Freundlich Adsorption Isotherms of Adsorbent from H3PO4 and ZnCl2 Treated Irish Potato Peels

Abstract

Activated carbon from irish potato peels, treated with H3PO4 and ZnCl2 were prepared using the one and two stage processes. The study was designed to model the adsorption of a dye, methylene blue, using the Freundlich isotherm model. Both acid and salt catalyzed carbon presented favorable adsorption, with Freundlich constant values, n < 1. The adsorption capacities (k), intensities (1/ n) and correlation (R2) values for the applicability of the model all compared favorably well with those of reference commercially available activated carbon.

Keywords: Freundlich, activated carbon, adsorption intensities, adsorption capacities, Irish potato.