Initial Solution Concentration Research Articles

Innovative process for sulphur recovery from waste incineration flue gases: production of marketable sodium bisulphite solution

ABSTRACT This study presents an innovative process for recovering sulphur from hazardous waste incineration flue gases, designed to produce a marketable sodium bisulphite solution while ensuring complete SO2 removal. This new process is characterized by a double absorption strategy at two different pH levels. The first step, at an acidic pH, generates the desired bisulphite solution, while the second step, at a basic pH, produces the sulphite solution for recycling into the first step and ensures total SO2 removal. The process’s performance and feasibility were evaluated on a laboratory scale using a batch reactor with synthetic gas. The parametric study focused on the initial sulphite concentration in the absorption solution and the reactor temperature. A removal efficiency exceeding 95% was achieved across all initial sulphite concentrations and temperature ranges, when the pH was maintained above 6. At pH 5, where bisulphites are the predominant sulphur species, the removal efficiency remained substantial at approximately 70%. The oxidation of sulphites/bisulphites by oxygen in the flue gases was minimal, with less than 5% conversion to sulphate. Additionally, pH-controlled experiments were conducted to optimize plant start-up procedures. For the basic reactor, starting with water and adjusting the pH to 8 during SO2 absorption effectively minimized sodium hydroxide consumption. In contrast, for the acidic reactor at pH 5, initiating the process with a concentrated sulphite solution resulted in more stable absorption rates. These findings underscore the process's potential for efficient sulphur recovery and highlight the importance of pH management in optimizing operational stability and chemical consumption.

Modification of Ti3C2Tx nanostructure with KH2PO4 and chitosan for effective removal of strontium from nuclear waste.

Nanostructure titanium carbide MXene (Ti3C2Tx) was modified with KH2PO4 and chitosan to effectively remove strontium from nuclear wastewater. Nuclear waste includes radionuclides of uranium, thorium, strontium, and cesium, which are classified depending on the concentration of radionuclides. Nuclear waste with a high strontium concentration is the production waste of radiopharmaceutical production centers. Ti3C2Tx was synthesized from Ti3AlC2 using HF40% and HF in situ (MILD-Ti3C2Tx) in 24h at 313.15 and 333.15K. Morphology, structure, and functional groups were investigated using the XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR, and BET analyses. The Sr(II)'s adsorption capacity on Ti3C2Tx-HF and Ti3C2Tx-HF in situ was obtained as 61.9 and 253.5mgg-1, respectively (temperature, 298.15K; pH, 7.00; contact time, 180min; and Sr(II) concentration, 150mgl-1). Ti3C2Tx-HF in situ showed fourfold adsorption due to more hydroxyl functional groups and larger interlayer spacing. Ti3C2Tx was modified with KH2PO4 and chitosan to investigate the mechanism of change of Sr(II)'s adsorption capacity, which increased to 370 and 284mgg-1, respectively. The structural results of modified Ti3C2Tx showed that the surface functional groups increased when modified with chitosan. In addition, modification with KH2PO4, through encapsulating large amounts of KH2PO4 between Ti3C2Tx layers, increased the possibility of Sr(II) diffusion between layers and electrochemical interactions with hydroxyl groups, and thus, increased its adsorption. Some experiments were designed to investigate the effect of parameters like initial concentration of Sr(II), contact time, temperature, and pH solution, as well as modified- and unmodified-Ti3C2Tx on adsorbent. The results revealed that the adsorption process of Sr(II) with pristine and modified-Ti3C2Tx follows pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich heterogeneous isotherm model. Freundlich model isotherm indicates the presence of various functional groups on the surface and between the pristine and modified Ti3C2Tx layers. Electrostatic reactions and intra-sphere complexation were the two dominant mechanisms of the adsorption process.

