Phenol Removal using Polymeric Adsorbent Based on Methyl Methacrylate & Divinyl Benzene

Abstract

In recent times, there is a vast development of science and technology in every field, but one cannot forget the environmental pollution resulting due to this advancement. Increasing concern on public health and environmental quality has led to the establishment of limits on the acceptable environmental levels of specific pollutants. One of the major causes of this pollution is industrial waste, which contains many harmful components; one among them, which affects human beings, is phenols. Earlier studies have been carried out by using porous polymeric adsorbents for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solution. Series of polymer based on Methylmethacrylate were synthesized by suspension polymerization technique in the brine solution containing 2.25% (w/v) starch as suspension stabilizer. Divinylbenzene was used as cross-linking agent and n-Hexanol was used as solvent. All polymers were characterized for their structural properties by surface area, porosity, average pore diameter, solvent uptake measurements etc. These polymers were then equilibrated with aqueous phenol solution to select the best adsorbent. Sorption studies of phenol were carried out by varying experimental conditions like phenol concentration, temperature, and time. Experimental data obtained were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Sorption of phenol under dynamic conditions was also carried out in glass column for three different flow rates and three different influent concentrations. Results from all the experiments show that polymers based on Methyl Methacrylate-Divinyl Benzene are good sorbents for phenol.