Comparative study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsadsorption on activated carbon, bentonite, talk powder, rice bran, and saw dust

The use of adsorption contacting system for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment has become more prevalent during recent years. An intensive research was conducted focusing on the selection of low-cost adsorbents which could be utilized instead of an alternative to the most widely used adsorbent in wastewater treatment activated carbon. This study was carried out to investigate and to compare the adsorption properties of activated carbon, bentonite, talk powder, rice bran, and saw dust. A rectangular pilot plant with an interlaced plate was prepared as drainage at the end, and packed with each of the adsorbent in specific weight and height; oily wastewater containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was influenced on. The column pressure head and its conditions have been stable during experiments. The adsorption of PAHs on these adsorbents was estimated by measuring the concentration of PAHs in effluences of the drainage every 15 min intervals up to 4 hrs, and the bed of adsorbents at the end of experiments. The maximum adsorption capacities decrease in the order bentonite (94.8%)> activated carbon (92.1%)> rice bran 91.5%)> talk powder (89.9%)>saw dust (88.5%). This study also compares the suitability of two predictive models Freundlich isotherm and Langmuir isotherm in analyzing the adsorption of PAHs on five type adsorbents that mentioned above.

Keywords:

Adsorption , Industrial Wastewater , Adsorbent , Pahs , Model