BTX sorption on Na-P1 organo-zeolite as a process controlled by the amount of adsorbed HDTMA

• Zeolite Na-P1 is produced from F-class fly ashes.
• Modification of the zeolites surface is possible at room temperature.
• FTIR can be used for determination of the effectiveness of modifications.
• Sorption efficiency depends on the amount of HDTMA used.

The main objective of the study was to utilize fly ash by transforming it into Na-P1 zeolite. The obtained synthetic zeolite has been modified with a HDTMA surfactant in amounts of: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 of external cation exchange capacity (ECEC). The process reported hereunder was designed at room temperature (20 °C) and a low solid/solution ratio (1:2). Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the quantity of the adsorbed surfactant on the crystallites’ surface. The normalized intensity of the selected bands was compared with CHN results. The results revealed a very strong correlation between spectroscopic and chemical analyses and enabled the preparation of calibration curves. The sorption properties of organo-zeolites towards benzene, toluene, p-xylene (BTX) were evaluated. The results showed that the modification of the Na-P1 zeolite by HDTMA improves the sorption properties in terms of benzene and toluene and that 1.0 ECEC modification proved to be the best sorbent of those compounds. Xylene was adsorbed in the greatest quantity, however, sorption efficiency from aqueous solutions does not depend on the amount of surfactant used. Experiments proved that it is possible to remove more than 95% of toluene and xylene and more than 85% of benzene contaminants from aqueous solutions.

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