Fixed Bed Adsorption of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylene (BTX) Contaminants from Monocomponent and Multicomponent Solutions Using a Commercial Organoclay

Abstract

Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are potential contaminants of groundwater, and there is a need to improve current remediation techniques, such as adsorption. Different materials can be applied in this process, like organoclays that have affinity for organic compounds. The aim of this work was to study BTX removal from mono-, bi-, and tricomponent solutions in a dynamic fixed bed system filled with organoclay. For the monocomponent system, using a 1.6 mmol/L adsorbate concentration, the useful removal quantities were 0.012, 0.030, and 0.140 mmol/g for benzene, toluene, and p-xylene, respectively. Based on the results, the affinity order was p-xylene > toluene > benzene. The multicomponent tests presented similar affinity tendency toward the organoclay. The mathematical model of Yan described the majority of the experimental breakthrough curves better than the model of Thomas. Partition was identified as the prevailing mechanism in BTX uptake, and the main adsorption sites were associated with the nanosized organic phases.

Fixed-Bed Adsorption of Ciprofloxacin onto Bentonite Clay: Characterization, Mathematical Modeling, and DFT-Based Calculations

“…It can be noted that the systems did not attain the maximum saturation level ( C / C 0 = 1). A similar behavior was previously observed for the breakthrough curves of CIP on granular activated carbon and on activated-sludge-derived activated carbon (SGAC), breakthrough curves of ofloxacin on CVL clay, and breakthrough curves of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) on commercial organoclay . This phenomenon can be assigned to slow adsorption rates in some sections of the column, which may cause the need for longer times to obtain maximum saturation …”

“…A similar behavior was previously observed for the breakthrough curves of CIP on granular activated carbon 38 and on activated-sludge-derived activated carbon (SGAC), 39 breakthrough curves of ofloxacin on CVL clay, 15 and breakthrough curves of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) on commercial organoclay. 40 This phenomenon can be Table 1. Surface Areas, Micropore and Mesopore Volumes, Density, and Porosity Data of Pure (CVL) 13 Surface area by the BET method.…”

Amine Modification of Silica Aerogels/Xerogels for Removal of Relevant Environmental Pollutants

“…The growth of industrial complexes has led to a considerable contamination increase in aquatic environments, as a significant amount of different pollutants, both organic and inorganic, are released with wastewaters, reaching natural aquifers [1,2,3,4]. For example, substantial quantities of aromatic compounds are employed as industrial solvents and are present in petroleum and gasoline [5,6]. Heavy metals are released from mining, smelting and other metallurgic industries in great amounts; however, agriculture, transportation and energy production also significantly contribute to the increase of these pollutants [4,7,8].…”

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic-montmorillonite and magnetic-organo-montmorillonite: Surface sites involved on cobalt sorption

“…One of the strategies to extend and/or enhance the montmorillonites adsorption spectrum of contaminants was to tailor the clay structures. Particularly, the attachment of long chain alkyl groups of quaternary amino compounds (QAC) to different clays generate the so called organoclays, which improves not only the adsorption of organic pollutants [14,15] by increasing the number of non-polar sites thus generating more effective interactions with organic molecules, but also promotes a better separation of the suspension by increasing its particle size [16].…”