Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption Study of Magnetic Superhydrophobic Monolithic Core-Shell Polystyrene Composite for the Removal of Ethyl Naphthalene from Produced Water Using Fixed Column Bed

This paper studies the removal of ethyl naphthalene as one of the polyaromatic hydrocarbon pollutants (PAHs) from the produced water. Magnetic super hydrophobic monolithic core-shell polystyrene (MSHMCSh@PS) was prepared using a simple and low-cost (facile in situ bulk radical polymerization) method, in the presence of 2-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator for ethyl naphthalene adsorption. The characterization of the MSHMCSh@PS was performed using FT-IR, TGA, SEM, TEM, and VSM. The possibility of PAHs adsorption from produced water was performed using the continuous adsorption study in a fixed-bed column. The effects of flow rate, concentration, and bed height were investigated. The results showed that the relationship between adsorption capacity with both inlet concentration and bed depth is a direct one, while the relationship between adsorption capacity and flow rate is an inverse relationship. The best column parameters were found at 2.5 ml/min flowing rate, 9 cm bed height, and 50 mg/L concentration. The experimental column results and the relationship between operating boundaries were analyzed according to Yoon-Nelson and Thomas models. The results indicated that the breakthrough curve follows the Yoon-Nelson model. The practical application results showed that the PAHs were adsorbed from the produced water using the prepared absorbent MSHMCSh@PS, which was distinguished by its superior ability.