Paranitrophenol liquid-phase adsorption in dealuminated Y zeolite

Was studied the liquid-phase paranitrophenol (PNP) dynamic adsorption in a packed bed adsorption reactor (PBAR), filled with dealuminated Y zeolite (DAY) and granulated active carbon (GAC). In addition, was measured the equilibrium maximum amount of adsorption for the system: PNP aqueous solution-DAY zeolite, at 300 K, to compare it with other adsorbents. The DAY zeolite and the GAC were characterized with adsorption methods. The DAY zeolite was, as well, characterized with: XRD, SEM and EDAX. Some of the operational parameters which characterize the performance of the PBAR were calculated. To evaluate these results, was considered the breakthrough experiment as a frontal analysis chromatographic event and were applied the DeVault and van Deemter equations. It was concluded that the reactor filled with the DAY zeolite operates more efficiently than those filled with the GAC, because of the stronger adsorbate-adsorbent interaction in the case of the DAY zeolite.