Scientific journal

45 2006

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research
Summary No. 4 / 2006

ŠIMKO, P. - KOLEK, E. - SKLÁRŠOVÁ, B. - ŠIMON, P.
Removal of benzene from water by adsorption on polymer materials
Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 45, 2006, No. 4, s. 179-182

Peter Šimko, VÚP Food Research Institute, Priemyselná 4, P.O. Box 25, SK-824 75 Bratislava, Slovakia. Tel.: 00 421 2 5557 4622, fax: 00 421 2 5557 1417, E-mail: peter.simko@vup.sk

Summary: Water was spiked with benzene at the level of 109 µg.l-1, filled into low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polyethylene terephtalate (PET) cylindrical shape receptacles and the benzene concentrations were followed for 262 h by GC-MS working in selected ion monitoring mode. During this time, the benzene concentrations decreased to 20.5 µg.l-1 in PET and 14.9 µg.l-1 in PE due to the interaction of benzene with plastics. Using a modified diffusion equation, the diffusion coefficients of benzene in water for both studied systems were calculated. In spite of different character of the polymers, both ones are able to remove effectively benzene from water as follows from values of diffusion coefficients (2.29 × 10-2 cm2.h-1 for the system water/PE; 2.17 × 10-3 cm2.h-1 for water/PET) as well as distribution coefficients (b = 4.32 for LDPE; b = 4.68 for PET). With regard to extensive usage of the plastics in packaging technology, both ones could play important role in protection of consumer health against benzene exposition from packed table water and soft drinks.

Keywords: benzene; water; polyethylene; polyethylene terephtalate; adsorption; removal

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