An investigation of adsorption of benzene and ethyl benzene over silica aerogel and carbon-silica aerogel composites

Silica aerogels have high specific surface area and manageable nano scale dimensions, showing high rate and capacity for pollutants adsorption. In this study, static adsorption kinetic of benzene and ethyl benzene over silica aerogel and activated carbon- silica aerogel composites were investigated using gravimetric methods and results were fitted using linear driving force (LDF) model. Results, showed the highest adsorption capacity of 1800mg/g for benzene and (300mg/g) for ethyl benzene. Also, composite of - 0.5% wt Silica aerogel and activated carbon and -2% wt silica aerogel and activated carbon showed the least adsorption capacity of benzeneand ethyl benzene (1225mg/g and 200mg/g respectively). The statistical analysis of results showed a good agreement between the adsorption curves and linear driving force model.