Surface Chemistry Modifications of Activated Carbon Adsorbents
Summary
Activated carbon is a versatile adsorbent whose performance depends critically on its surface chemistry as well as its pore structure. Chemical modification of the carbon surface—through acid or base treatments, heteroatom impregnation, plasma or ozone exposure—introduces functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, nitrogen or sulfur species. These moieties adjust the adsorbent’s polarity, acidity–basicity balance and point of zero charge, thereby enhancing affinity for specific pollutants, metal ions or gases. Recent efforts have focused on tailoring biomass-derived precursors and optimising activation procedures to combine high surface area with targeted surface functionality. Such advances underpin applications ranging from water purification and heavy-metal recovery to ammonia capture and energy storage, while also addressing regenerability and sustainability in large-scale operations.
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Surface Chemistry Modifications of Activated Carbon Adsorbents publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in surface chemistry modifications of activated carbon adsorbents across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Activated carbon: A high-surface-area, porous carbonaceous material obtained by physical or chemical activation, used to adsorb pollutants from fluids.
Surface functional group: A chemical moiety (e.g. –COOH, –OH, –NH₂, –SO₃H) grafted onto the carbon surface that dictates affinity for adsorbates.
Adsorption capacity: The maximum amount of a specific substance that an adsorbent can uptake under given conditions, often expressed in mmol g–1 or mg g–1.
Boehm titration: A quantitative method to determine oxygen-containing surface groups on carbon materials by selective acid–base neutralisation.
Point of zero charge (pHₚzc): The pH at which the net surface charge of the carbon is zero, influencing electrostatic interactions with charged species.
References
- Carbonaceous adsorbents in the removal of aquaculture pollutants: A technical review of methods and mechanisms. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (2023).
- Current Progress on the Surface Chemical Modification of Carbonaceous Materials. Coatings (2019).
- Tailoring activated carbon by surface chemical modification with O, S, and N containing molecules. Materials Research (2003).
- Adsorption properties of biochars obtained by KOH activation. Adsorption (2023).
- Biomass-Derived Carbonaceous Adsorbents for Trapping Ammonia. Agriculture (2019).
- Surface Modified Activated Carbons: Sustainable Bio-Based Materials for Environmental Remediation. Nanomaterials (2021).
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