Potential of granulated modified nanozeolites Y for MTBE removal from aqueous solutions: Kinetic and isotherm studies

Adsorption of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from aqueous solutions by granulated modifi ed nanozeolites Y was investigated. Nanozeolite Y powders were converted into granulated zeolites and subsequently modifi ed with two cationic surfactants (20 mmol/dm3), to be used as adsorbent. Granulated nanozeolites were characterized by BET surface area analysis, elemental analysis and X-ray diffractometer. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA-Cl) modifi ed granulated zeolite had more effective performance than N-cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB) modifi ed granulated zeolite. The most conventional adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were applied to describe MTBE adsorption and reaction dynamic, respectively. The equilibrium sorption data fi tted the Langmuir 2 isotherm model and the kinetic study was followed the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacities for HDTMA-Cl modifi ed zeolite and CPB modifi ed granulated zeolite were 333.33 and 142.8 mg/g, respectively as calculated by the Langmuir model. This study demonstrated that the removal of mtbe by granulated modifi ed nanozeolites Y is a promising technique.