Development of an asymmetric cellulose acetate-ionic liquid P6,6,6,14[PHOS] gel membrane for the perstraction of succinic acid from a model fermentation solution of yarrovia lipolytica

This study introduces a novel approach to separate succinic acid (SA) from fermentation mixtures using an asymmetric membrane based on the gelation of the ionic liquid [P6,6,6,14][PHOS] coated with two layers of cellulose acetate. The membrane was designed to explore the synergistic effect of polymer-ionic liquid interfaces according to the solution-diffusion theory. The gelation of the ionic liquid was achieved using 12-hydroxystearic acid at a concentration of 1.5%, allowing the use of ionic liquid gels as new materials for the generation of membranes. The perstraction performance of the membrane was evaluated over 5 h at two different temperatures (25°C and 37°C), with an initial feed solution concentration of 50 kg m−3 for SA and glycerol and pure water as a receiving phase., Several flow rates and phase-volume ratios were studied anda mass transfer model based on the resistance-in-series theory was assessed to understand the behavior of each mass transfer stage considering the distribution in each interphase. Interestingly, optimal perstraction results were obtained at 37°C, with an average transmembrane flux of 0.22 kg m-2h−1 for SA, an extraction percentage of 43.1% for SA and 0.7% for glycerol, and a SA/glycerol selectivity of 54.98. Besides presenting a novel composite membrane, this study reports pioneering perstraction outcomes, highlighting its potential as an innovative SA separation strategy and structured new materials for selective extractions.

Preparation and potential of chitosan-based/Al2O3 green hydrogel composites for the removal of methyl red dye from simulated solution.

Different dyes are discharged into water streams, causing significant pollution to the entire ecosystem. The present work deals with the removal of acid red 2 dye (methyl red-as an anionic dye) by green sorbents based on chitosan derivatization. In this regard, two classes of chitosan derivatives-a total of six-were prepared by gamma irradiation at 30kGy. The first group (group A) constitutes a crosslinked chitosan/polyacrylamide/aluminum oxide with different feed ratios, while the second group, identified as group B, is composed of crosslinked carboxymethyl chitosan/polyacrylamide/aluminum oxide with different ratios. Glycerol was added to soften the resultant hydrogels. The products were characterized by different tools, including FTIR for confirming the chemical modification, TGA for investigating their thermal properties, and XRD for verifying their crystalline structure. The morphology of the prepared derivatives was studied through SEM, while their topography before and after dye adsorption was monitored via the AFM. The removal efficiencies of the prepared sorbents were verified at different operation conditions, such as pH, temperature, adsorbent dose, initial concentration of dye solutions, and contact time. The data revealed that the optimum conditions for maximum dye uptake were as follows: pH 4, contact time 120min, 0.1-g sorbent dose, and 50-ppm dye concentration. Additionally, the prepared sorbents demonstrated potent adsorption capacity and removal efficiency. It was found that the elements of the second group displayed higher performance than their counterparts. The data showed also that the adsorption process best fits with the Freundlich model and obeyed pseudo-first-order kinetic isotherm. In addition, the synthesized composites showed observable antibacterial potency toward E. coli as a Gram-negative bacterium and S. aureus as a Gram-positive bacterium.

Experimental study on dynamic adsorption properties of methylene blue onto coal-based activated carbon using a hydrocyclone

To address the issues of low adsorption efficiency of activated carbon in dyeing wastewater treatment, a dynamic adsorption process using activated carbon for wastewater treatment was proposed. A hydrocyclone was used as the carrier, and the adsorbent separation process was integrated into the same single device. Methylene blue (MB) was used to simulate printing and dyeing wastewater. The effects of initial concentration of MB solution, ratio of activated carbon quality to wastewater flow, and adsorption temperature on the adsorption efficiency were investigated. The results showed that the optimal adsorption efficiency of MB by activated carbon was 95.2 % when the initial concentration of MB solution was 12 mg/L, the ratio of activated carbon quality to wastewater flow was 0.5 mg/mL, and the adsorption temperature of MB solution was 44.5 °C. In addition, compared with the water bath oscillation method, the removal efficiency of MB was increased by 731 % under the same adsorption conditions. The research shows that it is feasible to treat printing and dyeing wastewater by using a hydrocyclone to enhance activated carbon adsorption. The research aims to provide a practical basis for future optimization of the structure and operation parameters of hydrocyclone and to reveal their wide application prospects.

