Removal of p-nitrophenol and Naphthalene from Petrochemical Wastewater Using SWCNTs and SWCNT-COOH Surfaces

Abstract

Abstract Adsorption of p-nitrophenol and naphthalene in single aqueous solution from petrochemical wastewater by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes having covalent attachments of carboxylic groups (SWCNT-COOH) has been considered. Removal behavior of p-nitrophenol and naphthalene by SWCNTs and SWCNT-COOH surfaces was studied by varying the parameters such as agitation time, initial concentration, and pH of solution. The presence of surface functional groups affected the adsorption capacity of SWCNTs and SWCNT-COOH surfaces for removal of p-nitrophenol and naphthalene in single aqueous solution from petrochemical wastewater. Kinetic studies were performed and pseudo-second-order kinetic model successfully represented the kinetic data. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were used for description of adsorption equilibrium, and it was found that the experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir model. The results of the study show that the carbon nanotubes can be used as potential adsorbent for petrochemical wastewater. Keywords: Petrochemical wastewaterfunctionalized single-walled carbon nanotubesadsorption isothermskinetic studies Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial and technical support provided by the Shahre-Gods Branch, Islamic azad University, Shahre-Gods, Iran.