Adsorption of methyl tertiary butyl ether on granular zeolites: Batch and column studies

Abstract

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) has been shown to be readily removed from water with powdered zeolites, but the passage of water through fixed beds of very small powdered zeolites produces high friction losses not encountered in flow through larger sized granular materials. In this study, equilibrium and kinetic adsorption of MTBE onto granular zeolites, a coconut shell granular activated carbon (CS-1240), and a commercial carbon adsorbent (CCA) sample was evaluated. In addition, the effect of natural organic matter (NOM) on MTBE adsorption was evaluated. Batch adsorption experiments determined that ZSM-5 was the most effective granular zeolite for MTBE adsorption. Further equilibrium and kinetic experiments verified that granular ZSM-5 is superior to CS-1240 and CCA in removing MTBE from water. No competitive-adsorption effects between NOM and MTBE were observed for adsorption to granular ZSM-5 or CS-1240, however there was competition between NOM and MTBE for adsorption onto the CCA granules. Fixed-bed adsorption experiments for longer run times were performed using granular ZSM-5. The bed depth service time model (BDST) was used to analyze the breakthrough data.

Temperature-Induced Desorption of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether Confined on ZSM-5: An In Situ Synchrotron XRD Powder Diffraction Study

“…Recently, adsorption on hydrophobic zeolites has received the greatest interest in water treatment technology due to their organic contaminant selectivity, thermal and chemical stability, strong mechanical properties, rapid kinetics and absence of salt and humic substance interference [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. In order for the adsorption process to be cost effective, the progressive deactivation of saturated sorbents has become an essential task [20].…”

Adsorption Studies for the Removal of Methyltert-Butyl Ether on Various Commercially Available GACs from an Aqueous Medium

“…4). At higher concentrations of MTBE, hydrophobicity and large pore sizes were important for obtaining high capacities, while at lower MTBE concentrations, the small hydrophobic pores were the dominant factor for achieving high sorption (27). The adsorption capacity increases with an increase in initial MTBE concentration.…”

Adsorptive Removal of Volatile Organic Contaminants from Aqueous Medium by Granular Activated Carbons

“…Fast adsorption at lower concentration indicates higher affinity towards the solute. Hydrophobicity and large pore size of GACs plays an important role to obtain high capacity at higher adsorbate concentrations, while at low adsorbate concentrations the small hydrophobic pores were the dominant factor for achieving high adsorption (Abu-Lail et al, 2010). The adsorption capacity increases with increase in initial adsorbate concentration.…”