Environmental Chemistry

Impact of carbon nanotube morphology on phenanthrene adsorption†

  1. Onur Guven Apul,
  2. Ting Shao,
  3. Shujuan Zhang,
  4. Tanju Karanfil*

Article first published online: 9 DEC 2011

DOI: 10.1002/etc.705

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Special Issue: Nanomaterials in the Environment

Volume 31, Issue 1, pages 73–78, January 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Apul, O. G., Shao, T., Zhang, S. and Karanfil, T. (2012), Impact of carbon nanotube morphology on phenanthrene adsorption. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31: 73–78. doi: 10.1002/etc.705

Author Information

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina, USA

*Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina, USA.

  1. †

    Presented at Nano 2010: International Conference on the Environmental Effects of Nanomaterials, Clemson University, August, 2010.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 9 DEC 2011
  2. Article first published online: 9 DEC 2011
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 14 OCT 2011 06:43PM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 11 APR 2011
  5. Manuscript Revised: 11 FEB 2011
  6. Manuscript Received: 20 DEC 2010

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Keywords:

  • Carbon nanotube;
  • Carbon nanotube diameter;
  • Morphology;
  • Naphtalene;
  • Phenanthrene

Abstract

The present study examined the roles of the specific surface area (SSA), diameter, and length of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the adsorption of phenanthrene (PNT) by analyzing the adsorption isotherms obtained with several single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). At low equilibrium concentrations (e.g., 1 ppb), MWNTs with larger outer diameters exhibited higher PNT adsorption capacity on an SSA basis than those with smaller diameters. With increasing equilibrium concentration, adsorption on an SSA basis became independent of MWNT diameter, and the total surface area controlled maximum adsorption capacity. A similar analysis for the adsorption of naphthalene, a planar molecule with one less benzene ring but 20 times higher solubility than PNT, showed no correlation with respect to MWNT outer diameter. The results indicated that the surface curvature of MWNT was more important on the adsorption of PNT than on the adsorption of naphthalene. Specific surface area normalized isotherms did not show a correlation between PNT adsorption and lengths of SWNTs and MWNTs. Characterization results indicated that the morphology of CNTs plays an important role on the SSA and pore volume. Data from the manufacturer may not always represent the characteristics of CNTs in a particular batch. Therefore, accurate characterization of CNTs is critical to systematically examine the behavior of CNTs, such as adsorption and transport, in environmental systems. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012;31:73–78. © 2011 SETAC

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