BTEX compounds in water – future trends and directions for water treatment

Authors

  • OM Fayemiwo Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • MO Daramola School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits 2050, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • K Moothi Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i4.08

Keywords:

adsorbents, biosorbents, BTEX, remediation, nanotechnology, water quality

Abstract

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) compounds are common water resource and potable water pollutants that are often left undetected and untreated by municipal treatment systems in spite of the negative repercussions associated with their ingestion. The US EPA has classified these pollutants as priority pollutant, yet they are persistently present in a variety of water resources. In this review paper, we highlight the sources and reported concentrations of BTEX compounds in water and explore historical remediation techniques that have been applied such as bioremediation and natural attenuation. We also highlight emerging possibilities and future directions for remediation techniques, such as nanotechnology-based materials and novel green materials (tannins) that can be applied to ensure removal of these compounds in water.

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Published

2017-10-31

Issue

Vol. 43 No. 4 October (2017): Water SA

Section

Review

License

Copyright (c) 2017 OM Fayemiwo, MO Daramola, K Moothi

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

The content of this journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence.  Users are permitted to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal under the terms of this Licence, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author, provided the source is attributed. Copyright is retained by the authors.

How to Cite

OM Fayemiwo, MO Daramola and K Moothi (2017) “BTEX compounds in water – future trends and directions for water treatment”, Water SA, 43(4 October). doi:10.4314/wsa.v43i4.08.