Surface oxides of activated carbon: Internal reflectance spectroscopic examination of activated sugar carbons

Abstract

The nature of the activated carbon surface with respect to surface functional groups has been examined using infrared internal reflectance spectroscopy (IRS). By employing this recently developed technique, the surface character of laboratory-activated sugar carbons has been examined as a function of activation temperature and atmosphere. The IRS spectra obtained for series of O2 and CO2 + O2 activated carbons indicate the presence of dicarboxylic acids and quinone carbonyl groups. The adsorption isotherms of p-nitrophenol on these carbons has been studied and has been shown to conform with the previously suggested adsorption mechanism involving the formation of a donor-acceptor complex with surface carbonyl oxygen.