Abstract

Modification of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) via ozone was carried out to enhance removal of BTEX from aqueous solution. MWCNT was oxidized by ozone (MWCNT-O3) generator at 80 intensity for 5 min and in 30 NaOCl solution. The images of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that the MWCNT-O3 have a lower degree of entanglement with increased porosity compared to the non-modified MWCNT. X-ray diffraction (XRD) test showed that structural crystallization was increased following the modification. After change, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the peaks corresponded to the hydroxyl and carboxylic acid groups in MMWCNT-O3 were more intense than those in non-MMWCNT. The optimum condition for initial BTEX concentration, MWCNT-O3 dose, contact time, and pH was 100 mg/L, 2000 mg/L, 20 min, and 5 respectively. In this optimum condition the efficiency of MWCNT-O3 were increased by 43.5. This study concludes that this method is easy to use and also that ozone is an effective modifier for MWCNT in removal of BTEX compounds from the environment. © 2017, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. All rights reserved.