This review focused on the recent reports related to the function, characterization and modification of oxygen-containing surface groups of activated carbon (AC). The Oxygen-containing surface groups were briefly described, and the most frequently used techniques for characterization of the oxygen-containing surface groups on ACs were also briefly stated. A detailed discussion of the effects of the oxygen-containing surface groups on the adsorptive capacity of AC was given. The recent progresses in modification of the oxygen-containing surface groups of AC were also reviewed.
The effect of thermal oxidation of activated carbon surface on its adsorption of dibenzothiophene was investigated.The surface oxidation of the activated carbon was carried out by heating at different temperatures in the air.Static equilibrium adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the isotherms of dibenzothiophene on the original and oxidized activated carbons.The type and concentration of oxygen functional groups on the activated carbons were determined by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS)and Boehm titration respectively.The influence of the surface chemistry of the activated carbons on the adsorption capacity for dibenzothiophene was discussed.The results showed that the acid oxygen-containing groups of the activated carbon surfaces played an important role in enhancing the adsorption of dibenzothiophene.It was shown that the use of thermal oxidation could increase the concentration of oxygen-containing groups on the activated carbon surfaces,and consequently increase its adsorption capacity for dibenzothiophene.It was also found that the higher the oxidation temperature,the more the oxygen-containing groups on activated carbon surface,which enhanced the adsorption capacity of dibenzothiophene on its surfaces.The Langmuir equation was shown to fit well these isotherms.
