Adsorption of DDT and PCB by Nanomaterials from Residual Soil

PLoS One. 2015 Dec 11;10(12):e0144071. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144071. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a study on adsorption of dichlorodiphenythreechloroethen (DDT) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on three nanomaterials including Multi walled Carbon Nanotube (MWNT), nano-clay and nano-alumina. DDT and PCBs are of significant concern due their high toxicity and long environmental half-lives. Experiments were conducted using batch adsorption procedures at different DDT and PCBs concentrations, from 10 to 60 mg/L. The amounts of MWNT, nano-clay and Nano-alumina used were 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1%, 2% and 10%. The adsorption of PCBs solution onto the MWNT, nano-clay and nano-alumina was characterized by an initial rapid adsorption which eventually became constant within 22, 20, and 17 hours, respectively. The adsorption of DDT solution onto the MWNT, nano-clay and nano-alumina was also characterized by an initial rapid adsorption which gradually became constant within 22, 22 and 16 hours, respectively. Results of this study indicated that MWNT was a better adsorbent material compared to nano-clay and nano-alumina for both contaminants in this study. While at 10% of MWNT 88.9% and 77% of DDT and PCB were removed by MWNT, respectively. The effect of pH and temperature were also investigated.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aluminum Oxide / chemistry
  • Aluminum Silicates / chemistry
  • Clay
  • DDT / isolation & purification*
  • Decontamination / methods
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Kinetics
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls / isolation & purification*
  • Soil / chemistry*
  • Soil Pollutants / isolation & purification*
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Aluminum Silicates
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • DDT
  • Polychlorinated Biphenyls
  • Aluminum Oxide
  • Clay

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.