Removal of dissolved toluene in underground water with nanowires of manganese oxide

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to investigate the adsorption behavior of manganese oxide nanowires as an adsorbent for the removal of dissolved toluene from underground water. The nanowire membrane, composed of three-dimensional porous nanostructures plus superhydrophobic character, is very suitable for removal of the hydrophobic molecules. The effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, initial solution concentration, pH, salinity, and recyclability on the uptake of toluene by the adsorbent in batch mode are examined. The adsorption data compared to the adsorption of two kinds of activated carbons show that manganese oxide nanowire is competitive to activated carbons. Furthermore, the equilibrium data are fitted to different types of adsorption isotherms. Freundlich isotherm model illustrated the best fit to the data. The results of this study suggest that nanowires of manganese oxides can be used as a low cost, highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of dissolved hydrocarbon from aqueous solution.