Continuous adsorption of natural organic matters in a column packed with carbon nanotubes

In the present study, continuous adsorption experiments were carried out in an adsorption column to survey the efficiency of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for removal of natural organic matters (NOMs) from aqueous solution. Parameters such as mass of CNTs, initial NOMs concentration were evaluated and also the breakthrough curves were obtained. Experiments performed with various initial NOMs concentration and various CNTs masses. The breakthrough period was longer at lower initial NOMs concentration. Increase of the initial NOMs concentration, expectedly, resulted in the faster saturation of the CNTs bed. The adsorption capacities for multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) in highest initial NOMs concentration were 53.46 and 66.24 mg/g, respectively. The effect of amount of CNTs on breakthrough time and volume of treated water was investigated and resulted that with an increase in the mass of CNTs, breakthrough time occurs very late and the volume of treated water increased. These findings suggested that CNTs present a great potential in removal of NOMs from aqueous solutions.