Uptake of aniline and nitrobenzene from aqueous solution by organo-zeolite.

Adsorption mechanisms of toxic non-ionic organic contaminants (NOCs), aniline and nitrobenzene, with natural-zeolite and organo-zeolite (OZ) were investigated in both batch and continuous systems. In batch tests, the adsorption capacity of aniline and nitrobenzene onto natural zeolite surface is very low or almost nil but becomes significant upon modifying the zeolite surface by hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA). A partitioning mechanism is proposed to be responsible for the adsorption of NOCs onto OZ. The effectiveness of the partitioning mechanism is directly connected with hydrophobic properties of the NOCs. The column tests were carried out as an indicator for continuous system. The breakthrough curves were constructed for OZ/NOC system and the adsorption capacity of NOCs onto OZ under the present conditions were determined as 2.36 and 3.25 mg per gram of OZ, for aniline and nitrobenzene, respectively. A schematic model is proposed to account for the adsorption of NOCs onto OZ.