Equilibrium Data Research Articles

Adsorptive removal of carcinogenic azo dye from aqueous solution using NaCPT@HDTMA

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effectiveness of the clinoptilolite (Na@CPT) surface as an adsorbent for removing anionic dyes. The Na@CPT surface was modified using hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (NaCPT@HDTMA) to improve its ability to remove Reactive Blue 171 (RB171) from water. A thorough study was conducted to analyze the adsorption isotherms, kinetics, temperature, and pH effects of RB171 onto Na@CPT and NaCPT@HDTMA. A pH of 1.0 was found to be the optimum value for adsorbents. Kinetic studies revealed that both adsorbents followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with NaCPT@HDTMA exhibiting a faster adsorption process and quickly reaching equilibrium with increasing temperature. The adsorption efficiency of RB171 was found to improve by 83.56% after the modification at 50°C. The equilibrium data showed that the adsorption of RB171 on Na@CPT and NaCPT@HDTMA fit the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the overall adsorption process of both adsorbents was endothermic and spontaneous. NaCPT@HDTMA is a highly effective adsorbent for removing RB171 from aqueous solution due to its low cost and abundant presence in nature.

A Facile Synthesis of RGO-Ag2MoO4 Nanocomposites for Efficient Lead Removal from Aqueous Solution

Efficiently treating wastewater, particularly the elimination of heavy metal ions from water systems, continues to be one of the most pressing and complex challenges in modern environmental management. In this work, reduced graphene oxide coupled silver molybdate binary nanocomposites (RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs) have been prepared via hydrothermal method. The crystalline nature and surface properties of the developed RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs were proved by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and EDS techniques. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that the nanocomposites (NCs) effectively removed Pb(II) ions within 120 min, achieving a maximum removal efficiency ranging from 94.96% to 86.37% for Pb(II) concentrations between 20 and 100 mg/L at pH 6. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second order model. Isotherm analysis presented that the Langmuir model provided the greatest fit for the equilibrium data, with a monolayer adsorption capacity of 128.94 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The results of this study highlight RGO-Ag2MoO4 NCs as a highly promising and eco-friendly material for the effective elimination of Pb(II) ions from wastewater. Their strong adsorption capacity, coupled with sustainable properties, makes them an efficient solution for addressing lead contamination, offering significant potential for practical applications in water treatment systems.

Eco-Friendly Green Approach to the Biosorption of Hazardous Dyes from Aqueous Solution on Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) Biomass

The presented research includes the preparation, characterization, and implementation of magnetic biosorbent (Fe3O4/RWB), obtained from ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) biomass. Fe3O4/RWB was examined for the removal of a hazardous dye, malachite green (MG), from an aqueous solution in a batch system. The effects of the experimental parameters—initial dye concentration (10–300 mg/L), contact time (0–120 min), biosorbent dose (1–5 g/L), initial pH (2–10), ionic strength (0–1 mol/L), and temperature (298–318 K) on dye biosorption—were studied. The results showed that increases in biosorbent dose, contact time, and initial pH led to an increase in biosorption efficiency, while the increase in initial dye concentration, the ionic strength, and temperature had the opposite effect. The biosorption kinetics for MG on Fe3O4/RWB were analyzed with pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich kinetic models, while the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models were used for equilibrium data analysis. It was observed that the MG biosorption followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, whereas the Langmuir model was the best fit for the equilibrium biosorption data of MG, with a Qmax of 34.1 mg/g. the desorption of MG from Fe3O4/RWB indicated reusability in five adsorption/desorption cycles, good performance, and potential in practical applications.

 Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Based Schiff Base and Cu(II) Complex from Shrimp Shells and its Application on Catalysis and Bio-sorption

