Abstract: Beet pulp was used as the raw material for the first time to prepare activated carbon using steam as activating agent and 70% nitric acid solution. The functional group and structure of the carbon were analyzed by Boehm Titration and BET method.The amount of oxygenerated functional group after modifition was increased. The specific surface area of activated carbon is 1 322 m²/g, with methylene blue adsorption value 195 mg/g and iodine adsorption value 1 065 mg/g. The performance of Cd²⁺ adsorption using the modified activated carbon was also discussed. The influence of the factors on the adsorption performance, such as temperature, pH, activated carbon particle size, adsorption time and solution initial concentration are investigated. The results showed that the modified beet pulp activated carbon has a good adsorption of Cd²⁺ when the temperature is 25 ℃, the pH 8.5, particle size 75-100 μm and amount of 15 g/L.

Key words: beet pulp activated carbon, modifition, Cd²⁺, adsorption