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Treating MTBE-contaminated water using sewage sludge-derived activated carbon
Musiliu A Liadi1, Bassam Tawabini2, Reyad Shawabkeh3
1Geosciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), P.O. Box 189, Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|August 22, 2018
Summary
Sewage sludge-derived activated carbon effectively removes methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from water. This bio-waste material offers a sustainable solution for water treatment, achieving 70% MTBE removal efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
Background:
- Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a common water pollutant.
- Effective and sustainable adsorbents are needed for MTBE removal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize sewage sludge-derived activated carbon (SDAC).
- To evaluate SDAC's efficiency in adsorbing MTBE from water.
Main Methods:
- SDAC synthesis via zinc chloride activation and pyrolysis.
- Characterization using SEM/EDX, BET, and TGA.
- MTBE adsorption experiments to determine removal efficiency and kinetics.
Main Results:
- SEM/EDX confirmed impurity removal with higher temperatures and acid washing.
- BET analysis showed a surface area increase from 1.5 to 385 m²/g.
- 70% MTBE removal was achieved in 60 min using 2 g/L SDAC at pH 6 and 1 ppm initial concentration.
- Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.
Conclusions:
- SDAC is a thermally stable material with enhanced surface area.
- SDAC demonstrates significant potential as an adsorbent for MTBE removal.
- Utilizing sewage sludge for water treatment offers a beneficial bio-waste application.
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