Removal of phenol and chlorophenols from water with reusable dye-affinity hollow fibers

Reactive Green HE 4BD carrying polyamide hollow fibers were investigated as dye-affinity adsorbents for removal of chlorophenols (i.e., phenol, o-chlorophenol, p-chlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol). Adsorption rates of chlorophenols were very high. Equilibrium was achieved in about 30 min. The applicability of two kinetic models including pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order model was estimated on the basis of comparative analysis of the corresponding rate parameters, equilibrium capacity and correlation coefficients. Results suggest that chemisorption process could be the rate-limiting step in the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption values of chlorophenols onto the Reactive Green HE 4BD carrying hollow fibers were 145.9 μmol/g for phenol, 179.2 μmol/g for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 194.5 μmol/g for p-chlorophenol and 202.8 μmol/g for o-chlorophenol. The affinity order was as follows: o-chlorophenol > p-chlorophenol > 2,4,6-trichlorophenol > phenol. The adsorption capacity of chlorophenols decreased with increasing pH. Desorption of chlorophenols was achieved using methanol solution (30%, v/v). The Reactive Green HE 4BD-carrying hollow fibers are suitable for repeated use for more than 10 cycles without noticeable loss of adsorption capacity.