Application of Recycled Rubber from Scrap Tyres in the Adsorption of Toluene from Aqueous Solution

The adsorption of toluene from aqueous solution using waste tyre rubber granules (WTRG) was investigated in a batch system. The effect of various factors such as contact time, amount of adsorbent, size of adsorbent particles, and temperature of solution on the adsorption capacity of WTRG was determined. The equilibrium contact time was obtained to be 30 minutes indicating fast adsorption. The adsorption capacity of WTRG increased with decrease in particle size. Increasing the temperature of the aqueous solution resulted in a decrease in the adsorption capacity of WTRG while an increase in adsorbent dosage resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity of WTRG. Kinetic and isotherm studies indicate that the adsorption of toluene was best described by the Lagergren pseudo-first order kinetic equation and Langmuir isotherm equation respectively. Results obtained indicate that recycled rubber from scrap tyres can be widely used as an adsorbent for the removal of toluene from aqueous solution.