The Elimination of Xylene From Aqueous Solutions Using Single Wall Carbon Nanotube and Magnetic Nanoparticle Hybrid Adsorbent Publisher

Summary: A study found carbon nanotube adsorbents remove 99.2% of xylene from water, offering a new way to clean pollutants. #WaterPurification #Nanotechnology

Pourzamani H^{1, 2} ; Parastar S^{1, 2} ; Hashemi M^{1, 2, 3}
Source: Process Safety and Environmental Protection Published:2017

Abstract

Hybrid adsorbent of single wall carbon nanotubes- magnetic nanoparticle (SWCNT-MN) has been used for the elimination of a variety of pollutants. The aim of the present study was to eliminate xylene from aqueous solutions using this hybrid adsorbent. The xylene solution was made in a synthetic manner with 10, 30, 70, and 100 mg/l concentrations. In different pHs (2–11), nanoparticles of magnetic iron were added to the solution in different concentrations namely 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 g/l and the efficiency of xylene elimination was determined by SWCNT-MN nanoadsorbents after 2–20 min. Xylene was measured using GC/MS device. The data were analyzed by Design Expert software using Taghochi OA method. Also, ISOFIT software was used to investigate the isotherm of xylene adsorption. The optimal conditions of xylene elimination was obtained in primary concentration of 100 mg/l, adsorbent dosage of 2000 mg/l, contact time of 20 min, and pH 8. In the created optimal conditions, 99.2% of xylene was eliminated by SWCNT-MN nanoadsorbents and the adsorption capacity of SWCNT-MN nanoadsorbents for xylene was 50 mg/g. The effect of main factors and important interaction obtained by the software in designing the experiment showed that Prob ˃ F was less than 0.05 for all main factors and the interaction between xylene's primary concentration and SWCNT-MN nanoadsorbents dosage. Among the main factors, the contact time had the highest effect (34%). The investigation of isotherm of xylene adsorption by SWCNT-MN nanoadsorbents indicated that GLF isotherm is the most appropriate adsorption isotherm. © 2017 Institution of Chemical Engineers