Enhanced Adsorption of Methanol by Oxidised Nutshell Carbon

Abstract

A nutshell charcoal was oxidised and reduced and the effect of the treatments on the water adsorption isotherms and methanol vapour penetration noted. Oxidation with 6 M nitric acid increased the penetration times for methanol vapour in dry air, not by just raising the dynamic capacity at low concentrations but also by improving the kinetics of adsorption. Reduction caused the opposite effect. The improvement in the adsorption kinetics is thought to be due to surface diffusion on to the oxidised surface of the transport pores.