Evaluation of the Removal Efficiency of Anthracene from Aqueous Solution using Natural Zeolite Compared to Modified Zeolite

Anthracene is an aromatic hydrocarbon recognized as a component that is carcinogenic to humans. Components known as zeolite have been used to remove contaminants, including aromatic hydrocarbons. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of natural zeolites and zeolites modified by copper and iron oxide nanoparticles in the removal of anthracene from water.
In this study, with the use of natural and modified zeolites, anthracene removal process was evaluated and uptake of the desired solution was read using ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectrometry. The effect of pH, initial concentration of anthracene, adsorbent dose, and contact time in the adsorption process was also studied.
Findings: According to the results, the highest efficiency in the removal of anthracene was obtained in acidic pH. In addition, the maximum removal was achieved by raw zeolite at a concentration of 10 mg of anthracene and by zeolite modified with zerovalent iron and copper oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 1 ppm. Finally, the maximum removal using zeolite was achieved at 120 minutes. Moreover, the mechanism of adsorption isotherm obeyed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm.
According to the results obtained, the removal efficiency of zeolites modified with copper oxide and iron nanoparticles was higher than that of raw zeolite. In spite of the high performance in measuring the residue concentration using spectrophotometry to optimize the results through the application of total organic carbon (TOC), the results showed that the total removal of anthracene using the studied adsorbents was low.