Evaluating the efficiency of cellulose nanofibers in DEHP removal from water

Abstract

The removal of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from aqueous solutions by cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), derived from softwood, was studied. The optimum conditions of four factors at four levels including the DEHP concentration (1-10 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.5-3 g/L), contact time (30-180 min), and pH (3-9) in a batch system was investigated by the design of experiment software. The Isotherm Fitting Tool software was used to fit isotherm parameters to experimental data. The maximum removal efficiency, (74.1), was obtained at a DEHP concentration of 10 mg/L, an adsorbent dose of 0.5 g/L, a contact time of 30 min, and a pH of 7. The amount of DEHP adsorbed per unit weight of adsorbent (q(e)) in the optimum conditions was 14.8 mg/g. The system was well corresponded by the generalized Langmuir-Freundlich model. The results showed that extracted CNF from softwood has a good potential for treatment of polluted aqueous solutions by DEHP.