BET Method Research Articles

A Flexible Asymmetric Supercapacitor with High-Performance and Long-Lifetime: Fabrication of Nanoworm-Like-Structured Electrodes Based on Polypyrrole-Thiosemicarbazone Complex.

A thiosemicarbazone-based iron(III) complex is prepared and used in the preparation of a supercapacitor electrode material. This electrode is produced by a solvothermal reaction of polypyrrole and the complex on carbon felt. The characterization of the complex and material is carried out using UV-vis, elemental analysis, FT-IR, XRD, BET, and TGA methods, and the surface morphology is examined using SEM technique. Because the interaction of electrode and electrolyte is of great importance in energy storage systems, as the surface area and pore volume increase, electrode ions at the electrode/electrolyte interface leak to the inner surfaces and interact with the larger surface area, which increases the charge storage performance. The electrode material, nano-worm structure, reached the highest specific capacitance value of 764.6 F g-1 at 5 mV s-1. Compared to the capacitance value of polypyrrole in its pure form, it is observed to exhibit an 187.2% increase. The highest specific capacitance value of the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) formed with a graphite electrode is 318.1 F g-1 at the current density of 1 Ag-1. Moreover, ASC reached a wide working potential of 1.8 V in an aqueous electrolyte and exhibited ultra-long cycle life (112%), maintaining its stability after 10000 cycles.

Polyol Synthesis of Bimetallic FePt Nanoparticles over h-BN Substrate

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a promising support for the deposition of functional metallic nanoparticles for next generation of catalysts. Multicomponent metallic NPs, such as bimetallic FePt NPs, are attracting much attention as catalytically active sites because their properties can be superior to their single-element counterpart. To achieve the best catalytic properties, careful control of the chemical composition of the bimetallic NPs on the surface of h-BN substrates is necessary. Herein we report the development of a polyol synthesis protocol that elucidates the relationship between the initial and resulting Fe:Pt molar ratio in a FePt/h-BN material. TEM, STEM, EDXS, BET and BJH methods were utilized to characterize the surface and structure of the h-BN support and FePt/h-BN heterostructures.

Synthesis of Sm‐TADDbBP@MCM‐41 as a Robust, Reusable, and Practical Nanocatalyst in the Homoselective [2 + 3] Cycloaddition Reaction

ABSTRACTSchiff‐base materials are known ligands for the coordination of metal ions and the synthesis of various stable and useful complexes. Therefore, herein, a novel Schiff‐base compound {2,2′‐((1E,11E)‐2,5,8,11‐tetra azadodeca‐1,11‐diene‐1,12‐diyl) bis (4‐bromophenol)} was introduced that formed from condensation of triethylenetetramine (TETA) and 5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde (5B2HB). This Schiff‐base ligand was labeled as TADDbBP. Besides, mesoporous MCM‐41 was synthesized using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), hydrolyzing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and NaOH solution (2 M), followed by calcination at 550 °C, and further, the silanol sites on the MCM‐41's surface were modified by 3‐chloropropyltriethoxysilane (3Cl‐PTES), which modified MCM‐41 was labeled as 3‐Cl‐Pr@MCM‐41. In the next step, the synthesized TADDbBP (as Schiff‐base ligand) was grafted on 3‐Cl‐Pr@MCM‐41, which was labeled as TADDbBP@MCM‐41, and further, it was coordinated with samarium ions (which was labeled as Sm‐TADDbBP@MCM‐41 nanocatalyst) using Sm (CH3COO)3. This is the first report on the production of Sm‐TADDbBP@MCM‐41 nanocatalyst, this nanocatalyst was characterized by TEM, SEM, EDX, elemental mapping, BET method, ICP, XRD, and TGA techniques. In the final step, the catalytic performance of Sm‐TADDbBP@MCM‐41 nanocatalyst has been checked in the homo‐selective producing of tetrazoles through [2 + 3] cycloaddition of benzonitriles and sodium azide (NaN3) in PEG‐400 as available, nontoxic, green, and safe solvent. This nanocatalyst provides excellent selectivity in the synthesis of tetrazoles. In addition, Sm‐TADDbBP@MCM‐41 nanocatalyst can be separated and recycled for several cycles without significant reactivation or metal leaching.

