Degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater by ionizing radiation

Summary A major concern with leaking petroleum is the environmental contamination by the toxic and water-soluble components such as benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX). These hydrocarbons have relatively high pollution potential because of their significant toxicity. All BTX compounds are depressants to the central nervous system. Consequently, BTX are priority pollutants and their occurrence has led to the development of several physical, chemical and biological methods for their removal. The use of nuclear technology for protection and conservation of the environment, by the destruction of toxic organic compounds present in the environmental, drinking water, soils and industrial sewage has been the object of study of several authors in Brazil and in the world. The objective of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the study of contamination of the seawater by the main pollutants of the output and transport of petroleum, such as benzene, toluene and xylene, and their removal by the exposure to the ionizing radiation.     

Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Benzene,Toluene and Xylenes (BTX) in Water Using a Cathodically Pre‐treated Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode

An electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) in water was developed using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). The determination of BTX was carried out using a cathodically pre‐treated boron‐doped diamond electrode (BDD) using 0.1 mol L^?1 H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte. In the SWV measurements using the BDD, the oxidation peak potentials of the total xylenes‐toluene and toluene‐benzene couples, present in ternary mixtures, display separations of about 100 and 200 mV, respectively. The attained detection limits for the simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene and total xylenes were 3.0×10^?7, 8.0×10^?7 and 9.1×10^?7 mol L^?1, respectively. The recovery values taken in ternary mixtures of benzene, toluene and total xylenes in aqueous solutions are 98.9 %, 99.2 % and 99.4 %, respectively.     

Preparation and characterization of DNA films using oleylamine modified Au surfaces

The capacity of a periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) to adsorb the aromatic compounds benzene, toluene, o-, and p-xylenes (BTX), which are usually present in produced waters, was investigated under both column and batch processes. The PMO was synthesized by condensation of 1,4 bis(triethoxisilyl)benzene (BTEB) under acidic conditions by using structure-directing agent (SDA) Pluronic P123 in the presence of KCl. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the presence of the surfactant decreases the thermal stability of the PMO. The small-angle X-ray diffraction pattern, as well as the nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm measurements, revealed that the synthesized material has a crystalline structure, with hexagonally-ordered cylindrical mesopores. The adsorption kinetics study indicated an adsorption equilibrium time of 50 min and also showed that the data best fitted the pseudo-first order kinetic model. The intraparticle diffusion model was also tested and pointed to the occurrence of such process in all cases. Both Langmuir and Temkin models best represented the adsorption isotherms of toluene; Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson models best represented the data obtained for the other compounds. Adsorption capacity decreases in the order benzene>o-xylene>p-xylene>toluene. Satisfactory results were observed in the application of the synthesized PMO for the removal of BTX from aqueous solution.     

十氢萘气相氧化裂解制低碳烯烃的研究

十氢萘气相氧化裂解（GOC）与传统的热裂解工艺相比,O2的存在降低了十氢萘GOC反应的活化能,使反应在较低温度下具有高的反应性能;O2同时起到消除积炭的作用,提高体系的抗积炭能力。十氢萘GOC反应在较低温度下即可获得较高的液体收率;高温下由于十氢萘裂解深度较高,低碳烯烃收率可高于液体收率,在所得的液体中,芳烃,尤其是BTX（苯、甲苯和二甲苯）占主要部分。十氢萘GOC反应制备低碳烯烃的适宜反应条件为,700℃~800℃,停留<0.4s,烷氧摩尔比0.3~0.5,空气可代替纯氧进料。800℃,烷氧摩尔比0.5,停留0.4s,可获得37％左右的低碳烯烃收率和50%左右的液体收率（BTX收率为29％）。     

Quantitative analysis of benzene, toluene, and xylenes in urine by means of headspace solid-phase microextraction

A simple method for benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) quantitative analyses in human urine was developed, using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection in the single ion monitoring mode. The developed method is solventless, non-invasive, requires small volume of sample (1 ml), shows high selectivity, sensitivity, repeatability, and linearity (correlation coefficients >0.998), providing a useful alternative to assess human exposure to BTX compounds due to occupational reasons or eventual exposure to organic solvents. Detection limit varies from 0.28 to 0.5 ppb (v/v).     

