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Removal of phenol from aqueous phase by using neutralized red mud
Ali Tor1, Yunus Cengeloglu, Mehmet Emin Aydin
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Selcuk University, Campus, 42031 Konya, Turkey. ali.alitor@gmail.com
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|May 16, 2006
Summary
Neutralized red mud effectively removes phenol from water through adsorption. This study details optimal conditions and confirms Freundlich isotherm model suitability for phenol sorption data.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Adsorption Processes
Background:
- Phenol is a common industrial pollutant in aqueous solutions.
- Effective and economical methods for phenol removal are crucial for environmental protection.
- Red mud, a byproduct of alumina production, presents a potential adsorbent material.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of neutralized red mud for phenol removal from aqueous solutions.
- To determine the optimal adsorption conditions for phenol removal using red mud.
- To evaluate the applicability of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to the adsorption data.
Main Methods:
- Batch adsorption experiments were conducted.
- Key parameters studied included contact time, pH, initial phenol concentration, red mud dosage, and salt addition.
- Adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models.
Main Results:
- Maximum phenol removal was achieved within a broad pH range (1-9).
- Adsorption equilibrium was reached at approximately 10 hours.
- The Freundlich isotherm model provided a better fit for the experimental sorption data compared to the Langmuir model.
- Salt addition influenced phenol removal based on anion affinity and concentration.
Conclusions:
- Neutralized red mud is a viable adsorbent for phenol removal from wastewater.
- The adsorption process is influenced by solution pH, contact time, and red mud dosage.
- Freundlich isotherm effectively describes the phenol adsorption behavior on neutralized red mud.
- Anion interactions with the red mud surface play a role in phenol removal efficiency when salts are present.
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