In recent years, metal complexes and biopolymers have gained significant attention in environmental applications such as catalysis and heavy metal removal. Chitosan, a biopolymer derived from chitin, is well-known for its biodegradability, non-toxicity, and strong metal ion affinity, which can be further enhanced through Schiff bases to improve its catalytic and adsorption capabilities. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate whether Cu(II) complex of Chitosan Salicylaldehyde Schiff Base CSSB-Cu(II) can act as an efficient catalyst in hydrogen peroxide decomposition reaction and to find out the raw absorbent which has the highest Cadmium ion removal efficiency from among the absorbents Chitin (CT), Chitosan (CS) and Chitosan Salicylaldehyde Schiff Base (CSSB). CSSB was synthesized using the Schiff condensation reaction between the amino group of CS and the carbonyl compound of salicylaldehyde with the elimination of water molecules and it was complexed with Cu(II) ion to produce CSSB-Cu(II) complex. The catalytic effect of the CSSB-Cu(II) complex on the kinetics of the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was investigated and compared with CSSB. CSSB-Cu(II) showed a better catalytic effect than CSSB and has a pseudo-first-order catalytic decomposition for H2 O2 . CT, CS, and CSSB were investigated as adsorbents for the Cd(II) removal to determine their cadmium removal efficiencies. This study concludes that the removal efficiency of CSSB was greater than that of CS and CT. The equilibrium data agreed more with the Langmuir model than with the Freundlich model. The IR and electronic spectral data confirm the presence of an imine bond and the existence of the complex in square planar geometry.

Optimization, Kinetic and Thermodynamic Study of Rhodamine B Removal by Zinc Chloride-activated Arachis hypogaea (Groundnut Husk) biochar

Adsorption of dye from industrial effluent before discharge into the environment has become a major challenge to the food, pharmaceutical, textile, photographic and cosmetic industries. This has led scientists to the search for suitable green solutions. Carbonized and zinc chloride activated Arachis hypogaea (groundnut husk) in a 1:1 ratio was used as an adsorbent for the removal of Rhodamine B from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized by ash content, bulk density, moisture content, pH, Iodine number, surface area and functional group analyses. Key parameters such as initial pH, initial concentration of Rhodamine B dye, temperature and contact time were investigated. The equilibrium data obtained were correlated with Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms. It was found that both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms fit well to the data. The Langmuir isotherm model best describes the uptake of Rhodamine B onto zinc chloride activated groundnut husk biochar with R2 > 0.997. Maximum Rhodamine B. dye removal was observed at a pH of 11.0, with an adsorbent dosage of 1.0 g, a contact time of 125 min, an initial dye concentration of 20 mg/L and a temperature at 315 K. The efficiency of zinc chloride activated groundnut husk biochar for Rhodamine B removal was 99.55% for dilute solutions at 50 g/L. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra recorded before and after activation showed the numbers of functional groups available for Rhodamine B. molecules to bind onto in the studied adsorbent. The kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo second-order models, while the thermodynamic studies indicated a spontaneous and endothermic nature in the adsorption of Rhodamine B by the zinc chloride modified groundnut husk. This research clearly details an innovative approach to utilizing carbonized and zinc chloride-activated Arachis hypogaea (groundnut husk) as an eco-friendly adsorbent for the removal of Rhodamine B from industrial effluents.

Construction and demolition waste as a low-cost adsorbent for water treatment: kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and Fenton regeneration.

The present study proposes to investigate the feasibility of using construction and demolition waste (CDW) as an aqueous remediation agent through adsorption. The CDW, with and without chemical and thermal pre-activation, was evaluated to remove the methylene blue (MB) dye from the water solution. Variables interfering with adsorption processes, such as adsorbent dosage, solution pH, and particle size, were evaluated. The material was characterized by pHZPC, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS, and TG. The kinetic and equilibrium data better fitted the Elovich and Sips models, respectively. A maximum adsorption capacity of 18.62mgg-1 at 60°C was observed. Thermodynamic data indicated that adsorption occurred through a spontaneous and favorable process governed mainly by physical processes. The regeneration studies were carried out using processes based on the Fenton reaction, where the catalytic action of the iron naturally present in the CDW was evaluated. The results showed that the desorption balance was the main limiting factor for the effective regeneration of the saturated material. Adding Fe2+ to the system made this process suitable for the regeneration of the CDW and degradation of the pollutant in the aqueous phase. A regeneration efficiency of 65%, maintained practically constant during five adsorption-regeneration cycles, was observed. These results highlight the high potential of using CDWs as an adsorbent material.

Sustainable pretreatment method of lignocellulosic depolymerization for enhanced ruminant productivity using laccase protein immobilized agarose beads

Laccase, the selectively lignin degrader, vital to the initiation of lignocellulosic deconstruction was immobilized onto activated agarose beads to increase its reuse potential. Laccase cross-linked beads (~ 3.42 mm) recorded a specific activity of 23 Umg− 1, retaining about 80.43% enzyme activity after 45 days of storage. The immobilization yield and efficiency were 89% and 97% respectively. The equilibrium data fitted the Freundlich equation (R2 = 0.9987) demonstrating multilayer adsorption and the presence of Cu, Fe, and S in the elemental analysis of immobilized beads established effective binding between activated agarose beads and the laccase protein. Characterization studies of the immobilized laccase-treated crop residues revealed significant differences in the lignin polymer after each treatment cycle. An increase in digestibility of 26.21% and 7.62% was observed in paddy and finger millet-treated straws respectively, over the controls corroborating efficient lignin depolymerization. The propitious performance of laccase beads authenticated in the batch enzymatic reactor to treat crop residues paves headway as a sustainable green technology in the deconstruction of crop residues for use as ruminant feed, augmenting productivity.

