| dc.description.abstract | Carbon aerogel composite has good properties such as nanopores, high electrical conductivity, and high surface area; therefore, carbon aerogel composite is suitable for electrosorption. In this study, carbon aerogel composite was used to electro-adsorb CuCl2 in pure water. The influences of applied voltage and copper concentration on the electrosoprtion of CuCl2 were investigated. Temperature, conductivity, current, pH, and concentrations of total copper, cuprous and chloride ions were monitored. The result showed that, in the initial stage of electrosorption, hydrogen ions were released from the anode due to the oxidation of oxygen-containing functional groups on the carbon aerogel composite. Later, hydrogen ion may be released from cathode due to the reduction reactions from the functional groups on the carbon aerogel composite. Both reactions resulted in accumulation of hydrogen ions; as the consequence, the solution pH decreased and the conductivity increased. The removal efficiencies were similar (>95%) when the applied voltages were 1.0 V and 1.2 V. However, as the concentration of copper increased, the electrosorption equilibrium time decreased. It was also found that washing the carbon aerogel composite by the HCl solution of pH 3 has the best regenerate efficiency. Further washing by NaOH of pH 10 can wash out the free hydrogen ions in the pores and the washed carbon aerogel composite showed similar electrosoprtion behaviors to a new one. | en_US |