木质素催化转化制取苯、甲苯和二甲苯

对HZSM-5、HY和MCM-22三种催化剂进行了比较,其中HZSM-5催化裂解木质素制备苯、甲苯和二甲苯（BTX）的结果最优．确定了木质素催化裂解的最佳反应条件,包括反应温度、载气流速、催化剂／木质素配比．当反应温度为550-600℃,载气流速为300mL／min,催化剂／木质素配比为2时,使用HZSM-5催化裂解制备BTX的最高C产率和芳香选择性分别可达25．3％和90．9％。     

Transformation of Bio-oil into BTX by Bio-oil Catalytic Cracking

Production of benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) from bio-oil can provide basic feedstocks for the petrochemical industry. Catalytic conversion of bio-oil into BTX was performed by using different pore characteristics zeolites (HZSM-5, HY-zeolite, and MCM-41). Based on the yield and selectivity of BTX, the production of aromatics decreases in the following order: HZSM-5>MCM-41>HY-zeolite. The highest BTX yield from bio-oil using HZSM-5 reached 33.1% with aromatics selectivity of 86.4%. The reaction conditions and catalystcharacterization were investigated in detail to make clear the optimal operating parameters and the relation between the catalyst structure and the production of BTX.     

Application of hydrophobic silica based aerogels and xerogels for removal of toxic organic compounds from aqueous solutions

This work is devoted to the application of hydrophobic silica based aerogels and xerogels for the removal of three toxic organic compounds from aqueous solutions. These materials were tested and characterized regarding their morphology, particle size distribution, surface area and porous structure. The equilibrium tests were carried out at different adsorbate concentrations and the experimental data were correlated by means of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The equilibrium data were well described by Langmuir and Freundlich in most cases. The maximum adsorption capacity by Langmuir model was observed for the adsorption of benzene onto aerogel (192.31 mg/g), though the most promising results were obtained for toluene adsorption due to the greater adsorption energy involved. Comparing these results with other reported results, the hydrophobic silica based aerogels/xerogels were found to exhibit a remarkable performance for the removal of benzene and toluene. In addition, the regeneration of previously saturated aerogel/toluene was also investigated by using an ozonation process. The adsorption/regeneration tests with ozone oxidation showed that the aerogel might be regenerated, nevertheless the materials lost their hydrophobicity and thus different methods should be evaluated in forthcoming investigations.     

Ethanol conversion to aromatic hydrocarbons over several zeolite catalysts

Summary H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al₂ = 29) zeolite showed especially high activity in the conversion of ethanol to BTX (benzene, toluene, xylenes), while other zeolites exclusively formed ethylene. Noble metal catalysts supported on H-ZSM-5 (29) zeolite have high activity for the formation of BTX. Of these, Au/H-ZSM-5 catalyst can partially inhibit carbon deposition during the reaction, thus maintaining constant catalytic activity for BTX formation.     

APUSM technology for the production of BTX and LPG from pyrolysis gasoline using metal promoted zeolite catalyst

SK Corporation developed an advanced pyrolysis gasoline (pygas) upgrading (APU^SM) technology based on a catalytic process for producing valuable benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from pygas containing aromatics and non-aromatic hydrocarbons. Hydrodealkylation of heavy aromatics and hydrocracking of non-aromatic hydrocarbons occurred with facility in the conversion of pygas over a proprietary catalyst, metal promoted zeolite. This catalytic process produced benzene and toluene with high purity corresponding to chemical grade while giving mixed xylenes with reduced ethylbenzene. In the present study, we described novel features of the APU^SM technology in terms of the process and catalyst. The influence of the process conditions was also examined. This technology has been commercially proven, and hence is available for licensing through Axens, which is a major engineering and licensing company.     

Benzene-templated hydrothermal synthesis of metal-organic frameworks with selective sorption properties

In this paper, we report two metal-organic frameworks [Co3(ndc)3(bipyen)(1.5)]H2O (1) and [Co2(ndc)2bipyen)]C6H6.H2O (2) (bipyen=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene, H2ndc=2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid). These compounds were both synthesized from identical hydrothermal reaction conditions except that benzene was added to the reaction for 2. Crystal structures show that the two compounds have triply interpenetrated three-dimensional frameworks and these frameworks have the same primary structure of a two-dimensional network of interconnected [Co2(O2CR)(4/2)] (R=naphthalene group) paddle-wheels and bridging bipyen ligands. Both compounds have guest water molecules and, in addition, 2 has guest benzene molecules. Structural transformations of the host accompanied guest removal, which can be monitored by powder X-ray diffraction. N2 adsorption data of 2 show that there are two different types of pores corresponding to the benzene and water pores. Upon exposure to vapors of several organic molecules, the heat-treated sample of 2 adsorbs benzene and cyclohexene, but does not adsorb toluene, (o-, m-, and p-)xylenes, cycloheptatriene, or cyclohexane.     

