8 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables.-- PMID: 17126375 [PubMed].-- Available online on Nov 27, 2006.The aim of this work was to correlate the textural and chemical features of carbonaceous adsorbents with the adsorption capacity of naphthalene from aqueous phase, at the concentration in which this compound is usually found in wastewater from coke ovens. The study reveals that the adsorption capacity in different carbon materials depends not only on the textural characteristics of the material but also on the functionalities of the activated carbons. The micropores of the adsorbents, particularly those of narrower diameter, were found to be active sites for the retention of naphthalene. In contrast, the modification of the surface chemistry of the carbon materials led to a decrease in the adsorption capacities. Dispersive forces play an important role, and adsorbents with a higher non-polar character have proven to be more efficient for the naphthalene adsorption. This behaviour has been linked to the presence of specific interactions
between the basal planes and the polyaromatic structure of the naphthalene molecule.Work was carried out with a financial grant from the European Coal and Steel Community (Project 7220-PR139). We also thank Agrovin S.A. for kindly supplying the activated carbon. C.O.A. thanks the Spanish MEC for a postdoctoral
fellowship (MEC EX2004-0612).Peer reviewe