The Correlation Between Compressive Strength and The Size of Pore Fly Ash and Perlite Concrete Geopolymer at High Temperature

Abstract Burned material experiences a decrease in yield strength and elasticity modulus. Fire supervision is required. One of the sustainable material is geopolymer. In this study, fly ash and perlite-based concrete geopolymer have been burned for 900°C for 2 hours. It is followed by Surface Area Analyzer test equipment. The size of pore changes for burned concrete geopolymer. Meanwhile, one of the strength of concrete geopolymer indicator is compressive strength. Both of the results of compressive strength and the pore size are conducted through experimental study. Bet method has been used to measure pore size of it. UTM machine has been used to calculate compressive strength. The surface area analyzer test results show that the addition of perlite to fly ash-based geopolymer concrete will decrease the value of surface area, pore volume, and pore distribution in burned geopolymer concrete, but the addition of perlite to fly ash-based geopolymer concrete will increase the value of pore distribution and decrease the value of surface area and pore volume in unburned geopolymer concrete.

Enhancement of the photodegradation performance towards methylene blue and rhodamine B using AgxSn1–xO2 nanocomposites

In the present study, the structural properties, as well as the photodegradation performance of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B) using hydrothermal synthesized AgxSn1–xO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanocomposites were studied. The study was investigated using various techniques including EDS, XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, photoluminescence spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, GC-MS, and a double-beam spectrophotometer. The tetragonal SnO2 phase dominates, while the cubic Ag2O phase appears at larger x ratios (x ≥ 0.5). The crystallite and particle sizes were slightly raised for a low Ag ratio but dramatically increased for higher x ratios. Different morphologies emerge depending on the composition, such as spherical and irregular particles for x = 0 and 1, sheet-like morphology for x = 0.05, 0.2, and 0.4, and worm-like morphology for x = 0.5. The maximum surface area was calculated using the BET method to be 358 and 354 m2/g for x = 0.2 and 0.4, respectively. The direct optical band gap depends on the x ratio and the crystallite size and equals 3.95eV and 3.70eV for x = 0 and x = 1, respectively. The synthesized AgxSn1–xO2 composites demonstrated excellent photodegradation efficiency (η) towards MB and Rh B. The majority of compositions had high η towards MB and the highest value of 99.6% was attained using Ag0.4Sn0.6O2 under the UV-visible irradiation for 1.5h. Also, synthetic composites demonstrated efficient photodegradation of Rh B, particularly for higher Ag content (η = 94.4% at x = 0.5). The catalysts revealed acceptable reusability and stability, and the degraded products were studied using the GC-MS technique with a proposed mechanism of degradation. The improvement in photodegradation of MB and Rh B dyes can be attributed to an increase in surface area, as well as the development of shape and optical characteristics.

Characterization of SrMoO4 synthesized at different temperatures and its photocatalytic performance toward Carbendazim fungicide degradation under UV light

The Scheelite SrMoO4 synthesized by co-precipitation, non-calcined and calcined at different temperature (500 – 800 °C) has been characterized physically and photoelectrochemically. The XRD analysis showed the formation of single phase at room temperature (SMO), crystallizing in a tetragonal structure and the oxide is thermally stable after calcination at 500 °C (SMO5) and 800 °C (SMO8). The crystallites size (D) increases with increasing thee calcination temperature (TC). The Raman spectra presents the characteristic vibrations of the tetragonal structure. Although its low temperature (TC), the specific surface area calculated by the BET method for SMO is weak (4.61 m2 g−1). The SEM images showed the effect of the temperature TC on the morphology of SrMoO4 and as expected the grain size increases with increasing TC. Diffuse reflectance showed a wide optical gap (4.26 eV) for SMO, in accordance with its white color and decreases only slightly (4.10 eV) with increasing TC. The points of zero charge (PZC) calculated by the Drift method for SMO, SMO5 and SMO8 are 5.92, 6.13 and 6.70 respectively. The photocatalytic properties of the powders were assessed through the degradation of Carbendazim (MBC), a hazardous and persistent pesticide, under UV irradiation (λmax = 365 nm). The degradation reached an abatement of 96 % after 15 min under optimal conditions ([SMO] = 0.8 g/L, [MBC] = 8 mg/L, at room temperature and natural pH 5.7) and increasing TC, reduces the degradation capacity of SrMoO4. The oxidation mechanism was elucidated by using scavengers and liquid chromatography (LC-MS/ESI) which showed that the holes (h+) and •OH radicals are responsible for the MBC degradation. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) reached 70 % for the same period.