Dynamic Trio: CuWO4@C3N5/Polypyrrole nanocomposites Combat Chlorpyrifos and Rhodamine B in waste water

In this study, we investigate the photocatalytic degradation of chlorpyrifos pesticide (CPy) and Rh B dye using nanoparticles of C3N5 and CuWO4 dispersed within a PPy matrix. Using a variety of techniques, a composite called PPy@C3N5/CuWO4 was synthesised and thoroughly characterised. These techniques included XRD, SEM/EDS, TEM, BET, DRS, PL, and TOC. The combination displayed remarkable photoactivity and photostability in the degradation of CPy and RhB in aqueous solutions when exposed to visible light. The band gap values of C3N5, CuWO4, and C3N5@CuWO4 are (2.2, 2.0, and 1.9 eV), improved. Several factors were meticulously optimised and adjusted in order to investigate the process of photocatalytic degradation. These factors included pH levels, initial solution concentration, irradiation time, and the amount of photocatalyst used. An optimal photodegradation efficiency of approximately 92.5 % was attained by utilising a CPy and Rh B concentration of 5 mg/L, maintaining a pH of 3.5, and employing a photocatalyst dosage of 0.5 g/L. The photocatalyst was also tested for its ability to regenerate and be recycled four times, which showed that it was relatively stable.

Removal of antibiotic residue from aqueous solution by advanced oxidation process

Advanced oxidation processes are low-cost, highly efficient, and eco-friendly technologies in the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater using hydroxyl radicals for oxidation. Hydroxyl radicals possess high oxidation potential and can react with organic compounds, resulting in the complete mineralization of these compounds into carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic salt or their conversion into other compounds. The present investigation deals with the removal of tetracycline from water using simulated ultraviolet radiation and hydrogen peroxide, assessing the effect of operational parameters like the solution's initial pH, retention time, hydrogen peroxide dosage in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from the standard aqueous solution of tetracycline. Results indicate that alkaline conditions and larger hydrogen peroxide dosage negatively affect the degradation. The removal efficiency of 68 % was achieved at 150 min of batch reaction under optimum conditions: pH = 4, and a dose of hydrogen peroxide of 0.3 ml per 100 ml of the solution to be treated. At optimum conditions, LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry) analysis results showed a reduction in initial concentration of aqueous solution of tetracycline. Photocatalytic degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with the rate constant (k) of 0.0061 min-1. Photocatalysis based on hydrogen peroxide is effective in the degradation of tetracycline in an aqueous solution and can be applied as a pretreatment of hospital wastewater containing tetracycline residues.

Synthesis of Ag2O/CaMoO4 S-type heterojunction with enhanced sonocatalytic performance to remove crystal violet in dye wastewater

Herein, an S-type of Ag2O/CaMoO4 heterojunction was prepared by combining CaMoO4 with Ag2O and characterized. The sonocatalytic performance of the Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite was evaluated by analyzing the degradation of basic dye crystal violet (CV). The results showed that the Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite had the best sonocatalytic performance when the molar ratio of Ag2O to CaMoO4 in the Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite was 10 %. When the ultrasonic time was 120 min, the ultrasonic power was 200 W, the addition amount of 10 % Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite was 1.00 g/L and the initial concentration of CV solution was 5 mg/L, the removal rate of CV could reach 97.36 ± 1.46(%). In addition, 10 % Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite showed excellent sonocatalytic degradation performance to cationic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB), anionic dye Orange II (AO II) and azo dye Congo red (CR), indicating that the catalyst had a wide range of application. The study on the mechanism of sonocatalysis showed that the construction of S-type Ag2O/CaMoO4 heterojunction effectively separated the electron-hole (e−-h+) pairs in the sonocatalysis process, significantly improved the sonocatalytic performance of CaMoO4, and effectively degraded CV, and the degradation of CV was caused by the active components such as h+, superoxide anion radical (O2–) and hydroxyl radical (OH). Furthermore, the 10% Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite showed excellent repeatability and stability. In addition, the sonocatalytic degradation products of CV were detected and the possible degradation pathways of CV were summarized. These results suggested that the Ag2O/CaMoO4 composite was an extremely appropriate sonocatalyst for sonocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and would provide a valuable research basis for the development of efficient sonocatalysts.

