Use of basalt for adsorbing toxic material

1. A method for adsorbing toxic materials, the method comprising:

exposing a fluid to a filter for a first minimum duration, wherein the fluid comprises water and a toxic material comprising at least one of a dioxin, a furan, a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), or an ethylhexylphthalate, and wherein the filter comprises a needlepunch mat consisting of basalt fibers and having a thickness selected from about 6.5 mm, about 13 mm, or about 20 mm; and

enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

exposing the needlepunch mat to a 10% NaOH solution before exposing the fluid to the filter.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein exposing the needlepunch mat to the 10% NaOH solution further comprises:

exposing the needlepunch mat to the 10% NaOH solution under agitation.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

rinsing the needlepunch mat in deionized water to remove the 10% NaOH solution after exposing the needlepunch mat to the 10% NaOH solution.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

after rinsing the needlepunch mat, drying the needlepunch mat.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein drying the needlepunch mat further comprises:

drying the needlepunch mat using forced air.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the toxic material comprises a sediment.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the toxic material further comprises at least one of arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, or lead.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the fluid to the filter further comprises at least one of:

spraying the needlepunch mat with the fluid; or

immersing the needlepunch mat in the fluid.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:

enabling a weight-to-weight ratio of the needlepunch mat to the toxic material adsorbed of 200:1 to 1:3.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first minimum duration is from about three days to about seven days.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:

enabling at least 25% by weight of the toxic material in the fluid to be adsorbed.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:

enabling the basalt fibers to selectively adsorb the toxic material in the presence of a water-soluble material.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ethylhexylphthalate is bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

15. A method for adsorbing toxic materials, the method comprising:

exposing a fluid mixture comprising an aqueous sediment to a filter comprising a needlepunch mat consisting of basalt fibers, wherein the fluid mixture comprises a toxic material including at least one of a dioxin, a furan, a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), or an ethylhexylphthalate, and wherein the fluid mixture is chemically exposed to the basalt fibers; and

enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers, including exposing the fluid mixture to the basalt fibers for a first minimum duration, wherein the needlepunch mat has a thickness selected from about 6.5 mm, about 13 mm, or about 20 mm.

16. The method of claim 15 , comprising:

exposing the basalt fibers to a 10% NaOH solution before exposing the fluid mixture to the filter.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein exposing the basalt fibers to the 10% NaOH solution further comprises:

exposing the basalt fibers to the 10% NaOH solution under agitation.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

after exposing the basalt fibers to the 10% NaOH solution, rinsing the needlepunch mat in deionized water to remove the 10% NaOH solution from the basalt fibers.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

after rinsing the needlepunch mat, drying the needlepunch mat.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein drying the needlepunch mat further comprises:

drying the needlepunch mat using forced air.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the toxic material further comprises at least one of arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, or lead.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein exposing the the fluid mixture to the filter further comprises at least one of:

spraying the needlepunch mat with the fluid mixture; or

immersing the needlepunch mat in the fluid.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:

enabling a weight-to-weight ratio of the basalt fibers to the toxic material adsorbed of 200:1 to 1:3.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first minimum duration is from about 24 hours to about 7 days.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling at least a portion of the toxic material to be adsorbed by the basalt fibers further comprises:

enabling at least 25% by weight of the toxic material in the fluid mixture to be adsorbed.

26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid mixture further comprises a water-soluble material and the basalt fibers selectively adsorb the toxic material in presence of the water-soluble material.

27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ethylhexylphthalate is bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate.

28. A method for adsorbing toxic materials, the method comprising:

exposing an aqueous fluid to a filter, wherein the aqueous fluid comprises a toxic material including at least one of arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, or lead;

wherein the filter comprises a needlepunch mat consisting of basalt fibers and having a thickness selected from about 6.5 mm, about 13 mm, or about 20 mm; and

after exposing the aqueous fluid to the filter, adsorbing at least a portion of the toxic material by the basalt fibers.