Active carbons and catalysts obtained on their basis are valuable chemicals products widely used in various fields, including the purification of waste water, potabilization of surface water and groundwater. Adsorption of harmful substances and their transformation on catalytic supports is a complex process. It depends on the effective radius and the pore sorption volume, surface area of meso- and macropores, the quantity and quality of active centers of carbonaceous adsorbents, and chemical structure, molecular weight, physical-chemical state of adsorbed substance.
The report contains the results of scientific research related to synthesis of activated carbons from plant raw material. The chemical reactions that occur during charcoal carbonization and activation of vegetable raw materials are discussed. Structural parameters values are given as well as of the adsorption capacity of intact activated carbons and of those oxidized with various chemical agents.
Active carbons and catalysts obtained on the basis of these carbonaceous adsorbents were used in the process of removal from surface water and groundwater of organic compounds and inorganic compounds in reduced state. Chemical mechanisms are presented for reactions occurring during the adsorption and transformation of organic and inorganic pollutants.