wastewater treatment using adsorption and electrochemical regeneration, PhD Thesis, The University of Manchester, UK (2011)
Hussain SN, Roberts EPL, Asghar HMA, Campen AK, Brown NW, Electrochim. Acta, 92, 20 (2013)
Hussain SN, Asghar HMA, Campen AK, Brown NW, Roberts EPL, Electrochim. Acta, In Press (2013)