Removal of diuron and amitrole from water under static and dynamic conditions using activated carbons in form of fibers, cloth, and grains.

This study investigated the removal of the herbicides diuron and amitrole from water under static and dynamic conditions using different activated carbons in the form of fibers, cloth, and grains. In all cases, there was much greater adsorption of diuron than of amitrole due to the lower solubility, greater hydrophobicity, and larger dipolar moment of the former. The activated carbon cloth was the best adsorbent for diuron under dynamic conditions because it had the largest mesopore volume, water-accessible pore volume, and surface area. However, the best adsorbent for amitrole under dynamic conditions was the granular activated carbon due to its higher surface basicity. Comparisons using the best adsorbent for each herbicide showed that diuron was removed by the activated carbon more efficiently compared with amitrole under both dynamic and static conditions.