Enhanced Cyclic Performance of Lithium-Ion Battery Based on Anthraquinone/SBA-15 Composite Cathode Prepared via Ultra-Sonication

In this study, novel organic/inorganic composites were fabricated by blending anthraquinone (AQ) with SBA-15 molecular sieve in varying ratios via ultrasonication, characterized structurally using XRD, SEM, and BET methods, and analyzed electrochemically as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries via galvanostatic discharge/charge and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The composite with a 2:1 ratio of AQ and SBA-15 achieved a specific discharge capacity of 144.5 mAh/g at 0.2 C, which decreased to 63.3 mAh/g after 50 cycles, 8% higher than that of the pure AQ. The initial discharge platform of the composite was 2.28 V, which decreased to 2.10 V after 50 cycles, 50 mV higher than that of the pure AQ. This is because the loading of anthraquinone particles by the SBA-15 pore size structure facilitated the stabilization of the active materials, hindered the solubility of AQ in the electrolyte, and enhanced the cycling stability of the battery.

Efficient bis(indoyl)methanes synthesis enabled by SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite

This study focuses on the synthesis of SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposite materials using sol-gel method and investigates their role in the synthesis of bis(indoyl)methanes via the Friedel–Craft alkylation route. The results, based on TON and TOF, show that 15 wt % SnO2/SiO2 exhibits high production efficiency and greater stability, with yields reaching 91–93% within 80–93 min. The prepared catalysts were characterized using various analytical techniques. The XRD revealed a crystalline size of 25.05 nm. The TEM analysis indicated a reduced particle size of about 25–30 nm. The SEM reflected the porous nature of the material and EDS showed the constituent elements Sn, O and Si with 3.65, 54.93, and 41.44 atomic %, respectively. FT-IR identified the composite framework with bands at 3408, 1620, 1093, 806 and 631 cm−1. The NH3-TPD indicated the presence of both Lewis acidic and Bronsted acidic sites in the composite materials. The BET method revealed a specific surface area and average pore diameter of 331.5814 m2/g. The developed method offers several advantages, such as a simple workup procedure, high yield, nontoxicity, cleanliness, and the ability to recycle and reuse the catalytic materials three times without loss in catalytic activity. These findings demonstrate the potential of SnO2/SiO2 nanocomposites as efficient and environmentally friendly catalysts for the synthesizing bis(indoyl)methane derivatives.

Synthesis, morphological characterization, and evaluation of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) in the degradation of water contaminated with POPs

Nanostructured zero valence iron (nZVI) has been applied in advanced oxidative processes aimed at the treatment of water contaminated with Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP). Considering that such compounds cannot be eliminated by traditional treatment methods, this study proposes the synthesis of nZVI by the reduction of Iron Chloride III by sodium borohydride in the absence of O2, in ultrasound bath. The material obtained has only a wide diffraction halo at 45.13º of 2θ, with an average diameter of the crystallite calculated at 8.3 nm. The method of Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET method) analysis infer that the synthesized material is classified as mesoporous and showing a large surface area of 91.48 m2.g-1. According to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the compound exhibits a core-shell type structure being the average size smaller than 50 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates that the compound is thermally stable, exhibiting only a thermal event close to 70º C in which there is a loss of approximately 25% of mass related to water loss. The synthesis was efficient because there is no formation of metal oxides and no residue from the synthesis process according to FT-IR analyzes. To evaluate the effectiveness and present the parameters that most positively contributed to the degradation of water contaminated with 24 of the most common POPs, a chemometric study was applied considering the following variables: reaction time, concentration of applied iron nanoparticles and pH values. The approach reduces costs, time, and waste generation. Among the variables, reaction time is crucial, mainly due to solubility differences between compounds. Kinetic tests show increased efficiency after one hour, emphasizing a direct correlation between degradation rate and water solubility for the studied POPs.

