Characterization of volatile organic compound adsorption on multiwall carbon nanotubes under different levels of relative humidity using linear solvation energy relationship
Journal
Journal of Hazardous Materials
Journal Volume
315
Journal Volume
315
Pages
35-41
Start Page
35
End Page
41
ISSN
03043894
Date Issued
2016-09-05
Author(s)
Abstract
Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been used as an adsorbent for evaluating the gas/solid partitioning of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study, 15 VOCs were probed to determine their gas/solid partitioning coefficient (Log Kd) using inverse gas chromatography at different relative humidity (RH) levels. Interactions between MWCNTs and VOCs were analyzed by regressing the observed Log Kd with the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER). The results demonstrate that the MWCNT carbonyl and carboxyl groups provide high adsorption capacity for the VOCs (Log Kd 3.72-5.24 g/kg/g/L) because of the π-/n-electron pair interactions and hydrogen-bond acidity. The increasing RH gradually decreased the Log Kd and shifted the interactions to dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen-bond basicity, and cavity formation. The derived LSER equations provided adequate fits of Log Kd, which is useful for VOC-removal processes and fate prediction of VOC contaminants by MWCNT adsorption in the environment.
Subjects
Hydrogen-bond
Linear solvation energy relationship
Multiwall carbon nanotubes
Relative humidity
Volatile organic compounds
SDGs
Publisher
Elsevier B.V.
Type
journal article