Adsorption of Phenol from Industrial Wastewater Using Olive Mill Waste

This study explores the possibility of using olive mill waste to remove phenol from aqueous effluents. The removal of phenol was investigated in both batch and continuous processes. Batch mode adsorption studies were performed by varying parameters such as operating time, initial phenol concentration, and solid to solution ratio. Column mode adsorption studies were performed by varying parameters such as initial phenol concentration, bed height, and volumetric flow rate. The rate of adsorption was observed to increase as the phenol initial concentration increases; the solid to solution ratio increases; bed height increases; and volumetric flow rate decreases. The well known Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm equations were applied for the equilibrium adsorption data and the various isotherm parameters were evaluated. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.