Sorption equilibrium, mechanism and thermodynamics studies of 1,3-propanediol on beta zeolite from an aqueous solution

To identify the adsorption characteristics of 1,3-propanediol on beta zeolite, the effects of temperature, zeolite dose, and 1,3-propanediol concentration were studied through batch experiments. The results showed that the pseudo-second order model expressed the kinetic data better. The experimental and theoretical adsorption capacities were 116.2 and 119.0 mg/g at 293 K, respectively. The adsorption equilibrium data were observed to satisfy the Freundlich isotherm model. Based on the Boyd plot, intraparticle diffusion primarily governed the uptake process. Moreover, thermodynamic parameters, such as changes in standard free energy (ΔG0), standard enthalpy (ΔH0), and standard entropy, were estimated. The negative values of ΔG0 and ΔH0 (−9.4 kJ/mol) indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous, exothermic, and feasible. Finally, the activation energy derived from the Arrhenius equation suggested that the interaction mainly constitute physical adsorption.