Electrosorption of n-alcohols on graphite particles

The loading of organic molecules adsorbed on high surface area carbon materials can be influenced by the potential of the surface. This phenomenon can form the basis for carbon regeneration and for separation processes. A theoretical treatment demonstrates that adsorption loading becomes more sensitive to potential change when the double layer capacitance of the interface and the size of the organic species are increased. An experimental method was developed to estimate isotherm parameters. The technique was demonstrated on model adsorbates, pentanol and heptanol. The values of the measured isotherm parameters (B = 3.4–9.1 V−2: Emax = 0.36‐0.5 V vs. Hg/Hg2 SO4) are in the range of expected values based on literature values for similar systems. Although only 5% of activated carbon surface area was shown to be electrochemically accessible, it still has ten times the area available for electrosorption as compared to the graphite, thus making it attractive for industrial application.