Effect of co-existing organic compounds on adsorption of perfluorinated compounds onto carbon nanotubes

Co-existing organic compounds may affect the adsorption of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and carbon nanotubes in aquatic environments. Adsorption of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctane acid (PFOA), perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) on the pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-Pri), carboxyl functionalized MWCNTs (MWCTNs-COOH), and hydroxyl functionalized MWCNTs (MWCNTs-OH) in the presence of humic acid, 1-naphthol, phenol, and benzoic acid was studied. Adsorption kinetics of PFOS was described well by the pseudo-second-order model and the sorption equilibrium was almost reached within 24 h. The effect of co-existing organic compounds on PFOS adsorption followed the decreasing order of humic acid>1-naphthol>benzoic acid>phenol. Adsorbed amounts of PFOS decreased significantly in the presence of co-existing or preloaded humic acid, and both adsorption energy and effective adsorption sites on the three MWCNTs decreased, resulting in the decrease of PFOS adsorption. With increasing pH, PFOS removal by three MWCNTs decreased in the presence of humic acid and phenol. The adsorbed amounts of different PFCs on the MWCNTs increased in the order of PFBS<PFHxS<PFOA<PFOS. The increase of both initial concentrations and the number of aromatic rings of co-existing organic compounds suppressed PFOS adsorption on the MWCNTs.