Equilibrium Data Mining and Data Abundance

ABSTRACTWe study theoretically how the proliferation of new data (“data abundance”) affects the allocation of capital between quantitative and nonquantitative asset managers (“data miners” and “experts”), their performance, and price informativeness. Data miners search for predictors of asset payoffs and select those with a sufficiently high precision. Data abundance raises the precision of the best predictors, but it can induce data miners to search less intensively for high‐precision signals. In this case, their performance becomes more dispersed and they receive less capital. Nevertheless, data abundance always raises price informativeness and can therefore reduce asset managers' average performance.

Sustainable Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste: A Study on Adsorption Efficiency for Humic Acid and Methyl Orange Dyes

In this study, porous activated carbon was produced from coffee waste and used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of humic acid (HA) from seawater and methyl orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions. Phosphoric acid H3PO4 was used as an activating agent for the chemical activation of these agricultural wastes. The characterization of the activated carbon obtained using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method revealed that the activated carbon products exhibited high porosity and the formation of various functional groups. The effects of different parameters were examined using batch adsorption experiments, such as the adsorbent masses, pH, initial pollutant concentration and contact time. The results show that the performance increased with an increased adsorbent mass (up to 0.25 g/L) and decreased initial concentration of the adsorbent tested. On the other hand, this study clearly showed that the adsorption efficiency of the MO on the raw spent coffee grounds (SCGs) waste was around 43%, while no removal was observed for the humic acid. The experiments demonstrated that the activated carbon synthesized from the used coffee grounds (the efficiency was compared with commercial activated carbon (CAC) with a difference of 13%) was a promising alternative to commercially available adsorbents for the removal of humic acid from seawater. To understand and elucidate the adsorption mechanism, various isothermal and kinetic models were studied. The adsorption capacity was analyzed by fitting experimental data to these models. The experimental data for methyl orange dyes were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models. The Freundlich isotherm model provided a superior fit to the equilibrium data, as indicated by a higher correlation coefficient (R2) than that of the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption was observed at pH 3. The Freundlich adsorption capacity was found to be 333 mg/g adsorbent. The PAC showed a high adsorption capacity for the MO and HA. The PAC showed the highest adsorption capacities for the HA and MO compared with the other adsorbents used (SCGs and CAC) and would be a good material to increase the adsorption efficiency for humic acid removal in the seawater pretreatment process. In addition, the prepared AC BET surface area was 520.40 m2/g, suggesting a high adsorption capacity. This makes the material potentially suitable for various applications that require a high surface area. These results indicate that high-quality sustainable activated carbon can be efficiently produced from coffee waste, making it suitable for a wide range of adsorbent applications targeting various pollutants.

Adsorptive Removal of Bisphenol A by Polyethylene Meshes Grafted with an Amino Group-Containing Monomer, 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate

The adsorptive removal of Bisphenol A (BPA) with the PE meshes photografted with 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) was performed by varying the grafted amount, pH value, BPA concentration, and temperature, and the adsorption performance was correlated by the equilibrium, kinetic, and isotherm models. In addition, the regeneration of DMAEMA-grafted PE (PE-g-PDMAEMA) meshes was discussed from the repetitive adsorption/desorption process. The adsorption capacity had the maximum value at the grafted amount of 2.6 mmol/g and at the initial pH value of 8.0. The increase in the protonation of dimethylamino groups on grafted PDMAEMA chains and the dissociation of phenol groups of BPA present in the outer solution during the adsorption process results in the increase in BPA adsorption. The adsorption process followed the pseudo second-order equation. The BPA adsorption was enhanced by increasing the BPA concentration and the equilibrium data fit to Langmuir equation. The adsorption capacity stayed almost constant with the increase in the temperature, whereas the k2 value increased against the temperature. These results comprehensively emphasized that BPA adsorption occurred through the chemical interaction or ionic bonding of a BPA anion to a terminal protonated dimethylamino group. Desorption of BPA increased by increasing the NaOH concentration and BPA was entirely desorbed at more than 20 mM. The cycle of adsorption at pH 8.0 and desorption in a NaOH solution at 100 mM was repeated five times without loss or structural damage. These results indicate PE-g-PDMAEMA meshes can be used as a regenerative adsorbent for BPA removal from aqueous medium.

