Multifunctional activated carbon/chitosan composite preparation and its simultaneous adsorption of phenol and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions

The simultaneous adsorption of phenol and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution onto this activated carbon/chitosan composite was investigated. This composite almost removes phenol and Cr(VI) simultaneously in a pH range of 2–5. The removals of phenol and Cr(VI) reached up to 95% when phenol and Cr(VI) concentrations were less than 50 mg/L and 200 mg/L, respectively. The presence of phenol reduced Cr(VI) adsorption, while the presence of Cr(VI) had no evident effect on phenol adsorption. The adsorption for both Cr(VI) and phenol followed pseudo-second-order kinetics in single or mixedsystems. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 33: 814–823, 2014