Optimization of the Removal of Toluene in the Air by Activated Carbon / ZIF-8 Metal-Organic Framework

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Environmental and Occupational Hazards Control Research Center, Research Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

4 Department of occupational health and safety engineering, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.22059/poll.2024.369236.2169

Abstract

In this research, the objective was to optimize the operating conditions for removing toluene from the air stream using a composite of activated carbon (AC) and ZIF-8 metal-organic framework (MOF). The experimental design involved defining the input variables (type of adsorbent, mass of adsorbent, air flow rate, temperature, and relative humidity) and response variables (adsorption capacity and breakthrough time). The study consisted of six steps: 1) synthesis of ZIF-8 MOF and AC@ZIF-8 composite, 2) creation of the experimental design using Central Composite Design (CCD), 3) structural analysis tests, 4) experimental runs, 5) statistical analysis, and 6) experimental verification tests. The 2FI model was determined to be the most suitable for predicting adsorption capacity and breakthrough time. The optimized run achieved a toluene inlet concentration of 300 ppm, AC@ZIF-8 as the adsorbent type, an air temperature of 27 ˚C, air relative humidity of 29%, adsorbent mass of 9 mg, and an airflow rate of 250 ml/min. The breakthrough time for 100% composite utilization was 18.6 hours. The results of toluene adsorption using AC@ZIF-8 showed a 50% higher breakthrough time and adsorption capacity compared to the other two adsorbents (AC and ZIF-8). In conclusion, the AC@ZIF-8 composite is well-suited for efficiently removing and adsorbing toluene from the air stream. Considering the high cost of MOF synthesis and the limitations of activated carbon in selectively removing volatile organic compounds, the AC@ZIF-8 composite can be a viable option for air adsorption and purification processes.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Alaei, Z., Ghasemi, R., Pourmand, M. R., Karimi, A., Masoorian, E., & Golbabaei, F. (2022). Comparative Survey of Virgin and Immobilized Activated Carbon With Pseudomonas Putida PTCC In Toluene Removal From Airflow. Journal of Health and Safety at Work, 12(2), 274-287. 
Bahri, M., Haghighat, F., Kazemian, H., & Rohani, S. (2017). A comparative study on metal organic frameworks for indoor environment application: Adsorption evaluation. Chemical Engineering Journal, 313, 711-723. 
Bahri, M., Haghighat, F., Rohani, S., & Kazemian, H. (2017). Metal organic frameworks for gas-phase VOCs removal in a NTP-catalytic reactor. Chemical Engineering Journal, 320, 308-318. 
Baytar, O., Şahin, Ö., Horoz, S., & Kutluay, S. (2020). High-performance gas-phase adsorption of benzene and toluene on activated carbon: response surface optimization, reusability, equilibrium, kinetic, and competitive adsorption studies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27, 26191-26210. 
Buragohain, M., & Mahanta, C. (2008). A novel approach for ANFIS modelling based on full factorial design. Applied soft computing, 8(1), 609-625. 
Chu, F., Zheng, Y., Wen, B., Zhou, L., Yan, J., & Chen, Y. (2018). Adsorption of toluene with water on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8/graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposites in a humid atmosphere. RSC advances, 8(5), 2426-2432. 
He, M., Yao, J., Liu, Q., Zhong, Z., & Wang, H. (2013). Toluene-assisted synthesis of RHO-type zeolitic imidazolate frameworks: synthesis and formation mechanism of ZIF-11 and ZIF-12. Dalton Transactions, 42(47), 16608-16613. 
Hunter‐Sellars, E., Saenz‐Cavazos, P. A., Houghton, A. R., McIntyre, S. R., Parkin, I. P., & Williams, D. R. (2021). Sol–Gel Synthesis of High‐Density Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Monoliths via Ligand Assisted Methods: Exceptional Porosity, Hydrophobicity, and Applications in Vapor Adsorption. Advanced Functional Materials, 31(5), 2008357. 
