Adsorption of mesitylene via mesoporous adsorbents

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Mesitylene (1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) is a toxic volatile organic compound emitted from industrial processes like spray coating.
• Traditional adsorbents like zeolite (H-ZSM-5) are ineffective for mesitylene removal due to its molecular size exceeding pore dimensions.
• Developing efficient adsorbents is critical for mitigating mesitylene pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the adsorption capacity of MCM-41 for mesitylene.
• To compare the performance of MCM-41 with H-ZSM-5 for mesitylene adsorption.
• To evaluate the stability and reusability of MCM-41-AS for mesitylene removal.

Main Methods:

• Adsorption experiments were conducted using MCM-41 and H-ZSM-5 with varying concentrations of mesitylene.
• Adsorption kinetics were analyzed using isotherm models, specifically the Freundlich isotherm.
• Adsorption-desorption cycles were performed to assess the stability and reusability of MCM-41-AS.

Main Results:

• MCM-41 demonstrated a significant adsorption capacity of 184 mg/g for 100 ppm mesitylene at 10% relative humidity.
• Adsorption kinetics followed the Freundlich isotherm, indicating favorable adsorption of mesitylene onto MCM-41.
• MCM-41-AS retained 92.4% of its initial adsorption capacity after 10 adsorption-desorption cycles, showing excellent stability.
• A combined system of MCM-41 and H-ZSM-5 effectively removed both mesitylene and toluene simultaneously.

Conclusions:

• MCM-41 is a highly effective adsorbent for mesitylene, particularly at low concentrations and under specific humidity conditions.
• The adsorbent MCM-41-AS exhibits robust stability and reusability, making it suitable for long-term industrial applications.
• Integrating MCM-41 with H-ZSM-5 offers a promising solution for the simultaneous removal of mesitylene and toluene from industrial emissions.