Surface Modification of Wood Activated Carbon by CVD of NH3 to Improve Its Micropore Volume and Adsorption to Carbamazepine

This study enhanced wood-activated carbon using ammonia chemical vapor deposition (NH3-CVD) to improve its adsorption properties for carbamazepine (CBZ). Modification was done in a vacuum tube sintering furnace. We used X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) for characterization and analysis. Kinetic adsorption and isothermal adsorption tests were carried out by UV spectrophotometry. NH3-CVD significantly increased the micropore volume and surface area, notably in the W-6 sample, and raised the nitrogen content on the carbon surface. The adsorption capacity of modified activated carbon (W-7) reached 130.81 mg/g, outperforming the unmodified (W-0) at 72.46 mg/g. FTIR results indicated strong hydrogen bonding with CBZ molecules. NH3-CVD modification improves CBZ adsorption on wood activated carbon by increasing micropore volume and enhancing hydrogen bonding, confirming a single-layer adsorption on a heterogeneous surface.