The active and passive sampling of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes compounds using the inside needle capillary adsorption trap device

A new and simple method of solventless extraction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from air is presented. The sampling device has an adsorbing carbon coating on the interior surface of a hollow needle, and is called the inside needle capillary adsorption trap (INCAT). This paper describes a study of the reproducibility in the preparation and sampling of the INCAT device. In addition, this paper examines the effects of sample volume in active sampling and exposure time in passive sampling on the analyte adsorption. Analysis was achieved by sampling the air from an environmental chamber doped with benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylenes (BTEX) compounds. Initial rates of adsorption were found to vary among the different compounds, but ranged from 0.0099 to 0.016 nmol h(-1) for passive sampling and from 2.2 to 10 nmol h(-1) for active sampling. Analysis was done by thermal desorption of the adsorbed compounds directly into a gas chromatograph injection port. Quantification of the analysis was done by comparison to actively sampled activated carbon solid phase extraction (SPE) measurements.     

Rapid hydrocarbon analysis using a miniature rectilinear ion trap mass spectrometer

A miniature ion trap mass analyzer was applied to the analysis of traces of hydrocarbons and simple heteroatomics in the vapor phase and in aqueous solution. Vapors of acetone, acetic acid, acetonitrile, benzene, butanethiol, carbon disulfide, hexane, dichloromethane, naphthalene, toluene and xylenes were detected and quantified using solid sorbent trapping and, in some cases, by passage through a membrane interface. Aqueous solutions of benzene, toluene, xylenes, hexane and a petroleum naphtha distillate were examined using the membrane interface. Sampling, detection and identification of all compounds was completed in times of less than one minute. The gas-phase samples of toluene and benzene were detected at 200 ppt (limit of detection, LOD) for toluene and 600 ppt for benzene. Identification of benzene and xylene in aqueous solutions was readily achieved with LODs of 200 and 400 ppb, respectively. Quantification over a linear dynamic range of two orders of magnitude for the aqueous samples and three orders of magnitude for the vapor-phase samples was demonstrated.     

Ionic liquid-based single-drop microextraction/gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers in waters

The direct coupling between ionic liquid-based single-drop microextraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is proposed for the rapid and simple determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes isomers (BTEX) in water samples. The extraction procedure exploits not only the high affinity of the selected ionic liquid (1-methyl-3-octyl-imidazolium hexaflourophosphate) to these aromatic compounds but also its special properties like viscosity, low vapour pressure and immiscibility with water. All the variables involved in the extraction process have been studied in depth. The developed method allows the determination of these single-ring compounds in water under the reference concentration level fixed by the international legislation. In this case, limits of detection were in the range 20 ng L(-1) (obtained for benzene) and 91 ng L(-1) (for o-xylene). The repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as RSD (n=5), varied between 3.0% (o-xylene) and 5.2% (toluene).     

The preparation, properties and application of carbon fibers for SPME

The conditions of preparation of new types of carbon fibers for solid phase micro extraction (SPME) prepared by methylene chloride pyrolysis (at 600 °C) on the quartz fiber (100 μm) as well as by supporting synthetic active carbon (prepared especially for this purposes) supported in a special epoxide-acrylic polymer is described. The properties of such carbon fibers for SPME were defined by determination of the partition coefficient of the tested substances (i.e., benzene, toluene, xylenes, trichloromethane and tetrachloromethane) and by the microscopic investigations with the application of the optical and scanning electron microscope.

The obtained carbon SPME fibers were applied to the analysis of some volatile organic compounds from its aqueous matrix. During chromatographic GC test, at the investigated SPME carbon fibers, we obtained different but mostly high partition coefficients for the determined compounds (Kfs from 120 for trichloromethane up to 11,500 for tetrachloromethane).

Owing to the high partition coefficients of the studied substances obtained on carbon fibers, it was possible to do the analysis of organic substances occurring in trace amounts in different matrices. In this paper, we present the analysis of BTX contents in the petrol analyzed with the application carbonized with CH₂Cl₂ SPME fiber (C1NM) and a headspace over the petrol sample (concentration of each BTX g/dm³).     

