The effects of activated carbon surface features on the reactive adsorption of carbamazepine and sulfamethoxazole

摘要: Abstract Two commercial carbons, coconut shell- and wood-based were chosen to evaluate the mechanisms of carbamazepine (CBZ) sulfamethoxazole (SMX) adsorption from a low (ppm level) concentration these pharmaceuticals. The initial sample those after extensively characterized using potentiometric titration, thermal analysis combined with mass spectroscopy, FTIR, XPS. It was found that not only porosity but also surface chemistry plays an important role in process. results show extensive reactions take place during adsorbates undergo significant transformations pore system. ability carbon surfaces form superoxide ions oxidation CBZ SMX, their partial decomposition. Surface promotes dimerization latter species. Moreover, functional groups mainly amines, react oxygen surface. Thus microporous carbons sizes pores similar adsorbate molecules, large pores, rich groups, can efficiently remove pharmaceuticals following reactive mechanism.