International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231 - 606X 3 5 2013 May 18 Determination of Sodium Sorption Capacity Using the Boehm Method 3 6 EN Markmanuel D. 1 Department of Chemistry, Bayelsa State College of Education, Okpoma, Brass Island, Bayelsa State, NIGERIA TarawouT. 2 Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, PMB 071, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, NIGERIA HorsfallM. jnr. 3 Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Port-Harcourt, P.O. Box 402, Choba, Port- Harcourt, NIGERIA > Research Paper 2012 10 27 2013 May 18 Pure carbonized and activated carbons were prepared from fluted pumpkin stem waste. The activating reagents used for this study were: HPO, ZnCl2 and H2. Some of the surface properties investigated was surface acidity/basicity and point of zero charge, Hpzc. The surface acidity/basicity was estimated by the multibasic titration method of Boehm and the results obtained show that, the pure carbonized sample (PC) treated with 0.1M of NaHCO, 0.05M NaCO3 and 0.1M NaOH has the sorption capacities of 0.75mmol/g, 0.56 mmol/g and 0.447 mmol/g respectively. While the acid modified sample (AM) treated with 0.1M NaHCO3, 0.05M NaCO and 0.1M NaOH has sorption capacities of 0.413 mmol/g, 0.243 mmol/g and 0.123 mmol/g respectively. These results show that the pure carbonized sample (PC) has higher affinity for acidic species in solution than the acid modified sample (AM). Furthermore, the result obtained from surface basicity shows that, the acid modified sample (AM) with a sorption capacity of 0.233 mmol/g has a higher affinity for basic species in solution than the base modified sample (BM) which has a sorption capacity of 0.0433 mmol/g. The pure carbonized sample (PC) has the strongest basic character with a point of zero charge (Hpzc) of 8.45, while the acid modified sample (AM) has the strongest acidic character with a Hpzc of 5.82. This study has demonstrated that both the pure carbonized (PC) and the acid and base modified samples of fluted pumpkin stem waste could be utilized as low-cost, economical and environmental friendly biosorbents for the removal and recovery of metals, treatment of odour gases, acidic molecules and some problematic organic molecules from aqueous solution. Copyright@ International Science Community Association