Efficient degradation of MCPA in water by light/MIL-88A/H2O2 system: Mechanism, degradation pathways and toxicity assessment

2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) is a herbicide that poses a threat to the environment. In this study, MIL-88A was utilized as a photocatalyst to degrade MCPA. Results demonstrated that the Light/MIL-88A/H2O2 system exhibited remarkable photo-Fenton catalytic activity. Under optimal conditions of pH = 3.8, H2O2 concentration of 1.2 mL/L, MIL-88A dosage of 0.2 g/L and an initial MCPA solution concentration of 50 mg/L, the degradation efficiency reached its peak, achieving a 99.9 % degradation rate of MCPA within 60 min. The morphology, structure, and photocatalytic performance of MIL-88A were investigated using characterization techniques such as SEM, XRD, XPS, and UV–vis DRS. Free radical quenching experiments and ESR characterization demonstrated that the main active material in the degradation of MCPA was •OH. The possible degradation pathways of MCPA were hypothesized by combining the results of Gaussian software and LC-MS analysis. Furthermore, the toxicity of MCPA was evaluated using T.E.S.T. software and mung bean germination experiments. The results revealed that the degradation of MCPA by Light/MIL-88A/H2O2 system could achieve solution detoxification.

CO2 utilization as a gas antisolvent in the production of glibenclamide nanoparticles, glibenclamide-HPMC, and glibenclamide-PVP composites

Glibenclamide is an antidiabetic drug that also acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and reduces oxidative stress, medullary edema, and heart attack. Glibenclamide has high permeability and poor solubility in water (BCS class II). This work addresses particle size reduction of Glibenclamide using the gas antisolvent (GAS) to improve the drug dissolution rate. Three process parameters were studied at three levels: pressure (120, 140, and 160 bar), temperature (308, 318, and 328 K), and initial solute concentration (15, 45, and 75 mg/mL). The Box-Behnken design method was applied to optimize the process conditions. The coprecipitation of Glibenclamide with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was investigated by GAS at optimum pressure and temperature conditions (i.e., 160 bar and 308 K). Furthermore, the particles produced were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography, powder x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The maximum dissolution rate in water obtained after 75 minutes was 36.6 %, 88.3 %, 94.1 %, and 97.7 % for unprocessed Glibenclamide, Glibenclamide nanoparticles, Glibenclamide-HPMC and Glibenclamide-PVP composites, respectively. Glibenclamide-HPMC nanocomposites produced by GAS showed the smallest particle size, while Glibenclamide-HPMC exhibited the fastest dissolution rate.

Optimization using central composite design for continuous absorption of CO2 gas with green sodium silicate in a packed bed column

If absolutely nothing is taken to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide will rise to 550 parts per million by 2050, which will have disastrous effects on the world's climate and food production. An apparatus has been designed and setup to convert CO2 into a useful and vital product which was silica. The effect of different experimental factors on the compositions by weight percent of SiO2 and Na2CO3 were studied including the CO2 gas flow rate (1.037, 1.648 and 2.26 L/min), initial concentration of sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) solution (5, 7.5 and 10 %wt) and the packing size (15.95, 20.175, and 24.4 mm). An optimization process was performed using the Design Expert software program to achieve the optimum experimental conditions at which the maximum weight percent of SiO2 (main product), the minimum weight percent of (Na2CO3) (side product) and the minimum reaction time were determined. From the optimization process, the maximum weight percent of SiO2 (25.63 %), the minimum weight percent of (Na2CO3) (9.62 %) and the minimum reaction time (7.59 min) were achieved at the following optimum experimental conditions of CO2 gas flow rate = 1.648 L/min, packing size = 24.4 mm and initial concentration of sodium silicate solution = 10 %wt.

