title: Adsorption of p-cresol on novel diatomite/carbon composites.
abstract: Hybrid inorganic/organic adsorbents were synthesized using mixtures of diatomite and carbon charcoal as precursors, and explored for the removal of p-cresol from aqueous solution. The carbon/diatomite composites displayed a bimodal and interconnected porous structure which was partially inherited from both precursors. They display moderate surface areas (between 100 and 400 m(2)g(-1)) due to their large inorganic content (between 70 and 90 wt.%), since the diatomite is a non-porous material. Compared to activated carbons with a more developed porosity, p-cresol adsorption on the prepared carbon/diatomite composites was much faster, showing adsorption capacities similar to those of conventional adsorbents over a wide pH range. These results show a good affinity of p-cresol molecules towards the hybrid inorganic/organic composites, and demonstrate the suitability of these novel materials for the removal of aromatic (polar) molecules, despite their dominant inorganic character.
authors.affiliation: CRAP, BP 248, Alger RP, 16004 Alger, Algeria.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hadjar
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamdi
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Ania
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003408:Cresols / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016062:Porosity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003408:Cresols; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C032538:4-cresol; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth; C033787:diatomite; D002244:Carbon