Anais Congresso Brasileiro de Ciência e Tecnologia da Madeira

The main and new surface modification methods of activated carbon (AC) and their influence on application (adsorption capacity) were reviewed. It is true, according to literature, that surface chemistry strongly affects adsorption capacity. Surface chemistry can be modified by several methods that lead to different activated carbon properties. Surface modifications can be conducted by adding some atoms to surface structure, becoming surface more acidic or basic. Introduction of oxygen and ammonia atoms are the main processes to make surface more acidic and basic respectively. This is done by chemical and physical modifications that lead activated carbons to different properties. The main and new methods of chemical and physical modifications are presented on this manuscript. Some new physical methods, like corona treatment, plasma discharge and microwave radiation, can be applied to cause surface modifications. Corona treatment can be a practical and new way to cause surface modification on an activated carbon surface.