Removal of O,m,p-Xylene From Air Samples on Oxidized Carbon Nanotubes Cartridges

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been considered as an excellent adsorbent in environmental engineering, especially for treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The paper presents a new approach for the selective adsorption of Xylene isomers from air samples using nanomaterial based on oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. In the first study, the functionalization of two oxidized MWCNTs was achieved with hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite. The characterization of functionalized CNTs (CNT-NaOCl, CNT-H2O2) was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-Ray diffractometer (XRD). Afterthat, the applications of pristine CNTs and oxidized CNTs for removal of three Xylene isomers from air samples were discussed. The results demonstrate that the correlation of CNTs and three isomers was significantly different with an affinity order o-Xylene > m-Xylene > p-Xylene. The oxidized CNTs with carbonyl groups increased significantly its adsorption capacity for these isomers. A comparison in term of adsorption performance shows that the framework distinguishes among these adsorbents due to the dispersive properties and the electrostatic interaction between the Xylene isomers and oxidized CNTs surface.

A rapid removal of xylene from air based on nano-activated carbon in the dynamic and static systems and compared to commercial activated carbon before determination by gas chromatography

“…This study showed that the efficiency of nanoadsorbents was significant in removing xylene from the air [5]. In another study, the removal of Ortho, Meta, and para-xylene from the air samples was carried out on an oxidized carbon nanotube cartridge as an adsorbent by Le Huu Quynh Anh et al In this study, the oxidized carbon nanotube with carbonyl groups significantly increased the adsorption capacity of xylene isomers [6]. In another study by Lu et al, the multi-walled carbon nanotubes were oxidized with sodium hypochlorite and used to remove ethyl benzene and para-xylene from aqueous solutions and significantly improved the removal of benzene and para-xylene [7].…”

“…The adsorption of BTEX on carbon nanotube cartridges from air samples was reported by Le et al and the results showed that the CNTs had high potential for BTEX adsorption due to their microporous structure and high surface area [9]. They showed that the oxidized CNTs with carbonyl groups increased its adsorption capacity for these isomers [6]. Also, Shahi Ahangar showed that the photocatalytic removal efficiency in the concentrations of 50, 100, and 300 ppm was equal to 87.8%, 98.9%, and 90.8%, respectively [10].…”