Enhanced heavy metal adsorption capacity of surface-functionalized Philippine natural zeolite in simulated wastewater

The adsorption efficiency of surface-functionalized Philippine natural zeolite (PNZ) for heavy metal uptake from single and mixed metal ion-simulated wastewater solution is reported in this work. Atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) findings revealed that NaCl-modified PNZ (MPNZ) exhibited the highest zinc ion adsorption of 99.96 % while PNZ yielded an adsorption of 95.61 %. The adsorption isotherms of raw PNZ and MPNZ both show similar shapes that reflect Type IV adsorption-desorption isotherms with Type H2 hysteresis loop which can be observed for micro-mesoporous materials (pore containing 2–50 nm). An increase in PNZ pore size from 10.11 nm to 13.36 nm for NaCl-PNZ and 15.59 for NaOH-PNZ is observed after alkaline treatment. EDS confirmed the decrease in Si/Al ratio from 4.02 to 3.76, indicative of possible higher negative charge in the PNZ framework which is favorable for an enhanced Coulombic or electrostatic interaction with the cationic heavy metals being detected in this study. MPNZ demonstrated an adsorption capacity of 99.96 % for copper in mixed-ion solution while 88.49 % and 86.67 % were obtained for zinc and nickel, respectively. These values are higher compared to PNZ having only 32.21 % uptake for zinc and 38.00 % for nickel. A hierarchy of the average metal adsorption capacity showed the order: copper > nickel > zinc. Rapid adsorption at the first hour of the adsorption reaction was attained in all solutions while samples with pH 9 exhibited the highest Ni2+ and Zn2+ percent removal. Moreover, the increase in initial solution concentration led to lower adsorption efficiency and the maximum uptake was attained at 100 ppm. The equilibrium data of adsorption and mechanism were suitably described by Langmuir isotherm model. With these, surface functionalization of PNZ has further enhanced its cationic adsorption capacity on heavy metals in both single and mixed-ion solution having promising potential for wastewater remediation.

A simple model of the soil freezing characteristic curve for saline soils with two freezing stages

Soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) describes the relationship between unfrozen water and subzero temperature, which is of significance for the simulation of heat, water, salt migration in cold regions. There are two phase transition stages in some saline soils, which is often explained by the phase equilibrium of bulk solution. However, the second phase transition and chemical characteristic of solute are ignored in the current coupling numerical models for freezing-thawing soils. The newest SFCC methods considering abovementioned two items are not applicable to numerical models due to complex calculation or irregularly changeable parameters. To solve those problems, a simple model was proposed in this paper. Firstly, the complete phase diagram of pore solution at icing stage was speculated from published experimental SFCCs of saline soils. Then, the temperatures of saline soils at freezing and eutectic points were quantitative expressed with phase diagram of bulk solution and SFCC of nonsaline soil, and the criteria determining whether single icing stage or icing-eutectic stage occurs in saline soils was proposed. A synthetic index was used to describe the effects of soil matrix and initial solute concentration on the exponent. Only three constant parameters were introduced to reflect the soil matrix effect on phase transition points of pore solution and the influence of chemical characteristic of solute on pore water freezing process. Finally, the model was validated by the experimental data of saline soils and showed good results and ease of use compared to a widely used theorical model for saline soil with single freezing stage and other two models both considering two phase transitions. The work provides a deeper view of freezing process in saline soils and promote the improvement of numerical simulation effect for heat, water and salt migration in seasonal freezing-thawing areas.

Adsorption of Chromium (III) and Chromium (VI) Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Chitosan-Clay Composite Materials.

In this work, biopolymer chitosan and natural clay were used to obtain composite materials. The overall aim of this study was to improve the properties (porosity, thermal stability and density) of pure chitosan beads by the addition of clay and to obtain a chitosan-based composite material for the adsorption of heavy metals from an aqueous solution, using Mongolian resources, and to study the adsorption mechanism. The natural clay was pre-treated with acid and heat to remove the impurities. The chitosan and pre-treated clay were mixed in different ratios (8:1, 8:2 and 8:3) for chemical processing to obtain a composite bead for the adsorption of chromium ions. The adsorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) was studied as a function of the solution pH, time, temperature, initial concentration of the chromium solution and mass of the composite bead. It was found that the composite bead obtained from the mixture of chitosan and treated clay with a mass ratio of 8:1 and 8:2 had the highest adsorption capacity (23.5 and 17.31 mg·g-1) for Cr(III) and Cr(VI), respectively, in the optimum conditions. The properties of the composite materials, prepared by mixing chitosan and clay with a ratio of 8:1 and 8:2, were investigated using XRD, SEM-EDS, BET and TG analysis. The adsorption mechanism was discussed based on the XPS analysis results. It was confirmed that the chromium ions were adsorbed in their original form, such as Cr(III) and Cr(VI), without undergoing oxidation or reduction reactions. Furthermore, Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were associated with the hydroxyl and amino groups of the composite beads during adsorption. The kinetic, thermodynamic and isothermal analysis of the adsorption process revealed that the interaction between the chitosan/clay composite bead and Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions can be considered as a second-order endothermic reaction, as such the adsorption can be assessed using the Langmuir isotherm model. It was concluded that the composite bead could be used as an adsorbent for the removal of chromium ions.

