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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Removal from Water by Natural Fiber Sorption
Author(s) -
Khan Eakalak,
Khaodhir Sutha,
Rotwiron Paritta
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143007x176040
Subject(s) - acenaphthene , sorbent , fluoranthene , phenanthrene , acenaphthylene , sorption , naphthalene , chemistry , pyrene , fiber , anthracene , fluorene , environmental chemistry , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , hydrocarbon , adsorption , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , polymer , engineering
The use of two natural sorbents, kapok and cattail fibers, were investigated for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) removal from water. Naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, and fluoranthene were the PAHs studied. For comparative purposes, a commercial polyester fiber sorbent was included in the investigation. The PAH sorption and retention capabilities of the three fibers were determined through batch and continuous‐flow experiments under noncompetitive and competitive conditions. In the batch experiments, cattail fiber was the most effective sorbent. Kapok fiber provided the lowest PAH retention, while cattail fiber had slightly less PAH retention than polyester fiber. When two PAHs were present in the same system, a competitive effect on the much less hydrophobic PAH was observed. Similar results were obtained in the column experiments, except that polyester fiber performed much poorer on naphthalene. Cattail fiber is a promising sorbent for treating PAH‐contaminated water, such as urban runoff.