Novel insights into date pit-based activated carbons: H3PO4 and KOH activation

Novel bioadsorbents based on date pits for organophosphorus pesticide remediation from water

Imparting Superhydrophobicity to Porphyrinic Coordination Frameworks Using Organotin

Removal of nonylphenol from aqueous solutions using carbonized date pits modified with ZnO nanoparticles

This study is aimed at developing a thermoplastic composite based on date pit powder waste for use as a thermal insulator in building industries. Date pits are the by-product of date stoning, either for the production of pitted dates or for the manufacture of date paste. The date pit powder (DPP) used in this study was obtained from the UAE University farm in Al Foah, UAE. DPP waste contents ranging from 0 wt.% to 50 wt.% were used to prepare the DPP-polystyrene composite. Date pit powder was mixed with polystyrene using a melt extruder, and then the mixture was transferred to the hot press to produce the final sample. The thermal and physical characteristics of the produced composites were measured experimentally and analyzed theoretically in terms of date pit and polystyrene properties. The characterized properties of the DPP-polystyrene composites, namely, density, thermal conductivity, water retention, thermal stability, and microstructure, showed that a stable composite material with insulation and construction capacity can be formed by the addition of date pit powder to the polystyrene matrix. The theoretical modeling of the measured thermal conductivity and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) monographs supported the hypothesis of date pit agglomeration in the composite matrix. The prepared composites showed low thermal conductivity (0.0515-0.0562 W/m K at 25°C) and very low density (457-630 kg/m3), thus demonstrating their potential for use as a thermal insulator for building materials. In addition, replacing one-third of the classical construction wall content with DPP-polystyrene composite showed promise for constructive applications as a thermal insulator with 85% reduction in the overall thermal conductivity. Indeed, these properties are similar to those of other conventional insulating materials. This will lead to produce an inexpensive insulation material that exploits a common waste product in date fruit-producing countries.

Influence of heating temperature and holding time on biochars derived from rubber wood sawdust via slow pyrolysis

An innovative platform exploiting solid microcrystalline cellulose for selective separation of bromate species in drinking water: Preparation, characterization, kinetics and thermodynamic study

Co-pyrolysis of mixed date pits and olive stones: Identification of bio-oil and the production of activated carbon from bio-char

Evaluating residual lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) levels in food products, especially milk, is critical for product safety and quality. In this purview, the current study aims to determine Pb and Cd concentrations in milk using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and compare their values with international standards. In addition, it aims to remove these metals from milk samples using low-cost, naturally occurring materials, such as bentonite, date pit, and chitosan nanoparticles. The ability of potential adsorbents was also investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Moreover, their impact on milk’s nutritional properties was considered. The results revealed that most milk samples contained Pb and Cd, with mean values of 0.237 ± 0.179 and 0.041 ± 0.036 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the three possible adsorbents demonstrated high sequestering ability due to their existing functional groups; the adsorption capacity of bentonite to Pb and Cd was 84 and 88%, date pit was 97 and 93%, and chitosan nanoparticles were 82 and 98%, respectively, with no discernible change in milk nutritional contents. In conclusion, the bentonite, date pit, and chitosan nanoparticles were found to be significantly effective and safe in removing hazardous trace elements (Pb and Cd) from contaminated milk.Graphical abstract

Date pits are considered waste, and micronized date pit powder could be developed for use in foods and bio-products. In this study, micronized date pit powders were extracted by alcoholic sedimentation after ultrasound treatment. The control was considered untreated, i.e., without sonication. Six micronized fractions (i.e., three from control and three from treated) were prepared by three stages of alcoholic sedimentation. In the case of untreated date pit powder, the average particle size of the fractionated date pit powder (i.e., residue) from three stages of alcoholic sedimentation varied from 89 to 164 µm, while ultrasonic treatment showed variation from 39 to 65 µm. The average particle size of the supernatant fractions of untreated date pit powder varied from 22 to 63 µm, while ultrasonic treatment showed variation from 18 to 44 µm. Ultrasound treatment produced smaller particles. In all cases, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that supernatant fractions contained lumped particles compared to the residue fractions. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed the presence of nanoparticles in all extracted fractions. Two glass transitions were observed in all fractions except for the residue from the first sedimentation stage. In addition, higher levels of degradation in the fractionated date pits could be achieved by ultrasonic treatment, as is evident from the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis.

Environmentally benign production of biodiesel using heterogeneous catalysts is an important issue that requires the preparation of catalysts with high activity and reusability by a simple procedure. In this study, pure alumina and zinc oxide- and copper oxide-modified alumina were tested for the esterification of oleic acid to its methyl ester. The microwave-assisted solution combustion (MSC) method was used to prepare the catalyst samples that were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The spinel-type zinc aluminate was successfully synthesized, but CuO-modified alumina particles were clearly observed. Whereas in the alumina, much lower activity was observed than the doped alumina, zinc aluminate showed higher activity than copper oxide-alumina due to its smaller particle size, higher BET surface area, larger average pore size, and higher acidity. Finally, after the reaction conditions for the conversion of oleic acid were optimized for the case of spinel ZnAl2O4 as nanocatalyst, a yield of higher than 94% was obtained at 180°C, 9 methanol/oleic acid molar ratio, 3 wt% of catalyst for 6 h. Furthermore, the catalyst deactivation was not observed after four reaction cycles at the optimal reaction conditions, indicating the feasibility of the proposed method for the preparation of industrial catalysts.

