ABSTRACT
Numerous countries have shown signs of environmental pollution to prioritize economic growth and benefits, leading to seriously contaminated waters. This work indicated the method to synthesize a green material, which could remove contaminants to protect the natural environment. The porosity and functionality effects of amine-functionalized activated carbon (AFAC) enhanced the removal of toxic heavy metals (THMs) in aqueous solution. The raw activated carbon (RAC) was thermally modified with ultrahigh pure nitrogen (UHPN) at 500°C and 1000°C and then amine-functionalized with coupling agent of aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS). They were denoted as AFAC-5 and AFAC-10, respectively. The data showed an enhanced metal adsorption capacity of the AFACs, because the modification produced more desired porosity and increased amine functional groups. AFAC-10, modified at a higher temperature, showed much higher THM adsorption capacity than AFAC-5, modified at a lower temperature, and RAC. The adsorption capacity decreased in the following order: Ni > Cd > Zn, which was in good agreement with the increasing electronegativity and ionic potential and the decreasing atomic radius. The maximum THM adsorption capacity of AFAC-10 for Ni, Cd, and Zn was 242.5, 226.9, and 204.3 mg/g, respectively.