Co doping induces CoxP-Ni2P bimetallic site and acid synergistic effect to achieve efficient hydrodeoxidation

The development of highly efficient hydrodeoxidation (HDO) catalyst is the key to upgrade the quality of bio-oil. CoxP-Ni2P/SiO2-y catalysts (y is the initial P/(Ni+Co) molar ratio) comprised of CoxP-Ni2P bimetallic sites and acidic site were prepared by doping Co into Ni2P active phase using mesoporous SiO2 as the support. The structure and chemical properties of the catalyst were characterized by XRD, BET, XPS, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, Py-FTIR and TEM methods. The effects of Co doping and P/M molar ratio on the HDO performance of Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst were investigated taking m-cresol as the model compound. The results show that Co doping not only creates new CoxP active sites, but also optimizes the electronic structure of Ni2P, thus improving the HDO activity of the catalyst. Among the CoxP-Ni2P/SiO2-y catalysts, CoxP-Ni2P/SiO2-0.5 with P/M molar ratio of 0.5 exhibits the best catalytic performance, with the m-cresol conversion of 98.7% and selectivity to the deoxidized product methylcyclohexane (MCH) of 95.6% at 275 °C, 2 MPa and 1 h. The HDO of m-cresol over the CoxP-Ni2P/SiO2-y catalyst mainly proceeded through hydrogenation-deoxygenation (HYD) pathway.

Deep learning artificial neural network framework to optimize the adsorption capacity of 3-nitrophenol using carbonaceous material obtained from biomass waste

The presence of toxic chemicals in water, including heavy metals like mercury and lead, organic pollutants such as pesticides, and industrial chemicals from runoff and discharges, poses critical public health and environmental risks leading to severe health issues and ecosystem damage; education plays a crucial role in mitigating these effects by enhancing awareness, promoting sustainable practices, and integrating environmental science into curricula to empower individuals to address and advocate for effective solutions to water pollution. However, the educational transformation should be accompanied with a technical process which can be eventually transferred to society to empower environmental education. In this study, carbonaceous material derived from Haematoxylum campechianum (CM-HC) was utilized for removing 3-nitrophenol (3-Nph) from aqueous solutions. The novelty of this research utilizes Haematoxylum campechianum bark and coconut shell, abundant agricultural wastes in Campeche, Mexico, for toxin removal, enhancing the adsorption process through artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms to optimize conditions and maximize the absorption efficiency. CM-HC’s surface morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), BET method, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and pHpzc. Kinetic models including pseudo-first-order (PFO), pseudo-second-order (PSO), and Elovich were applied to fit the data. Adsorption isotherms were determined at varying pH (3–8), adsorbent dosages (2–10 g/L), and temperatures (300.15–330.15 K), employing Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Redlich–Peterson models. PSO kinetics demonstrated a good fit (R2 > 0.98) for Ci = 50–100 mg/L, indicating a chemical adsorption mechanism. The Langmuir isotherm model exhibited the best fit, confirming chemical adsorption, with a maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) of 236.156 mg/g at T = 300.15 K, pH = 6, contact time = 3 h, and 2 g/L adsorbent dosage. Lower temperatures favored exothermic adsorption. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were employed for deep learning, optimizing the predictive model for removal percentage. Correlation heat maps highlighted positive correlations between time, dosage, and removal percentage, emphasizing the impact of initial concentration on efficiency. ANN modeling, incorporating iterative optimization, yielded highly accurate predictions, aligned closely with experimental results. The study showcases the success of deep learning in optimizing adsorption processes, emphasizing the importance of diverse correlation algorithms for comprehensive insights into competitive adsorption dynamics. The 5-14-14-1 deep learning architecture, fine-tuned over 228 epochs, demonstrated strong performance with mean squared error (MSE) values of 4.07, 18.406, and 6.2122 for training, testing, and total datasets, respectively, and high R-squared values. Graphical analysis showed a solid linear correlation between experimental and simulated removal percentages, emphasizing the need to consider more than just testing data for optimization. Experimental validation confirmed a 98.77% removal efficiency, illustrating the effectiveness of combining deep learning with genetic algorithms, and highlighting the necessity of experimental trials to verify computational predictions. It is concluded that the carbonaceous material from Haematoxylum campechianum waste (CM-HC) is an effective, low-cost adsorbent for removing 3-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions, achieving optimal removal at pH 6 and 300.15 K with a maximum adsorption capacity of 236.156 mg/g, following Langmuir model and pseudo-second order kinetics. The validated ANN model offers a reliable tool for practical applications in environmental remediation, advancing both environmental science and educational innovation by integrating artificial neural networks and data science methodologies into student learning experiences.

