Removal of oil from water by inverse fluidization of aerogels

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-7-2009

Abstract

Surface-treated hydrophobic aerogel (Nanogel) granules of sizes between 500 and 850 μm, 1.7 and 2.3 mm, and 0.5 and 2.3 mm are fluidized by a downward flow of oil-contaminated water in an inverse fluidization mode. Aerogel particles are nanostructured, extremely light and porous, have a very large surface area per unit mass, and are sufficiently robust to be fluidized. Their hydrophobic surface gives them a strong affinity for oil and other organic compounds, with the exclusion of water. These desirable properties make them an ideal sorbent or filter media for the removal of oil from wastewater. The hydrodynamic characteristics of inverse fluidized beds of aerogel granules of different size ranges were studied by measuring the pressure drop and bed expansion as a function of superficial velocity. The oil removal efficiency and capacity of the aerogel granules in the inverse fluidized bed were found to depend mainly on the size of the granules, the initial height of the bed (amount of powder used), the void fraction, and the fluid velocity. Among the advantages of the process are the extremely low energy consumption (low pressure drop) during oil removal and the large absorption capacity. Oil concentrations of about 2000 mg/L in water could be reduced to less than 10 mg/L by the inverse fluidization process. © 2009 American Chemical Society.

Identifier

61649115968 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1021/ie800022e

ISSN

08885885

First Page

191

Last Page

201

Issue

1

Volume

48

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS