BTEX Removal from Synthetic Wastewater Using Ordered Mesoporous Carbons (OMCs)

Chemical and petrochemical industries produce substantial amounts of wastewater every day. This wastewater contains organic pollutants such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) that are toxic to human and aquatic life. Benzene, in particular, is carcinogenic to humans while the other compounds can also lead to liver and kidney problems. Ordered Mesoporous Carbon (OMC), the novel adsorbent that possess the characteristics of an ideal adsorbent such as large specific surface area, tunable pore size and stable framework, was investigated to understand its characteristics and suitability for BTEX removal. Different parameters such as BTEX initial concentration, pore size, pH, and temperature were evaluated to understand their effect on adsorption kinetics and adsorption capacities. The analysis was performed using Gas Chromatography (GC) purge and trap method and the OMCs were characterized using surface area and pore size analyzer, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).