Adsorption of chloroform from aqueous solution by nano -TiO2

Abstract

In this study, nano-TiO2 was employed for the adsorption of chloroform from aqueous solution in batch equilibrium experiments to investigate its adsorption properties. The effects of pH, initial chloroform concentration and nano-TiO2 dosage were also investigated. Optimal conditions for chloroform removal by nano-TiO2 have been then identified. Results of equilibrium experiments showed that the solution pH was the key parameter affecting the adsorption characteristics. It was found that the adsorption efficiency of chloroform was more at pH 8.0. Results showed that the initial adsorption rate was increased with the increasing nano-TiO2 dosage and decreasing initial chloroform concentration. Equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The Langmuir isotherm was found to be the best fitting isotherm model. The adsorption kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order. It was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was the most appropriate model, describing the adsorption kinetics.