Ruthenium(III) unsymmetrical Schiff base complex supported on γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles: A new heterogeneous nanocatalyst for efficient oxidation of hydrocarbons with tert-butyl hydroperoxide

In the present work, an unsymmetrical salen-type ruthenium(III) complex, Ru(salenac)Cl, where the unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base H2salenac = salicylideneiminoethyliminopentane-2-one, was synthesized and anchored on the surface of aminopropyl-functionalized silica-coated γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles. The characterization of the resulting γ-Fe2O3@SiO2@APTES@Ru(salenac)Cl nanoparticles was performed using XRD, FT-IR, VSM, TGA, ICP, TEM, BET, SEM and EDX methods. The prepared γ-Fe2O3@SiO2@APTES@Ru(salenac)Cl magnetic nanoparticle was successfully employed as an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst for alkenes epoxidation and alkanes oxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tert-BuOOH, 70 % aqueous solution) as oxidant in acetonitrile at ambient temperature. In the mentioned catalytic system, the intended products were obtained with good to excellent yields along with high selectivity. The heterogeneous γ-Fe2O3@SiO2@APTES@Ru(salenac)Cl nanocatalyst can be recovered easily using an external magnet and recycled six times with no notable decrease in catalytic activity. Moreover, FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDX techniques were used to characterize the recovered γ-Fe2O3@SiO2@APTES@Ru(salenac)Cl nanocatalyst and it was demonstrated that the catalyst maintained its structure intact following the recovery process.

Catalytic Ozonation of Sulfachloropyridazine Sodium by Diatomite-Modified Fe2O3: Mechanism and Pathway

A diatomite-modified Fe2O3 (Fe2O3/Dia) catalyst was prepared to catalyze the ozonation degradation of sulfachloropyridazine sodium (SPDZ). The chemical oxygen demand (COD) was used as the index of pollutant degradation. The catalytic ozonation experiment showed that the COD removal rate of SPDZ was 87% under Fe2O3/Dia catalysis, which was much higher than that obtained when using Fe2O3 as the catalyst. The characteristics of the Fe2O3/Dia catalyst were investigated, and the successful synthesis of the Fe2O3/Dia composite catalyst was proved by XRD, XPS, SEM, FTIR, BET and other characterization methods. The catalytic mechanism of degradation by ozone with Fe2O3/Dia was analyzed. According to free-radical trapping experiments and an in situ electron paramagnetic spectrometer characterization analysis, the main oxidizing species in the catalytic Fe2O3/Dia ozone system is ·OH. The intermediates in the degradation process of SPDZ were detected and analyzed in detail by liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry. The degradation mechanism and three degradation paths of SPDZ were proposed.

Influence of Carbon Types on the Electrochemical Performance of Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes

Disordered rocksalt (DRX) materials have recently emerged as a promising class of cobalt-free high-capacity cathodes. However, due to their poor electronic conductivity, they require a high carbon content in the composite cathodes (20-30 wt%) to achieve their full potential, which has a detrimental effect on its cell-level energy density. To assess strategies to mitigate this issue, this study investigates the effect of three types of carbon (Super C65, synthetic graphite, and ketjenblack; chosen based on varying physical properties) and their loadings (10-20 wt%) on the electrochemical performance of DRX cathodes (Patil et al., 2023). Overall, DRX cathodes containing graphite additive demonstrated superior cycling performance (∼260 mA h/g with 85% capacity retention after 50 cycles) and rate capability (∼135 mA h/g at 1000 mA/g) when compared to the traditional carbon blacks. Using a variety of characterization methods such as surface area estimation using BET method, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and differential electrochemical mass spectrometry, the superior performance of graphite based DRX cathodes is largely attributed to (i) protection of DRX particle surfaces from parasitic reactions owing to a conformal graphitic coating (ii) homogenous distribution of graphite and DRX in the composite electrode providing a robust electronic network. This study provides important insights into how carbon microstructure and processing influences performance of DRX cathodes and paves the path for further development towards reduction of carbon content in composite DRX cathodes.Reference:Patil, S., Koirala, K.P., Crafton, M.J., Yang, G., Tsai, W.-Y., McCloskey, B.D., Wang, C., Nanda, J., Self, E.C., 2023. Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Disordered Rocksalt Cathodes Enabled by a Graphite Conductive Additive. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 15, 39253–39264. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c05619

A Novel Fabrication of Hematite Nanoparticles via Recycling of Titanium Slag by Pyrite Reduction Technology.

