Kinetic and Removal Mechanisms of Ethylbenzene from Contaminated Solutions by Chitin and Chitosan

ISSN： 0049-6979

Source： Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, Vol.220, Iss.1-4, 2011-09, pp. : 131-140

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Abstract

In this study, the efficiency of chitin and chitosan toward the removal of ethylbenzene from aqueous solutions was investigated. Batch adsorption experiments of ethylbenzene-contaminated waters (5-200 mg/L) were carried out to evaluate the removal performance. Ethylbenzene uptake was determined from the changes in concentration, as the residual concentration was measured by gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy. The results indicated that the adsorption of ethylbenzene by chitin and chitosan were in agreement with the Langmuir isotherm, for two parameters model, and Redlich-Peterson isotherm, for three parameters model. A maximum removal percentage of 65% of ethylbenzene can be achieved using chitosan as adsorbent material. The adsorption capacity of ethylbenzene followed the order chitosan > chitin. The pseudo-second order rate model described best the adsorption kinetics of ethylbenzene for the two selected adsorbents. The kinetic studies also revealed that the pore diffusion is not the only rate controlling step in the removal of ethylbenzene. Overall, the study demonstrated that chitosan is a potential adsorbent for the removal of ethylbenzene at concentrations as high as 200 mg/L.