ADSORPTION FROM SOLUTIONS: ACETIC ACID ON CHARCOAL

JUHLIAN V. SANTOS
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Architecture
Cebu Institute of Technology University, N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City, 6000 Philippines

___________________________________________________________________________
The solutions were filtered and a sample of each filtrate was titrated with 0.10 N solution of
sodium hydroxide. The value of k was computed to be 0.500 and the value of n to be 1.0029.
The weight of solute adsorbed was found to be equal to the change in the molar concentration
of the solution.

1. Introduction
Charcoal is activated by being heated to high temperatures in a vacuum or in a stream
of dry air. Activated charcoal is processed to have small, low-volume pores that increase
the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. The process of adsorption
is usually studied through a graph known as an adsorption isotherm. It is defined as the
graph between the amount of adsorbate adsorbed on the surface of the adsorbent and
pressure at constant temperature.
The Freundlich equation is an empirical equation that describes the relation between the
concentration of a solute on the surface of an adsorbent to the concentration of the solute
in the liquid with which it is in contact. The weight of the adsorbed solute is equal to the
change in the molar concentration of the solution.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1.1 Materials
The following materials are needed for the experiment:
250 mL of 0.50 M acetic acid
150 mL of standard 0.10 M sodium hydroxide
20 grams of activated charcoal
2.1.2 Apparatus
The following apparatus are needed for the experiment:
One 25-mL burette
Seven 250-mL Erlenmeyer flasks
Two long-stemmed funnels
Six pieces of 9-cm filter paper
One 100-mL volumetric flask
One wash bottle

2.2 Methods
The six solutions were prepared so as to have concentrations of 0.5000 M,
0.2500 M, 0.1250 M, 0.0625 M, 0.0313 M, and 0.0152 M, respectively. The flasks
were stoppered, allowed to stand for an hour, and shaken at frequent intervals. The
solutions were kept at a constant temperature of 25 C for convenience.The solution
was allowed to stand for an hour and the equilibrium constants were determined. For
convenience, 5-mL, 10-mL and 5-mL samples of the first, second, and third solutions
were taken for titration. For the last three solutions, a 50-mL sample of each was
taken. Duplicate titrations were made on the first three solutions.
The filter paper containing the charcoal was punctured and the charcoal was
washed into a 100-mL volumetric flask with the aid of a wash bottle. Distilled water
was added to make a total volume of 100 milliliters. The mixture was allowed to stand
for 20 to 30 minutes and shaken at frequent intervals.
3. Results
Graph 3.1 Summary of Data

Sampl
e

Initial
Concentratio
n, Co
(Molarity)

Volume
of NaOH
Used
(mL)

Final
Concentration
(Molarity)

Mass of
Acetic
Acid
Adsorbe
d
(grams)

Mass (m)
of
Activate
d
Charcoal
Used
(grams)

0.5000

24.2

0.0160

0.1453

2.00

0.2500

22.4

0.0260

0.1345

2.00

0.1250

20.1

0.0446

0.1207

2.01

0.0625

18.6

0.0253

0.1117

1.99

log
(C)

log
(x/m)

0.83
8
0.87
1
0.91
8
0.95

1.13
9
1.17
2
1.22
1
1.25

0.0313

8.5

0.0143

0.0510

2.01

0.0156

2.6

0.0104

0.0312

2.01

2
1.29
2
1.50
5

1
1.59
5
1.80
9

4. Discussion
The value of the variable n was found using data taken from two points on Graph
3.1. From the value obtained, which was computed to be 1.00009372, the value of the
variable k was also determined using Equation A.2 and found to be equal to 0.4977, which
can be rounded off to 0.500. From this it can be said that as the concentration of the acetic
acid increases, the adsorption on activated charcoal also increases.
5. Conclusion
As the surface of the adsorbent is filled with adsorbate, the increase in the amount of
adsorption gradually slows down to a point where no increase in the amount of adsorption
is caused despite an increase in the concentration due to the completely filled surface of
the adsorbent.
APPENDIX A
Computations:

m = {[(-1.50549) (-1.29205)] / [(-1.80867) (-1.59525)]}

m = (-0.21344) / (-0.21342)
m = 1.000093712

Since m = n,
n = 1.000093712

At point 6 of sample 6:
x
log10 ( m

) = n log10 (C) + log10 (k)

x
log10 ( m

Where:

) = -1.80867

n = 1.000093712
log10 (C) = -1.50549

(-1.80867) = [(1.000093712) x (-1.50549)] + log10 (k)

log10 (k) = - 0.3030389175
0.3030389175

k = 10

k = 0.4976924843 or 0.4977 or 0.5000

Concentration of Acetic Acid Adsorbed:

Sample 1:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(24.2 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (5 mL)

MCH3COOH = 0.4840 M
Sample 2:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(22.4 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (10 mL)
MCH3COOH = 0.2240 M

Sample 3:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(20.1 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (25 mL)
MCH3COOH = 0.0804 M

Sample 4:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(18.6 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (50 mL)
MCH3COOH = 0.0372 M

Sample 5:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(8.5 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (50 mL)
MCH3COOH = 0.0170 M

Sample 6:

MCH3COOH = [(VNaOH used) x (MNaOH)] / (Vsample)

MCH3COOH = [(2.6 mL) / (0.1 M)] / (50 mL)
MCH3COOH = 0.0052 M

Mass of Acetic Acid Adsorbed:

Sample 1:

massCH3COOH = (0.4840 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.005 L)

massCH3COOH = 0.1453 g

Sample 2:

massCH3COOH = (0.2240 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.010 L)

massCH3COOH = 0.1345 g

Sample 3:

massCH3COOH = (MCH3COOH adsorbed) x (MW CH3COOH) x (Vsample)

massCH3COOH = (0.0804 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.025 L)
massCH3COOH = 0.1207 g

Sample 4:

massCH3COOH = (MCH3COOH adsorbed) x (MW CH3COOH) x (Vsample)

massCH3COOH = (0.0372 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.050 L)
massCH3COOH = 0.1117 g

Sample 5:

massCH3COOH = (MCH3COOH adsorbed) x (MW CH3COOH) x (Vsample)

massCH3COOH = (0.0170 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.050 L)
massCH3COOH = 0.0510 g

Sample 6:

massCH3COOH = (MCH3COOH adsorbed) x (MW CH3COOH) x (Vsample)

massCH3COOH = (0.0052 M) x (60.052 g / mole) x (0.050 L)
massCH3COOH = 0.031 g

APPENDIX B
Table C.1: Standardization
Buret Reading (mL)
Final
Initial
25.6
0.5

Volume of NaOH Used

(mL)
25.10

Molarity (M)
0.5020

26.2

1.2

25.00

0.5000

28.1

3.2

24.90

0.4980

27.0

2.2

24.80

0.4960

25.5

0.3

25.20

0.5040

Average Molarity (M) = 0.5000

Table C.2: Preparation of Samples

Required CH3COOH
Concentration (M)
0.5000
0.2500
0.1250
0.0625
0.0313
0.0156

Volume of
CH3COOH
Added (mL)
100.0
50.00
25.00
12.50
6.200
3.100

Actual CH3COOH
Concentration (M) *
0.5000
0.2500
0.1250
0.0625
0.0313
0.0156

Table C.3: Reversibility of Adsorption:

Buret Reading (mL)
Final
Initial
22.6
0.1

Volume of NaOH Used

(mL)
22.50

Molarity (M)
0.0450

43.2

22.7

20.50

0.0410

14.5

0.5

14.00

0.0280

19.6

14.5

5.100

0.0102

21.0

19.6

1.400

0.0028

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