Sorption of Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds by Bottom and Fly Ashes Using HPLC

Abstract

The adsorption of phenolic compounds on a mixture of bottom and fly ashes has been investigated. Thus, the effect of molecular weight and molecular configuration on the adsorption of phenol (Ph), m-cresol ( m-Cr), p-cresol ( p-Cr), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) from aqueous solution have been determined. The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption of 2-NP and 4-NP have been calculated on the basis of Everett's isotherm equation. Batch experiments were conducted to produce isotherms for single-component, two-component and four-component systems. For this purpose, high-performance liquid chromatography was used. It was found that the ultimate capacity of the adsorbent is considerably less than that predicted from summing the single-component data; this has been attributed to increased competition for adsorption sites.