The objective of this research was to explore the changes of the pore structure and surface properties of nitric-modified lignite and base the adsorption performance on physical and chemical adsorbent characteristics. To systematically evaluate pore structure and surface chemistry effects, several lignite samples were treated with different concentrations of nitric acid in order to get different pore structure and surface chemistry adsorbent levels. A common heavy metal ion contaminant in water, Pb²⁺, served as an adsorbate probe to demonstrate the change of modified lignite adsorption properties. The pore structure and surface properties of lignite samples before and after modification were characterized by static nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The experimental results showed that nitric acid modification can increase the ability of lignite to adsorb Pb²⁺. The adsorption amount of Pb²⁺ increased from 14.45 mg·g⁻¹ to 30.68 mg·g⁻¹. Nitric acid reacted with inorganic mineral impurities such as iron dolomite in lignite and organic components in coal, which caused an increase in pore size and a decrease in specific surface areas. A hydrophilic adsorbent surface more effectively removed Pb²⁺ from aqueous solution. Nitric acid treatment increased the content of polar oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups on the surface of lignite. Treatment introduced nitro groups, which enhanced the negative electrical properties, the polarity of the lignite surface, and its metal ion adsorption performance, a result that can be explained by enhanced water adsorption on hydrophilic surfaces.

To solve the unwieldy problem of coal chemical wastewater reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC), a novel treatment method in which coking coal was used to adsorb the organic from ROC and the adsorption mechanism involved was investigated. The results showed that the organic components in the ROC of coal chemical industry can be effectively absorbed by the coking coal and the total organic carbon, UV₂₅₄ and chromaticity of treated ROC reduced by 70.18%, 70.15% and 59.55%, respectively, at the coking coal dosage of 80 g/L. The isothermal adsorption data were fitted to the Langmuir model well. The kinetics were expressed well by the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The intragranular diffusion model and the BET (Acronym for three scientists: Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) test showed that the adsorption occurred mainly on the surface of the coking coal and its macropores and mesopores. When the pollutants further diffused to the mesopores and micropores, the adsorption rate decreased. The result of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra showed that the coking coal mainly adsorbed the nitrogen and oxygen species and the halogenated hydrocarbon organic compounds in the ROC. The chlorinated hydrocarbons and heterocyclic organics in ROC are adsorbed on the surface of coking coal.