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Effect of electrochemical regeneration on the surface of a graphite adsorbent loaded with an organic contaminant

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Abstract

A regeneration efficiency of greater than 100% was obtained for electrochemical regeneration of a graphite interaction compound loaded with a phenol adsorbate. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was employed to study the effect of electrochemical regeneration on the graphite adsorbent. Using this technique, the elemental composition of the graphite surface was determined as a function of depth. The surface composition of the adsorbent was compared in three states: a fresh graphite before adsorption, after loading with a phenol adsorbate and after electrochemical regeneration. The fresh graphite exhibited a hydrogen and oxygen-rich surface layer approximately 150 nm thick. After loading with the adsorbate, the adsorbent had a thicker surface layer, approximately 370 nm, and significant enhancement in the hydrogen and oxygen abundance extending beyond 600 nm from the surface. After electrochemical regeneration, the graphite adsorbent showed an oxygen-rich layer, slightly thicker than the fresh case at approximately 220 nm, and a very much lower hydrogen enrichment at the surface. These results demonstrate that whilst the electrochemical regeneration effectively removes the phenol model pollutant, it also oxidises the exposed carbon surface. This oxidation may lead to new adsorption sites, but also has a significant impact on the estimation of adsorbent life.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by Arvia Technology Ltd. and the Kuwait Government represented by Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, England, UK

    H. Mohammad & P. I. Hill

  2. Department of Engineering, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YR, England, UK

    A. D. Martin

  3. BioAFM Facility, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, England, UK

    N. Hodson

  4. Arvia Technology Ltd, The Health Business and Technology Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA4 4FS, England, UK

    N. Brown

  5. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 1NA, Canada

    E. P. L. Roberts

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  1. H. Mohammad
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  2. A. D. Martin
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  3. P. I. Hill
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  4. N. Hodson
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  5. N. Brown
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  6. E. P. L. Roberts
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Correspondence to E. P. L. Roberts.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Mohammad, H., Martin, A.D., Hill, P.I. et al. Effect of electrochemical regeneration on the surface of a graphite adsorbent loaded with an organic contaminant. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 3131–3142 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02624-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02624-0

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