Naphthalene Adsorption and Desorption from Aqueous C₆₀ Fullerene

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to characterize the adsorption and desorption interactions of naphthalene, a model environmental organic pollutant, with C60 fullerene. C60 fullerene was used as a model adsorbent for carbonaceous nanoparticles. Typical batch reactors were used to perform adsorption and desorption experiments. Adsorption and desorption of naphthalene to and from C60 fullerene solids in different aggregation forms was studied, where C60 was used as purchased, deposited as a thin film, or dispersed in water by magnetic mixing. Adsorption and desorption of naphthalene to activated carbon, a common sorbent, was also studied and compared with that of C60. It was found in this study that the enhanced dispersal of C60 could affect the adsorption of naphthalene by several orders of magnitude. A solid-water distribution coefficient of 102.4 mL·g-1 was obtained for adsorption of naphthalene to poorly dispersed C60, whereas (104.2 to 104.3) ml·g-1 coefficients were obtained for well-dispersed C60 samples. In addition, desorption of naphthalene from dispersed C60 samples into aqueous solutions was found to exhibit strong hysteresis. For the desorption over a period of 60 days, only about 11% of total naphthalene was desorbed from C60. Possible mechanisms for these observations are discussed.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• Rice University US

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