Enhanced Nitrate Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater Using Modified Reed Straw: Adsorption Performance and Resource Utilization

This paper presents a study on the efficient removal of nitrate nitrogen from wastewater using modified reed straw (MRS) and its subsequent resource utilization. The modification of the reed straw involved the introduction of branching quaternary amine groups to enhance its adsorption capacity for nitrate nitrogen. Experimental investigations were conducted to analyze the impact of packing height, flow rate, and initial solution concentration on the dynamic adsorption performance of the MRS. The results revealed that the maximum dynamic adsorption capacity of the MRS for nitrate nitrogen reached 14.76 mg/g. Furthermore, valuable nitrate nitrogen nutrient solution was successfully recovered through subsequent desorption experiments for resource recycling. Moreover, the application of the MRS led to notable enhancements in column height, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, and nitrogen content of the treated plants, indicating its efficacy in promoting plant growth. Overall, the findings demonstrate that MRS serves as a versatile adsorbent capable of efficient nitrate nitrogen removal and subsequent resource utilization.

Synthesis of ZnO and ZnO/Ag fine particles by plasma-assisted inkjet processing

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and its composite particles with controlled sizes, shapes, compositions, and physical and chemical properties are required for a wide variety of applications. In this study, we report a simple method for synthesising ZnO and ZnO/Ag composite particles via atmospheric-pressure plasma processing using inkjet droplets. Depending on the initial solution concentration, ZnO particles containing voids, with average sizes ranging from submicrons to several microns can be synthesised. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy measurements of the synthesised ZnO/Ag particles suggest that the molar ratio of Ag to Zn in the initial solution was retained in the synthesised particles. A high surface-enhanced Raman scattering effect was observed in the particles synthesised from the solution with an Ag molar ratio of 50% to the total solute. The proposed method enables the synthesis of ZnO particles of various sizes, microstructures, compositions and optical properties with relatively narrow size distributions.

Magnetic zinc oxide/silica microbeads for the photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes

Photocatalysis is a promising technique for the complete degradation of azo dyes that are present in wastewater. In this work, a new photocatalyst in the form of ZnO/Fe3O4/SiO2 hybrid microbeads was fabricated for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The microbeads were synthesised through self-assembly and subsequent agglomeration of nanoparticles within an aqueous phase of a water-in-oil emulsion template. Photocatalytic degradation experiments were conducted through exposure of a methylene blue solution to UV light. The hybrid microbeads performed better than ZnO powder at the same initial dye and ZnO concentration because of higher adsorption and degradation. The initial concentration of dye solution and catalyst dosage have a significant impact on the degradation. Higher degradation is seen with lower initial dye concentration and higher catalyst dosage. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles within the beads allows for their full recovery and reuse for degradation experiments. Complete degradation of dye was achieved using the new ZnO/Fe3O4/SiO2 microbeads.

Enhancing Cr (VI) Adsorption of Chestnut Shell Biochar through H3PO4 Activation and Nickel Doping.