Evaluation of the possibility of detecting benzenic pollutants by direct spectrophotometry on PDMS solid sorbent

Solid-phase extraction has become one of the most commonly used techniques for preconcentration of analytes from environmental samples. In the standard use of solid sorbent phases the extracted pollutants are subsequently eluted with a suitable organic solvent before chromatographic analysis. An alternative to this procedure is analysis of the adsorbed and concentrated pollutants by direct application of a spectroscopic method (fluorimetry or absorptiometry) to the phase. Although this method cannot be expected to give results as precise as those given by chromatographic methods, it might have valuable applications, particularly for "on site" pollution monitoring. This paper reports an evaluation of the capability of the method for the spectrophotometric detection of BTX (benzene, toluene, xylenes) in aqueous media and in contaminated atmospheres, with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as sorbent. The tests performed, with the estimated detection limits, indicate that the method is relatively simple and easy to operate and sensitive enough for application to the monitoring of pollution both in water and in air in an industrial ambient atmosphere.     

Benzene,toluene and o-xylene (BTX) removal from aqueous solutions through adsorptive processes

In this study, the monocomponent adsorption of benzene, toluene and o-xylene (BTX) compounds, as model contaminants present in the petrochemical wastewaters, was investigated using three types of adsorbents: activated carbon (Carbon CD 500), a polymeric resin (MN-202) and a modified clay (Claytone-40). Langmuir and Freundlich models were able to fit well the equilibrium experimental data. The BTX adsorption capacity increased in the following order: Claytone-40 < CD 500 < MN-202. The maximum uptake capacity of MN-202, given by the Langmuir fitting parameter, for benzene, toluene and o-xylene was 0.8 ± 0.1, 0.70 ± 0.08 and 0.63 ± 0.06 mmol/g at 26 °C. Desorption kinetics for polymeric resin with 50 % methanol solution were fast being able to reuse the resin in consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles without loss of sorption capacity. The adsorptive behaviour at batch system was modelled using a mass transfer kinetic model, considering that the sorption rate is controlled by a linear driving force model, which successfully predicts benzene, toluene and o-xylene concentration profiles, with homogeneous diffusivity coefficients, D _h , between 3.8 × 10^?10 and 3.6 × 10^?9 cm²/s. In general, benzene diffuses faster than toluene and o-xylene, which is in agreement with molecular diffusivity in water.     

Separation of nonpolar analytes using methanol-water mixtures at elevated temperatures

Pure subcritical water has been found to be an efficient mobile phase for reversed-phase separations of both polar and moderately polar compounds. However, subcritical water must be modified with organic solvent in order to elute nonpolar analytes in an efficient manner. In this study, the separation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and benzene, toluene, and p-xylene (BTX) was performed by using heated methanol-water mixtures as the mobile phase. Temperatures employed in this study ranged from 21 to 140 °C, while the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase ranged from 52 to 90%. The retention times of analytes were matched under different mobile phase conditions by increasing the temperature and decreasing the percentage of methanol in the mobile phase.     

Thermal-Adsorptive Concentration

Methods for concentrating dilute fluids using adsorption followed by partial thermal regeneration were studied using the simulation package ADSIM. The systems studied were NaCl in liquid water on Amberlite XD-2 resin and benzene vapor in nitrogen on activated carbon. Cycles studied included counter-current regeneration with pure hot fluid, co-current regeneration with pure hot fluid, a new process called Hot Feed Addition (HFA) consisting of co-current regeneration with pure hot fluid followed by hot feed, and cycling zone adsorption (co-current alternating hot and cold feeds with no pure regeneration fluid). The optimum system depends upon the conditions of the system and the value function chosen to evaluate the systems. For example, for benzene in nitrogen with hot regeneration gas at 467.4 K, cycling zone adsorption used no carrier gas, had the most concentrated benzene stream and a very pure nitrogen product, but the energy use was greater than the other processes. For liquid systems counter-current operation could produce the purest product, but regenerant requirements were high. With slightly lower purity requirements HFA reduced solvent usage and increased the concentration of the concentrated waste stream. For the liquid system all processes used approximately 3% or less of the energy that would be required for evaporation.     

Comparison of Needle Concentrator with SPME for GC Determination of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes in Aqueous Samples

A method of solventless extraction of volatile organic compounds from aqueous samples has been developed and validated. A new arrangement in which the internal volume of a needle capillary adsorption trap is completely filled with Porapak Q, as adsorbent material, and wet alumina, as a source of desorptive water vapor flow, is presented. The device has been used for head-space sampling of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) from water samples and compared with solid-phase microextraction. Under the same sampling conditions the analytical characteristics of the device for the BTEX compounds are better than those of solid-phase microextraction. Limits of detection and quantification are below 0.5 μ g L⁻¹.