Carbon Materials as Adsorbents for the Removal of Pollutants from the Aqueous Phase

Abstract

Activated carbons are the most important carbon materials used in water treatment. Their known world production is around 500,000 tons per year, of which about 80% is used for liquid-phase applications. These solids are manufactured in powder or granular form from a large variety of raw materials and are unique and versatile adsorbents due to their highly developed porosity, their large surface area (which in some cases can be up to 3000 m2/g), and their variable surface chemistry.