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of the adsorption isotherm of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions by activated carbon

The efficiency of activated carbon in wastewater as a powerful blue dye remover has been studied. In this work, activated carbon manufactured from Sidr leaves was used to adsorb methylene blue dye. The factors affecting adsorption were studied, such as the weight of the adsorbent, temperature, contact time, and initial concentration of the dye, and the optimal conditions for adsorption were determined according to the experimental results. It was evident from the experimental results obtained that the removal efficiency increases with the increase of both the weight of the adsorbent material and the contact time. It was observed that the adsorption process was possible, spontaneous, and exothermic in the temperature range (293-333 K), and this is what determined the thermodynamic variables ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Timken isotherms were used to examine the experimental equilibrium data. To follow the adsorption process, two logical models were chosen, represented by the Elovage equation and diffusion.

Cnicus Benedictus roots as a low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue dye removal from aqueous solution: kinetic and equilibrium studies

In this research, Cnicus Benedictus roots powder (CBRP) was utilized as a low-cost adsorbent for removing methylene blue (MB) as a cationic dye from aqueous solution. Characterization of CBRP by Boehm titration method, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) indicates the presence of different types of functional groups and a very rough surface filled with cavities, suitable for MB adsorption. The effect of various parameters such as CBRP dose (0.2–2 g/1L), contact time (0–180 min), initial pH (1–10), coexisting anions/cations and the initial MB concentration (100–500 mg L−1) on MB adsorption were examined, the results showed that MB uptake depends on the pH of solution, the electrostatic attraction forces, the formation of H-bonds and π–π interactions are the possible CBRP–MB interaction mechanisms. Adsorption kinetic of MB on CBRP was best represented by linear and non-linear form of the pseudo-second order model. The experimental equilibrium data were best described by linear and non-linear forms of Langmuir and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models (R 2> 0.98) with a maximum MB adsorption capacity of 85.47 mg g−1 at 25 °C, the adsorption efficiency R (%) was greater than 90 (%). MB adsorption-desorption experiments showed the reusability of CBRP for five consecutive cycles. According to the obtained results, CBRP can be used as a natural adsorbent material for cationic dyes removal from aqueous solution.

CARBON-SILICA COMPOSITE AS ADSORBENT FOR REMOVAL OF CATIONIC DYE (METHYLENE BLUE)

The aim of this research was to synthesize carbon-silica composite (CSC) as an adsorbent for cationic dye removal from wastewater. Molasses, a by-product of the sugar industry, was successfully utilized to prepare CSC by sol-gel method with tetraethoxylsilane (TEOS) as silica source. The physicochemical properties of the composites were studied by N2 adsorption, FTIR and TGA. The highest specific surface areas of CSC was 144 m2/g at a molasses/TEOS ratio of 0.8, with a mesopore volume of 83% and average pore width of 9.71 nm. This optimal CSC was evaluated for methylene blue (MB) adsorption using batch experiments under varying adsorption times and initial MB concentrations. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 14 h and the pseudo-second order equation provided the adequate fit for the kinetic studies, suggesting that dye adsorption was limited by chemisorption. The equilibrium data were best described by the Sips model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 180.22 mg/g. The CSC derived from molasses is considered a potentially promising adsorbent for cationic dye removal in wastewater.

Artificial Neural Network Modeling of the Removal of Methylene Blue Dye Using Magnetic Clays: An Environmentally Friendly Approach