This study explores the preparation, structural, and spectroscopic characterization of activated carbon derived from date pits using calcium chloride as an activating agent. Date pits, an abundant agricultural by-product, were processed into activated carbon through chemical activation with varying ratios of calcium chloride. The resulting activated carbon samples were thoroughly analyzed using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XRD analysis confirmed the presence of crystalline and amorphous carbon phases, with diffraction peaks corresponding to the 101, 110, and 20 planes, indicating successful carbonization and the formation of ordered structures. FE-SEM images showed that pores grew significantly, with pores that were bigger and more noticeable in samples that were activated with higher concentrations of calcium chloride, meaning they had more surface area. FTIR spectra showed increased conjugated C=C double bonds after activation, creating a more porous and chemically active structure. The EDX analysis revealed that the most common elements were carbon and chlorine, suggesting a successful addition of calcium chloride. Other trace elements like phosphorus, sodium, and magnesium were detected, which can be due to the date pits or impurities.

Superior Iodine Uptake Capacity Enabled by an Open Metal-Sulfide Framework Composed of Three Types of Active Sites

TiO2 ‐coated activated carbon (TiO2 /AC) catalysts with high activity and easy separation were prepared by the coating method and their photocatalytic performances were studied for degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye. For this purpose, first, anatase TiO2 nanocrystal was prepared via sol–gel process of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TTIP), followed by reflux treatment at a relatively low temperature (130 °C) without further treatments. Second, four different amounts of AC were separately coated with TiO2 by dipping in TiO2 sol (10%, w/w) at room temperature. The catalysts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Coating AC with TiO2 produced catalysts with higher BET surface areas and greater crystallite sizes as compared to bare TiO2 . RhB (50 mg/L) was almost completely discolored in 50 min, and the mineralization efficiency was 100% in 60 min for the catalysts containing 10 and 15% AC. Furthermore, all catalysts showed much higher photocatalytic activities than the commercial Degussa P‐25.

Removal of heavy metal ions from ground and surface water samples using carbons derived from date pits

Disinfection of drinking water is one of the extreme public health activities in Qatar. Chlorination, ozonation, ultra-violet, chloramination, and others are the most important treatment processes used and they can cause the formation of toxic by-products. The existence of bromide (Br-), for example, in water sources might cause in formation of brominated toxic by-products. Up-to-date drinking water treatment methodologies are challenged to successfully eliminate Br- before final consumption. Remediation onto activated carbons has a number of restrictions. Date pits are suitable as raw remediating adsorbent for preparing various modified adsorbents, because particular surface functional groups and the micro-pore structures can be attained by active modifications. The overall objective of this study was to develop an economical and environmentally acceptable process to safely eliminate the levels of Br- from desalinated water. Roasted date pits (RODPs) and activated charcoal (AC) (used as a control) were crushed and sieved with four different particles size ranges. The percentage of Br- removal was also studied under different experimental conditions such as pH, sorbent mass and initial concentration. In addition, surface characterization was also investigated. Experimental date analyses were investigated using different isotherm and kinetic sorption models. The modification of the date pits surface enhanced the Br- removal capacity at high initial concentration of bromide (200 ppm) by 27%. Using scanning electron microscope (SEM), the date pits surface images showed a different in pore sizes upon modification. Removal capacity of RODPs reached 39% at pH 4. In this study the heterogeneity of adsorbing mechanisms and the fitting with pseudo second order model and inter particulate diffusion models were concluded, and more than 35% of Br- removal efficiency was achieved within the RODPs at the first hour of contact time. The adsorption Br- onto RODPs was not fitted well with the pseudo-first order model. It was found that the kinetics of Br- adsorption was followed the pseudo-second order. It was also observed fluctuations in the removal efficiency for smaller particle sizes; indicating heterogeneity of adsorption/desorption and potential chemical bindings, this particular behaviour was not observed and investigated elsewhere in the literature (Figure below). The surface of RODPs contains oxygen functional groups such hydroxyl; hence the presence of such functional groups on the surface of date pits considerably influences on the adsorption mechanism of organic and inorganic compounds on the RODP. Economically RODPs are successfully used to remove Br-, comparing to AC. However, both adsorbents have nearly the same removal efficiency after one hour contact time. Apparently, the removal efficiency of both systems was quite significant. This may cover the way for the cheap and widely available date pits to be used as an adsorbent in water purification process.