Abstract: “The potential of adsorptive removal of bisphenol A was investigated for two commercial carbon nanotubes including: single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The surface area, elemental analyses and pHzpc of the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were determined and the adsorption isotherms were measured. Adsorption isotherms indicate that the adsorption of bisphenol A on carbon nanotubes belongs to type L of the Giles classification. This follows from the textural and chemical characteristics of these carbons and essentially hydrophobic nature of bisphenol A. The adsorption capacity and relative affinity of SWCNTs are higher than that of MWCNTs with SWCNTs having about 12.7 times the adsorption capacity of MWCNTs. This suggests that SWCNTs have higher potential for removing bisphenol A from contaminated water. The weak ion strength dependence and strongly pH dependence of the adsorption process indicate that chemicomplexation is strong while physical sorption”

Keywords: Carbon nanotubes, bisphenol A, adsorption