An enormous quantity of titanium slag has caused not merely serious environment pollution, but also a huge waste of iron and sulfur resources. Hence, recycling iron and sulfur resources from titanium slag has recently been an urgent problem. Herein, hematite nanoparticles were fabricated through a pyrite reduction approach using as-received titanium slag as the iron source and pyrite as the reducing agent in an nitrogen atmosphere. The physicochemical properties of the hematite nanoparticles were analyzed using multiple techniques such as X-ray diffraction pattern, ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, and scanning electron microscopy. The best synthesis conditions for hematite nanoparticles were found at 550 °C for 30 min with the mass ratio of 14:1 for titanium slag and pyrite. The results demonstrated that hematite nanoparticles with an average particle diameter of 45 nm were nearly spherical in shape. The specific surface area, pore volume, and pore size estimated according to the BET method were 19.6 m2/g, 0.117 cm3/g, and 0.89 nm, respectively. Meanwhile, the fabricated hematite nanoparticles possessed weak ferromagnetic behavior and good absorbance in the wavelength range of 200 nm-600 nm, applied as a visible light responsive catalyst. Consequently, these results show that hematite nanoparticles formed by the pyrite reduction technique have a promising application prospect for magnetic material and photocatalysis.

Prosopis juliflora biochar for adsorption of sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin from pharmaceutical wastewater

This study aimed to synthesize the biochar of Prosopis juliflora (PJ) and apply it to the adsorption of antibiotic residues sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIX) from pharmaceutical industry wastewater. The PJ biochar was synthesized using the pyrolysis method and characterized by proximate analysis, TGA, SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, and BET methods. The moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, and fixed carbon were found to be 6.4 %, 72.3 %, 3.0 %, and 18.3 %, respectively. Moreover, biochar characteristics were described by a high BET surface area of 875 m2/g, various FTIR peaks with different functional groups, high TGA thermal stability at increasing temperature, amorphous XRD structure, and high SEM surface morphology, and major EDX carbon compositions of 97 %. These analysis results demonstrated insights into the potential and nature of biochar adsorbent. The maximum adsorption of SMZ and CIX was found to be 98.7 % and 97.8 %, respectively, at a contact time of 120 min, initial concentration of 50 mg/L, pH (5 for CIX and 8 for SMZ), and adsorbent dose of 1 g/L for a synthetic solution. On the other hand, COD and TOC of real wastewater were reduced from 2498 to 514 mg/L and 1050 to 124 mg/L during the real wastewater treatment. Target pollutants concentration in real wastewater was found to be 8.29 and 5.3 mg/L for CIX and SMZ and their removal efficiency was obtained as 80.4 % and 76.7 % respectively. The obtained experimental data were best fitted with the Langmuir isothermal model at R2 = 0.999, implying the adsorbent surface is homogeneous and monolayer. Similarly, the adsorption kinetics process was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetics model for both SMZ and CIX at R² = 0.999. Finally, the non-linear intra-particle diffusion graphs suggest that chemical adsorption is the main influencing factor for overall kinetics. In conclusion, using PJ biochar is a promising precursor in advancing adsorbents for removing contaminants from industrial wastewater to address environmental pollution challenges.

Short-stage synthesis of metal–ceramics composites as precursors for high performance catalytic applications

NiAl, NiCoAl, and CoCuAl intermetallics on ceramic TiC and TiCrC supports were produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) from granular mixtures and used as precursors for preparation of catalysts for CO and propane deep oxidation and CO2 hydrogenation. The precursors were converted into catalysts by aluminum leaching and stabilization with hydrogen peroxide solution. Prepared supported catalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM/EDS, and BET methods and tested in the processes of deep oxidation of CO and propane and methanation of CO2. It was revealed that 100 % CO conversion is observed in TiC-supported catalysts at 250 °C. Catalysts containing NiCo active phase on both ceramic supports were shown to be the most active in propane oxidation. In CO2 methanation, Ni/TiCrC sample showed the highest CO2 conversion (58.9 % at 350 °C) with 100 % methane selectivity.

Comparative study of microwave-assisted and hydrothermal hydroxyapatite synthesis from neutralization slag: Optimization, energy, and adsorption

