Adsorption of phenol onto aluminium oxide and zinc oxide: A comparative study with titanium dioxide

ABSTRACT

This study conducted an investigation of aluminium oxide’s and zinc oxide’s ability to remove phenol from wastewater through adsorption, and compare of their performance with titanium dioxide. The points of zero charge for the adsorbents were determined. The highest removal efficiencies for aluminium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide were 14.7%, 12.2% and 33.5%, respectively. Equilibrium studies demonstrated the possibility of Frendluich isotherm, Temkin isotherm, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm respectively expressing the adsorption isotherms for aluminium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. FTIR and SEM were used in conducting investigation on adsorbents. Among the three adsorbents, titanium dioxide was the best.

KEYWORDS:

• Oxides
• kinetics
• isotherms
• phenol
• wastewater

Acknowledegments

The authors wish to thank the specialists at Micro Analytical Center, Cairo University; and the central laboratory of Egyptian mineral resources authority for help with the analyses. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.