Adsorptive separation of chloronitrobenzenes : static equilibrium study

Abstract

Chloronitrobenzenes (CNBs) are used in numerous industries including pesticide, fungicide, pharmaceutical, preservative, photochemical and rubber industries. The methods used to separate each isomer are complicated and costly. In this study, an adsorptive process was investigated for potential CNB isomer separation. The liquid phase adsorption of CNBs was studied on a series of X and Y zeolites. The effect of cation exchange on the selectivity and adsorption capacity was also investigated. m-CNB and p-CNB were used as a feed component. The saturation capacities of single and binary systems of the adsorbates on the adsorbent were determined. The highest selectivity determined for m-lp-CNB is 2.08 for Na Y at high equilibrium concentration. The competitive adsorption isotherms of the two isomers were also observed. Moreover, a series of desorbents and water content in the zeolite structure were chosen in order to study their effects on the separation.