The study proposes the utilization of microwave-assisted methods for converting neutralization slag (NS) into hydroxyapatite (HAP), offering an alternative to the conventional hydrothermal method. The microwave-assisted approach addresses the challenges encountered in hydrothermal reactions, such as particle agglomeration, reduced specific surface area, prolonged reaction time, high temperature requirements, and inadequate saturation adsorption capacity. By employing the response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design, the study found that the microwave-assisted method significantly reduced the synthesis time from 90 to 25 min and the temperature from 120 °C to 56 °C. Furthermore, the microwave method consumed only 1/43 of the energy utilized in hydrothermal synthesis. To assess the performance of the synthesized HAP, various detection methods were utilized, including XRD, SEM-EDS, FTIR, Zeta potential, and ICP, which analyzed the crystal structure, crystallinity, morphology, chemical composition, and surface charge of HAP. The BET method was used to measure the specific surface area, further confirming the successful synthesis of HAP. The HAP synthesized through this microwave-assisted method exhibited a saturation adsorption capacity of up to 98.4 mg/g of fluoride ions from vanadium industrial raffinate. This study demonstrates that the microwave-assisted method provides a viable solution for reducing energy consumption and enhancing HAP synthesis efficiency for wastewater treatment in the vanadium industry.

Adsorption of cationic dye onto Raphanus seeds: optimization, adsorption kinetics, thermodynamic studies

Dyes are one of the common contaminants in industrial wastewater. Adsorption is the most widely method which used to treat dye-contaminated water due to their easy use, cost-effectiveness, and their efficiency was high. The aim of this study is the investigating of the utilization of the activated carbon which prepared from Raphanus seeds solid residual (ACRS) as a low cost adsorbent for removing of cationic Methylene Blue dye (MB)from wastewater. measuring the surface area using BET methods and SEM. The FT‒IR and XRD was measured. Different variables (e.g.: initial concentration of the dye, pH, contact time, and dosage) have been studied. Process has been systematically investigated experimentally at (25 ± 1 °C). The % removal of MB reached 99.4% after 90-min MB adsorption (40 mg/L) was observed within 5 min of contact time for the Raphanus seeds solid residual (ACRS) dosage of 4 g/L. MB initial concentration (10 ppm) Raphanus seeds solid residual (ACRS) effectively adsorbed MB (> 99%) over a widely range of pH (from pH 2 to pH 8). However, a swift decline in removal was observed when the pH was set at 7. The results of the adsorption kinetics analysis indicate a strong correlation with the pseudo-second-order model, as evidenced by the high regression coefficients. However, the adsorption capacity diminished with a rise in temperature. Thermodynamic calculations of (MB) onto Raphanus seeds solid residual (ACRS) is an exothermic reaction. The results have been indicated that the effectiveness of MB removal by activated carbon prepared from Raphanus seeds solid residual is favorable under neutral conditions, Raphanus seeds solid residual (ACRS) can be considered an efficient, environmentally friendly, readily available, and economical adsorbent that could treat industrial wastewater contaminated with cationic textile dyes. The objective of the experiments was to investigate the impact of various factors on the response of a process or formulation. To accomplish this goal, response surface methodology (RSM) has employed as a statistical model. RSM is an efficient and effective method for optimizing processes through the use of a quadratic polynomial model. The utilization of RSM allows for a reduction in the number of experiments needed, thus minimizing the associated costs of extensive analysis. This method has been done using Box–Behnken Design (BBD) to optimize % removal of MB. The optimal conditions as obtained from the RSM is pH 7,contact time 120 min, initial concentration 10 ppm, ACRS dosage 1 g, adsorption temperature 45 °C.

Novel Ni/ZnO Nanocomposites for the Effective Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green Dye

Water scarcity threatens human civilization because of rapid industrialization's damage to freshwater sources. Pollutants like dyes, which are frequently found in the paper, leather, food, plastics, textile, and cosmetics industries, must be removed to preserve water. In the present study, Zinc oxide nanocomposites impregnated with nickel (Ni/ZnO) were prepared using a wet impregnation technique. These novel materials were investigated for their ability to photocatalytically degrade malachite green (MG) under the irradiation of visible. The synthesized nanocomposite catalyst was characterized by various analytical techniques, including SEM, EDX, XRD, and BET methods of surface analysis, and revealed a high surface area of 192.88 m2g-1 with an average size range from 88-354 nm. EDX results showed efficient doping of Ni (28.9%). The composites were then used under the influence of a visible light source to degrade MG dye. The investigation also assessed the degradation of MG using a photo-Fenton reagent. Factors such as catalyst dosage, H2O2 levels, pH, and duration were optimized to understand their impact in both degradation studies. The synthesized catalyst showed stunning photocatalytic activities, as 99.4% of the 60 µg.ml-1of MG was degraded in 40 min with 100 mg of Ni/ZnO at pH 8. Ni/ZnO had a good application prospect for MG degrading and can be used as a potential photocatalyst. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-08-011 Full Text: PDF