Adsorption of nitrobenzene from aqueous solution on activated sludge modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

A novel method was conducted to modify activated sludge with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CB) to obtain an adsorbent to remove aqueous nitrobenzene. The adsorption characteristics of nitrobenzene onto modified activated sludge (MAS) were investigated, by contrast with those of unmodified activated sludge (UMAS). Nitrobenzene adsorption onto MAS is more favorable than that of UMAS at initial nitrobenzene concentrations below 150 mg/L, above which they have an equivalent adsorption capacity.