Sorption of tetrabromobisphenol A from solution onto MIEX resin: Batch and column test

• TBBPA sorption on MIEX was investigated by batch and column test.
• Effects of concentration, temperature, pH, coexisting anions and humic acid were determined.
• Sorption equilibrium could be well fitted by Langmuir.
• Sorption kinetics agreed with the pseudo second-order model.
• TBBPA sorption was an exothermic and thermodynamically spontaneous process.

The sorption characteristics of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) onto MIEX resin were investigated using batch and column experiment. Effects of contact time, initial concentration, pH, temperature, coexisting anions and natural organic matter were determined. The kinetics data indicated that TBBPA sorption process reached equilibrium within 6 h. TBBPA removal was high at the pH < 8.0, and the removal sharply decreased with increasing the initial pH from 8.0 to 12.0. Major anions reduced TBBPA sorption in the order of HPO42− > SO42− > HCO3− > NO3−. The results were shown that the sorption equilibrium could be well fitted by Langmuir isotherm and the maximun sorption capacity was caculated as 49.19 mg/g. The results demonstrated the sorption kinetics agreed with the pseudo second-order model, indicating that the sorption of TBBPA onto MIEX was chemical sorption. The negative ΔG0, ΔH0and ΔS0 values indicated that TBBPA sorption was a thermodynamically spontaneous and an exothermic process. The results of column test shown that the dynamic sorption capacity, 33.19 mg/g, was less than the aforementioned sorption capacity. The simulation of the breakthrough curve was successful with Yoon–Nelson model and Thomas model. The present studies shown that MIEX had a good potential to be used as sorbent for TBBPA removal from water.