In this study, the effectiveness of Fe3O4-based clay as a cost-effective material for removing methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The structural properties of the clay and Fe3O4-based clay were analyzed using SEM, XRF, BET, XRD, FTIR, and TGA techniques. In this research, the effects of various aspects, such as adsorbent amount, contact time, solution pH, adsorption temperature, and initial dye concentration, on the adsorption of Fe3O4-based clay are investigated. The experiments aimed at understanding the adsorption mechanism of Fe3O4-based clay have shown that the adsorption kinetics are accurately described by the pseudo-second order kinetic model, while the equilibrium data are well represented by the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) was calculated as 52.63 mg/g at 25 °C, 53.48 mg/g at 30 °C, and 54.64 mg/g at 35 °C. All variables affecting the MB adsorption process were systematically optimized in a controlled experimental framework. The effectiveness of the artificial neural network (ANN) model was refined by modifying variables such as the quantity of neurons in the latent layer, the number of inputs, and the learning rate. The model’s accuracy was assessed using the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the removal and adsorption percentage output parameters. The coefficient of determination (R2) values for the dyestuff training, validation, and test sets were found to be 99.40%, 92.25%, and 96.30%, respectively. The ANN model demonstrated a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.614565 for the training data. For the validation dataset, the model recorded MSE values of 0.99406 for the training data, 0.92255 for the validation set, and 0.96302 for the test data. In conclusion, the examined Fe3O4-based clays offer potential as effective and cost-efficient adsorbents for purifying water containing MB dye in various industrial settings.

Discovery of a novel binary azeotrope with positive synergistic insulation strength as eco-friendly SF6-alternative

Abstract Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), as the arc extinguishing and insulating medium, is broadly applied in power equipment. While it is very essential to find an environmentally friendly substitute gas for SF6 due to its strong greenhouse effect. Although there are many potential alternatives, most have relatively high boiling points that cannot meet the minimum operating temperature of the power equipment. In the past, the liquefaction temperature of the mixture was reduced by mixing with buffer gases, such as CO2, N2, or dry air. But this method cannot take the insulation performance requirements of eco-friendly insulating gas into account. Therefore, given the current problems and challenges, a novel approach is presented to exploring new eco-friendly gases by incorporating the azeotropic theory. The liquefaction temperature of the gas mixture can be reduced simultaneously while the insulation strength is increased. In this approach, a theoretical prediction model E-PPR78 was introduced to predict the vapor-liquid equilibrium data and RC318 was found to exhibit azeotrope behavior with HFO-1336mzz(E) at 17%. Furthermore, the predicted vapor-liquid equilibrium data obtained were validated against cyclic-analytical experimental results, affirming the efficacy of the proposed model. Subsequently, to assess its insulation performance, breakdown tests were conducted under both AC and lightning impulse voltages, revealing significant positive synergistic effects in the gas mixture. The possible mechanisms of this positive synergistic effect were also discussed. This study offers an innovative way of tackling high boiling point issues plaguing eco-friendly gases. The findings may also enlighten the design of eco-friendly switchgear that utilizes HFO-1336mzz(E) mixtures to replace traditional SF6 gases.

Activated carbons prepared from stump wood of various tree species by chemical activation and their application for water purification

AbstractActivated carbons (ACs) were produced from stump wood of different tree species, such as pine, bearded birch, and American black cherry using chemical activation with KOH and NaOH. The activated carbons were characterized and evaluated as adsorbents for eliminating bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. The kinetics of adsorption and equilibrium adsorption, as well as the impact of solution pH and ionic strength, were examined. The kinetics were analyzed using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, and Boyd kinetic models. The findings suggest that the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model. Additionally, the film diffusion was found to be the rate-determining step for the adsorption of BPA on all of the activated carbons. The data for adsorption equilibrium were tested using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips equations, with results indicating that the Langmuir model was the most applicable. The capacity of activated carbons to adsorb BPA was dependent on their surface area. Higher BET surface areas resulted in increased adsorption. The birch-derived AC activated by NaOH had a monolayer adsorption capacity of 1.980 mmol/g, while the AC from black cherry activated with KOH had 2.195 mmol/g. The adsorption of BPA was pH-dependent, and no effect of ionic strength was observed. The activated carbons had very high adsorption capacities, indicating that stump wood is an excellent precursor for the production of highly effective adsorbents.

A calorimetric and Raman spectroscopy study on the phase behavior of DIOX + CO2 hydrate

This work presents a calorimetric and Raman spectroscopy investigation on the phase behavior of DIOX (1,3-Dioxolane) + CO2 hydrate. A high-pressure micro-differential scanning calorimeter (HP μ-DSC) was used to determine the phase equilibrium data of DIOX + CO2 hydrate formed at 1 mol% and 5.56 mol% DIOX. A high-pressure in situ Raman spectroscopy apparatus was used to record the transient CO2 Raman spectra. The spectra were employed to study CO2 incorporation into the hydrate cages during the DIOX hydrate formation process. The results indicate that the DIOX + CO2 hydrate formed at 5.56 mol% DIOX is more stable than that formed at 1 mol% DIOX. The amount of DIOX + CO2 hydrate is increased when increasing the pressure from 3.0 MPa to 4.8 MPa, and more CO2 molecules are captured in the hydrate. Through the in situ Raman spectroscopy experiments, it is found that DIOX hydrate formed quickly at the beginning of the experiment and CO2 molecules were trapped in the small cages more slowly than the incorporation of DIOX into the hydrate. The results reported in this work have confirmed the feasibility of using DIOX as a thermodynamic additive to promote the hydrate-based CO2 capture.

