Organic contaminants removal from industrial wastewater by CTAB treated synthetic zeolite Y

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 233; pp. 785 - 792
• Main Authors: Hosseini Hashemi, Monireh Sadat, Eslami, Fatemeh, Karimzadeh, Ramin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2019
• Subjects: Adsorption thermodynamic; Industrial wastewater treatment; Surfactant modified zeolite; Synthetic zeolite Y; Zeta potential; Surfactant modified zeolite; Adsorption thermodynamic; Zeta potential; Synthetic zeolite Y; Industrial wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.10.003

Due to environmental issues, wastewater treatment is a main concern for most industries and providing access to clean and affordable water is one of the big challenges. Besides, industrial wastewater contains many pollutants, one of the most toxic contaminants is organics. Currently, zeolites are widely used as an adsorbent to remove such pollutants. This study examines a surfactant modified zeolite Y (SMZY), as an applicable solution, to get over this problem. Here, zeolite Y, synthesized from bentonite, is used as an adsorbent basis. Then, it is characterized by XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM, and TGA. Next, it is modified by hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactant in different concentrations. These SMZYs are used to adsorb organic contaminants of an olefin plant wastewater. Based on adsorption capacity evaluated by several isotherms, such as Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips and Dubinin–Radushkevich, total organic carbon (TOC) content of wastewater reduced up to 89%. The optimum modification method and possible mechanism for obtaining this result is presented in the current research. Furthermore, to understand the nature of adsorption process, Van der Waals, hydrophobic, and electrostatic interactions are determined. The results indicate that adsorption process depends on both hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.
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•Zeolite Y was successfully synthesized from bentonite at atmospheric pressure.•Adsorption of organic contents from wastewater depended on the loaded surfactant.•Patchy-bilayer form of surfactant is the best modification.•The best adsorbent has removed almost 89% of organic contents from wastewater.•The forces associated with process were hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions.