Mechanism of Copper and tert-Butyl Alcohol Adsorption on Carbon Materials at Various Open-Circuit Potentials

Abstract

To improve the biocompatibility of activated carbon materials used for hemosorption (hemoperfusion) detoxification, it is important to understand the mechanism of interaction of the sorbent with toxic compounds and components of blood. A method of elucidating the mechanism of interaction between carbon and various adsorbates was developed, involving the measurement of change in sorbent open-circuit potentials and adsorption of the adsorbate and calculation of the effective number of electrons transferred in the course of adsorption. Cupric ions and t-butanol were used as model adsorbates. It was shown that the adsorption mechanism (Faradaic vs. non-Faradaic) can vary with open-circuit potential of the adsorbent.