A high-efficiency nickel-doped porous biochar (PCNi3) has been successfully synthesized from chestnut shell waste via a two-step chemical activation treatment with H3PO4. The influences of microstructure, surface morphology, elemental composition, surface functional groups, specific surface area, porosity, pore-size distribution, and chemical properties of the surface state on the removal of Cr (VI) from water were thoroughly investigated by using XRD, FESEM, FTIR, Raman, BET, and XPS testing methods, N2 adsorption, and XPS testing techniques respectively. The results indicate that the treatment of H3PO4 activation and nickel doping can effectively improve microstructure characteristics, thus promoting Cr (VI) adsorption capacity. The effects of initial solution pH, solution concentration, time, and temperature on remediation are revealed. The Cr (VI) uptake experiments imply that the adsorption curves of PCNi3 fit well with the Freundlich model, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the Elovich model. The adsorption process of PCNi3 can be regarded as a spontaneous endothermic reaction limited by diffusion among particles and porosity. The adsorption mechanisms of PCNi3 are ion exchange, complexation, electrostatic adsorption, and coprecipitation with the assistance of surface active sites, porosity, Ni0 particles, and Ni7P3. With these advantages, PCNi3 reveals an extraordinary Cr (VI) removal capacity and a strong ability to reduce Cr (VI) to Cr (III).

Separation of V(Ⅴ) and Cr(Ⅵ) from vanadium-containing solutions based on E-pH diagrams of V-Cr-S-H2O system

The extremely similar physicochemical properties of vanadium and chromium lead to the difficulty in separating from each other. In this study, a novel hydrometallurgical process was devised to selectively precipitate chromium from vanadium-containing solutions, facilitating the efficient separation of V(V) and Cr(VI) while enabling the recovery of both vanadium and chromium species. The speciation of vanadium and chromium in solutions was investigated through the construction of E-pH diagrams for V-Cr-S-H2O system at 298 K, 363 K, and 453 K. The results revealed that under conditions of pH approximately 12 and temperature 363 K, the reduction potential of SO42-/S2- was found to lie between that of CrO42-/Cr(OH)3 and VO43-/V2O3. This suggests that selective reduction of Cr(VI) could be achieved using S2- as reducing agent. In order to validate the theoretical findings, single-factor experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale. The effects of various parameters including initial pH, sodium sulfide dosage, reaction time, temperature, and initial concentration of vanadium-containing solutions on the chromium precipitation ratio and vanadium loss ratio were investigated. The experimental outcomes showed that the chromium precipitation ratio reached 99.8 % while the vanadium loss rate was only 3.5 % when the experiment was conducted at the optimal conditions: the initial pH was set to 12, sodium sulfide dosage was 2.0 times of the theoretical dosage, reaction time was 60 min and the temperature was 363 K. Then, the chromium concentration in the solution decreased from 2407 mg/L to 3.3 mg/L. Ultimately, V2O5 with a purity of 99.0 % and Cr2O3 with a purity of 97.2 % were successfully obtained.

Advancing solar-powered hybrid FO-MD desalination: Integrating PVT collectors and PCM for sustainable water production in residential building

The global focus on water desalination using solar energy is particularly pronounced today. Previous studies have affirmed the efficiency of the Forward Osmosis (FO) and Membrane Distillation (MD) hybrid desalination system. The Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) solar system, which generates both thermal and electrical energy, is complemented using Phase Change Material (PCM). PCM, known for storing and releasing significant heat during phase change, is used in the evening to meet the thermal needs of the system. Additionally, an integrated battery system stores the electrical energy generated by PVT, ensuring the system's electricity requirements are sustained during the night. A comprehensive numerical model, PVT-PCM-FO-MD, has been developed to analyze the proposed system. Operating seamlessly under natural conditions for a typical day on March, June and September, the proposed system can produce freshwater continuously over a 24-hour period. To assess system performance, three PCM thicknesses (2 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm) were employed. Designed for small-scale applications, this system is well-suited for brackish water desalination in remote areas. Notably, the highest water production recorded was 213.25 L during a 24-hour operation and the MD unit exhibited an impressive 83.78 % evaporation efficiency during the typical day on June, with nighttime efficiency reaching 37.07 %, specifically at 3 am, utilizing a 2 cm PCM thickness in the solar energy system and it was 37.22 % at the same hour and PCM thickness in September. This study further explores the impact of initial brackish water salinity on water production after 24 h and investigates the influence of the initial draw solution concentration in the draw tank on desalinated water production. The study found that despite varying initial salinity levels, the difference in water produced at the end of the day was not exceeding 1.6 L.