Polypyrrole-Grafted Coconut Shell Biological Carbon as a Potential Adsorbent for Methyl Tert -Butyl Ether Removal: Characterization and Adsorption Capability

Shanshan Li, Keke Qian, Shan Wang, Kaiqiang Liang and Wei Yan
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Shanshan Li: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Keke Qian: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Shan Wang: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Kaiqiang Liang: Research Institute of Yanchang Petroleum (GROUP) Co. Ltd., Xi’an 710075, China
Wei Yan: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: Methyl tert -butyl ether (MTBE) has been used as a common gasoline additive worldwide since the late twentieth century, and it has become the most frequently detected groundwater pollutant in many countries. This study aimed to synthesize a novel microbial carrier to improve its adsorptive capacity for MTBE and biofilm formation, compared to the traditional granular activated carbon (GAC). A polypyrrole (PPy)-modified GAC composite (PPy/GAC) was synthesized, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The adsorption behaviors of MTBE were well described by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherm models. Furthermore, three biofilm reactors were established with PPy/GAC, PPy, and GAC as the carriers, respectively, and the degradation of MTBE under continuous flow was investigated. Compared to the biofilm reactors with PPy or GAC (which both broke after a period of operation), the PPy/GAC biofilm column produced stable effluents under variable treatment conditions with a long-term effluent MTBE concentration <20 ?g/L. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter pittii may be the predominant bacteria responsible for MTBE degradation in these biofilm reactors.

Keywords: polypyrrole; active carbon; PPy/GAC; methyl tert -butyl ether; carrier; biological filtration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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