Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has received extensive attention due to its widespread distribution in the environment and concerns of its exposure to human health. Nano-MgAl2O4 modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized, characterized, and used as nanoadsorbents to remove ppb (μg/L)-levels of PFOA from drinking water and brackish groundwater. Nano-MgAl2O4@CNTs composite materials were characterized by UV-Vis, FT-IR, DLS, p-XRD, BET, and SEM with EDX. The adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies were fitted to a Freundlich and to a pseudo-second-order models, respectively. Composite nano-MgAl2O4@CNTs remove over 99% of PFOA (100 ppb) from water in 3 hours, and completely (100%) in 3.5 hours. The optimal pH range is under mild alkaline conditions (pH = 7.5-9.0). Electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions drive the PFOA adsorption onto MgAl2O4@CNTs. The adsorption data of ground and drinking water samples indicated that nano-MgAl2O4@CNTs is an efficient nanoadsorbent for PFOA removal.
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