Polyethylene over magnetite-multiwalled carbon nanotubes for kerosene removal from water

Abstract In this study, a nano-adsorbent was prepared for kerosene removal from water. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were functionalized with concentrated HNO3 (nitric acid). Subsequently, Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles were deposited on the MWCNTs to prepare a magnetite/MWCNTs (Fe-MWCNTs) nanocomposite. Then, polyethylene was added to the Fe-MWCNTs to fabricate a polyethylene/magnetite/MWCNTs (PE/Fe-MWCNTs) novel nanocomposite. The nano-adsorbent was characterized using BET, FTIR, Raman, XRD, TEM, and SEM. A kerosene–water model mixture was used for adsorption tests. Several parameters: adsorption time, adsorbent dose, solution pH, solution temperature, and kerosene concentration in the kerosene-water model mixture, were analyzed during adsorption experiments. After each batch experiment, kerosene concentration was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Magnetic field was used to remove the adsorbent after each experiment. The kerosene adsorption capacity and removal efficiency of the PE/Fe-MWCNTs nanocomposite (3560 mg/g and 71.2 %, respectively) were higher than those of Fe-MWCNTs, ox-MWCNTs, and fresh MWCNTs (3154 mg/g and 63.1 %, 2204 mg/g and 44.0 %, and 2092 mg/g and 41.8 %, respectively). Kerosene adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.999) and the Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting that adsorption was uniform and homogenous process.