Removal of Nonylphenol and Octylphenol from Aqueous Solutions by a Novel Nano-Composite (ZVI/Fullerene)

Gül Gülenay Haciosmanoglu,Zehra Semra Can,Esra Erdim,Zeynep Yücesoy-Ozkan,Elif Soyer,Seval Genc,Elif Pehlivanoglu-Mantas

doi:10.3390/proceedings2110654

Abstract

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are considered as endocrine disrupting compounds and they restrict the reuse potential of wastewater. Therefore, innovative and reliable technologies are required for elimination of these compounds from waste streams. In this study, we consider use of iron nanoparticles (nZVI) (0.1 mM; 2 mM) and also a composite of nZVI/fullerene nanoparticles (aq-nC60) (0.1 mM nZVI/2.5 ppm aq-nC60; 2 mM nZVI/2.5 ppm aq-nC60) for the removal of 25 μg/L NP and OP concentrations. The nano-composite was synthesized according to chemical reduction method and was characterized using XRD, particle size distribution and zeta potential measurements. NP and OP concentrations were quantified with a GC-MS. The results demonstrated that 0.1 mM nZVI alone resulted in 6% and 17% decrease in NP and OP concentrations, respectively. However, when the nZVI concentration was increased to 2 mM, the removal efficiency increased to 59% for NP and 32% for OP. When compared with NP, lower removal rates were achieved for OP regardless of the nZVI concentration. Although NP and OP have similar chemical structures, OP has a branched arrangement and this structure is anticipated to cause a decrease in the active adsorption sites and lower removal efficiency for OP. Highest removal was obtained with 0.1 mM nZVI/2.5 ppm aq-nC60 for both NP and OP. Our results show that nZVI/aq-nC60 holds a potential for elimination of NP and OP from wastewater sources.

Highlights

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are micropollutants that are among surface active materials and have been widely used in domestic and industrial applications
The diffractograms obtained for the iron nanoparticle and aq/nC60-ZVI composite showed a sharp peak at 44.9°, characteristic for ZVI
Octylphenol removal in different conditions with 0.1 mM nZVI was smilar to nonylphenol removal data. 0.1 mM nZVI alone did not show any significant effect on octylphenol removal, but when the nZVI composite was formed with aqC60, the removal yield increased from about 10% to about 55%

Summary

Introduction

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are micropollutants that are among surface active materials and have been widely used in domestic and industrial applications Either these substances themselves or metabolites of their ethoxylated forms that form during biological processes in wastewater treatment plants are have toxic properties [1,2,3]. Proceedings 2018, 2, 654 nonylphenol and octylphenol have high log Kow values, these compounds tend to accumulate in the solid phase rather than remaining in the liquid phase. For this reason, even though their concentration in the effluent of the treatment plant seems to be reduced, they accumulate in the wastewater sludge [6]. Innovative and economic technologies are required for maximum removal of micropollutants such as nonylphenol and octylphenol in wastewater treatment plants, so that wastewater reuse and sludge land utilization can be achieved

Methods

Results

Conclusion