Use of Organo-Clay/Anthracite Mixture in the Separation of Oil from Oily Waters

Abstract

Bentonite organo-clay/anthracite mixture containing 30% granular organo-clay and 70% anthracite was used in this study to assess its potential for removal of oil from synthetic and actual oil-in-water emulsions. Batch kinetic studies showed that equilibrium time was reached within 2 to 4 hours of contact time. Data obtained from kinetic studies indicated good fit for both the Lagergren's and Ho's nonlinear models. Batch isotherm studies showed that the sorption of various oils by the mixture can well be described and fitted by the Langmuir, Freundlich, and BET models. The oil removal efficiencies of 72 to 98% obtained for various oil-in-water emulsions showed that the mixture was a good medium for treating such emulsions.

Keywords:

• adsorption
• emulsion
• oil-in-water emulsion
• oil removal
• oily wastewater
• organo-clay

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Biomin International Inc., Michigan, U.S.A. for the supply of the organo-clay/anthracite mixture used in the study. The first author thanks the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research for partial financial support.

Notes

r—Correlation coefficient.

^a Correlation coefficient significant at 95% confidence level.

r—Correlation coefficient.