Investigating the removal of xylene from water by ZnO nanoparticles as an adsorbent for petroleum

Subject Areas : Water and Environment

Behnaz Salehi ¹ (PhD, Student of Industrial, Department of Environmental and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
amir hesam hassani ² (دانشیار دانشکده محیط زیست و انرژی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، تهران، ایران * (مسوول مکاتبات))
Homayon Ahmad Panahi ³ (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran)
Seyed Mahdi Borghei ⁴ (- Prof., School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology)

Received: 2016-06-06 Accepted : 2016-08-08 Published : 2018-09-23

Keywords: ZnO Nanoparticles, Modification, Adsorption, Petroleum Contaminants, Xylene,

Abstract :

Background and Objective: Considering the adverse environmental effects and irreparable damages of the chemicals in petroleum compounds, e.g. benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene, to living organisms, the efficient removal of these pollutants have received much more attention to be improved through innovative methods for enhancing the efficiency and impact of removal processes. In this study, the removal of xylene from aqueous solution by modified zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated. Method: In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized and modified by a four-stage method. The removal of xylene as a toxic petroleum hydrocarbon from aqueous solution by nanoparticles was evaluated. Batch experiments were conducted at room temperature to evaluate the optimum conditions such as the effect of pH, contact time and zinc oxide concentration. Findings: It was found that the optimum adsorption condition can be achieved at pH=6 and contact time of 25 min. Moreover, the percentage of xylene adsorption increased with the increase in concentration of modified zinc oxide nanoparticles. Discussion and conclusion: This study showed that the modified zinc oxide nanoparticles could be used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of xylene from aqueous solution.  

References:

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