ISO 10121-1:2014,Test method for assessing the performance of gas-phase air cleaning media and devices for general ventilation — Part 1: Gas-phase air cleaning media. (2014). In. Geneva, Switzerland. ISO:International Organization for Standardization.
Jafari, S., Ghorbani-Shahna, F., Bahrami, A., & Kazemian, H. (2018). Effects of post-synthesis activation and relative humidity on adsorption performance of ZIF-8 for capturing toluene from a gas phase in a continuous mode. Applied Sciences, 8(2), 310. 
Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Golbabaei, F., Beygzadeh, M., Carrasco-Marín, F., & Shahtaheri, S. J. (2020). Toluene adsorption on porous Cu–BDC@ OAC composite at various operating conditions: optimization by response surface methodology. RSC advances, 10(58), 35582-35596. 
Khoshakhlagh, A. H., Golbabaei, F., Beygzadeh, M., & Shahtaheri, S. J. (2021). Study of the dynamic adsorption process of toluene by a microporous copper metal-organic framework. Journal of Health & Safety at Work, 11(4), 556-576. 
Liu, B., Younis, S. A., & Kim, K.-H. (2021). The dynamic competition in adsorption between gaseous benzene and moisture on metal-organic frameworks across their varying concentration levels. Chemical Engineering Journal, 421, 127813. 
Liu, X., Li, Y., Chen, Z., Yang, H., Cai, Y., Wang, S., ... & Wang, X. (2023). Advanced porous nanomaterials as superior adsorbents for environmental pollutants removal from aqueous solutions. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 53(13), 1289-1309. 
Ma, X., Wang, W., Sun, C., Li, H., Sun, J., & Liu, X. (2021). Adsorption performance and kinetic study of hierarchical porous Fe-based MOFs for toluene removal. Science of The Total Environment, 793, 148622. 
Mohammadzadeh, A., & Azadbe, M. (2013). Modeling and Investigating the Effect of Supercalidium Liquid Phase Coupling Variables on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cu28Zn Alloy Journal of Modern Materials, 3(3), 1-20. 
Nahm, S. W., Shim, W. G., Park, Y.-K., & Kim, S. C. (2012). Thermal and chemical regeneration of spent activated carbon and its adsorption property for toluene. Chemical Engineering Journal, 210, 500-509. 
Nazir, M. A., Najam, T., Shahzad, K., Wattoo, M. A., Hussain, T., Tufail, M. K., ... & ur Rehman, A. (2022). Heterointerface engineering of water stable ZIF-8@ ZIF-67: Adsorption of rhodamine B from water. Surfaces and Interfaces, 34, 102324. 
Norafizan;, A. C. D., Aziz, F., Mohamed Amin, M. A., & Ismail, A. F. (2021). Copper adsorption on ZIF-8/alumina hollow fiber membrane: a response surface methodology analysis. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 46(7), 6775-6786. 
Parisa Mohammad-Gholikhan-Khalaj, Mahdi Hasanzadeh, Davoud Panahi, Zahra Yazdankhah, & Dehghan, S. F. (2023). Feasibility study on the removal of toluene from the air stream by activated carbon/zeolite imidazolate framework composite material. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 11(5), 110885.
Saqlain, S., Zhao, S., Kim, S. Y., & Kim, Y. D. (2021). Enhanced removal efficiency of toluene over activated carbon under visible light. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 418, 126317.
Vrtovec, N., Mazaj, M., Buscarino, G., Terracina, A., Agnello, S.,& Arčon, I. (2020). Structural and CO2 Capture Properties of Ethylenediamine-Modified HKUST-1 Metal–Organic Framework. 20(8), 5455-5465. 
Wang, J., Muhammad, Y., Gao, Z., Shah, S. J., Nie, S., Kuang, L., ... & Zhao, Z. (2021). Implanting polyethylene glycol into MIL-101 (Cr) as hydrophobic barrier for enhancing toluene adsorption under highly humid environment. Chemical Engineering Journal, 404, 126562. 
Yun, J.-H., Hwang, K.-Y., & Choi, D.-K. (1998). Adsorption of benzene and toluene vapors on activated carbon fiber at 298, 323, and 348 K. Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, 43(5), 843-845.