Modeling of adsorptive treatment of lead (II) ions contaminated effluents using cashew nut shell alkali activated carbon: Batch kinetic, isothermal and thermodynamic studies

The numerical study of the decontamination of lead(II) ions-rich effluent employing activated carbon derived from cashew nut shell was the central focus of this work. Chemical activation with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) was used to produce powdered activated carbon at optimized activation conditions of impregnation ratio (0.531), activation temperature (1083 K) and activation time (63min). The physiochemical properties of raw and activated cashew nut shell were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning, X-ray diffractor (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analyses. Batch adsorption experiments were performed at varied process conditions of temperature (303–323) K, contact time (5–80min), and initial lead(II) ion concentrations (100–400 mg.L−1). The adsorption behavior of the batch–type operation was mathematically described in the form of non-linear parabolic partial differential equations (PDE’S) incorporating film, pore and surface diffusion mechanisms. The batch mathematical model was solved by implementing a custom MATLAB program-OkiyNwabannebatch and calibrated to predict the desired response (percentage removal) using measured adsorption data. The equilibrium adsorption, kinetics and thermodynamics of lead(II) ions adsorption onto activated cashew nut shell were also assessed using nonlinear isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic models. Sensitivity analysis unveiled that temperature with sensitivity value of 37.31 % had a predominant effect on the model performance. The simulated equilibrium data was well explicated by the Freundlich model for lead(II) ions adsorption onto activated cashew nut shell. The pseudo-second order kinetic model best reproduced the simulated adsorption data for lead(II) ions uptake by cashew nut shell adsorbent. Likewise, the kinetic data followed Boyd model, indicating that the adsorption process is controlled by external (film) diffusion for the uptake of lead(II) ions by alkali activated cashew nut shell. Thermodynamic analysis using the Gibbs and Van’t Hoff’s models indicated that lead(II) ions adsorption by modified cashew nut shell is spontaneous and exothermic. The physical nature of the adsorption process was elucidated from the low values of the isosteric heats of adsorption (ΔHX) evaluated (<80 kJ mol−1). This study showed that zinc chloride activated cashew nut shell has good potential to be used as a cost-effective and efficient adsorbent for the uptake of lead(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Separation of ethanol/n-hexane azeotrope by imidazolium ionic liquids: Experimental study and mechanism analysis

In the process of producing low-carbon alcohols from coal, azeotropic waste containing ethanol and n-hexane is generated. To prevent environmental risks and resource waste from solvent loss, this study selected green solvent ionic liquids (ILs) for their separation. First, we screened five anions with high selectivity based on the conductor-like screening model for realistic solvents (COSMO-RS), and through various quantum chemical calculations, we found that the anions play a significant role in the separation of the two components, with [HSO4]− showing the best separation performance. Second, we predicted the phase equilibrium data for ILs containing [HSO4] − in the azeotropic system, considering practical factors such as price and viscosity, and selected [EMIM][HSO4], [BMIM][HSO4], and [HMIM][HSO4] for experiments. The results indicated that simpler cation side chains enhance the separation capability of the system. Then, a toxicity analysis of the ILs ensured their biocompatibility and feasibility. Finally, we established the extraction distillation process and visualized the interactions between the ILs and the azeotropic system through molecular dynamics simulations. This work provides theoretical guidance for the separation of alcohols and alkanes in the industry.

Adsorption Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Column Breakthrough Data for Aqueous Solutions of Binary-Acid and Ternary-Acid Mixtures of Acetic Acid, Butyric Acid, and Lactic Acid on IRN-78 Ion-Exchange Resin at Initial pH Levels of ∼3–7 and at 25–55 °C

Adsorption Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Column Breakthrough Data for Aqueous Solutions of Binary-Acid and Ternary-Acid Mixtures of Acetic Acid, Butyric Acid, and Lactic Acid on IRN-78 Ion-Exchange Resin at Initial pH Levels of ∼3–7 and at 25–55 °C