Influence of the corona discharge parameters on the sorption properties of birch litter with respect to iron ions

Abstract

The birch leaf litter in a DC corona discharge is processed to increase the sorption capacity with respect to the iron ions Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺. It is shown that the corona treatment increases the sorption capacity of a birch leaf litter with respect to the iron ions. The corona treatment parameters (voltage and time of polarization) are determined at which the maximal sorption capacity of the birch leaves is attained. The thermodynamic parameters of the process are calculated. The obtained values of the activation energy (13.39 kJ/mol for Fe²⁺ ions and 14.56 kJ/mol for Fe³⁺ ions) follow the laws of physical sorption.