Kinetic Intraparticle Diffusion Research Articles

Green Porous Composite for Combining Ion Exchange-Adsorptive Removal of Zinc Ions from Aqueous Solutions

A low-cost, effective green porous composite was prepared and used for the sorption of Zn+2 ions from aqueous solutions. The effect of contact time, sorbent dosage, initial ion concentration, solution pH, and temperature on the sorption of Zn+2 ions was investigated. The results showed higher removal efficiency of Zn+2 ions (83%), which was achieved at a contact time of 120 minutes, a normal pH of 6.4, and a temperature of 313 K. The Langmuir isotherm model successfully described the experimental results of the sorption process with a theoretical maximum sorption capacity of 4.819 mg/g. The kinetics of sorption showed that the pseudo-second-order model fitted the experimental results better than the pseudo-first-order model. The intra-particle diffusion kinetics indicated that the boundary film was the rate-determining step of the sorption process. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the sorption of Zn+2 ions was spontaneous and endothermic under the studied conditions. The solidification of spent composite by kaolin was able to keep the leachate cations at an acceptable level in the solution after 12 weeks of exposure to a salty medium.

Harnessing Moringa oleifera root powder (MORP) for the sustainable remediation of heavy metal contaminated water.

Heavy metal environmental pollution is rapidly increasing due to the increase in industrialization and urbanization. Industrial processes, such as paint production, mining, and raw materials producing industries release effluents rich in heavy metals, like Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Cr3+. These heavy metals are dangerous because they persist in nature, are non-biodegradable and they have high tendency to accumulate in the environment and in living organisms who are exposed to them. This work studied the removal of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cr, and Cd) from aqueous solution using Moringa oleifera root powder (MORP) as the adsorbent. The MORP was characterized by SEM, FTIR, BET, and XRD. Batch adsorption experiments carried out investigated the effects of adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, agitation time, pH and temperature on adsorption. The optimum parameters are: contact time (90 min); pH (9); adsorbent dose (0.6); metal ion concentration (30 mg L-1) for Cr and 40 mg L-1 for the rest; and temperature (50 °C) for Cu and Pb, and 70 °C for Cr and Cd. These experimental data were analyzed with 5 isotherm models (Temkin, Flory-Huggins, Langmuir, D-R and Freundlich). The result obtained fitted best to Temkin isotherm in comparison to others. Kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second order kinetic model best described the adsorption (with high R2 values ranging from 0.9810-0.9976) compared to pseudo-first order and intra-particle diffusion kinetics model. Results of the thermodynamic study showed that the sorption process was endothermic for Cu and Pb, but exothermic for Cd and Cr. The adsorbent showed good adsorptive tendencies toward the ions studied, and could be applied on an industrial scale for the remediation of metal contaminated water.

Response surface modelling and optimization for copper removal from acid mine drainage using oxidized Himalayan pine needle biochar

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate and compare the adsorption behaviour of pine needle biochar (PNB) and H2O2-oxidized PNB (OPNB) in eliminating Cu(II) from acid mine drainage. The PNB and OPNB adsorbents undergo comprehensive characterization through various techniques (BET, FTIR, SEM, and pHPZC). A central composite design was employed for designing experiments and optimizing the impact of process factors (metal concentration, adsorbent doses, contact time, and pH) on adsorption capacity. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion kinetics models as well as Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were used to analyze the experimental data. Langmuir isotherm best fit (R2 > 0.99) the experimental data and adsorption capacities of 29.49 and 102.04 mg/g, were determined for PNB and OPNB, respectively. Under optimized experimental conditions, desorption studies revealed the reusability of OPNB about 80% even after four cycles. Fixed-bed column experiments were conducted at ambient temperature with an initial Cu(II) concentration of 125 mg/L and 5.0 g of adsorbent, utilizing a flow rate of 1 mL/min for both PNB and OPNB. These results indicate that oxidized biochar, synthesized for Cu(II) remediation, not only addresses Himalayan pine needle concerns sustainably but also exhibits potential applicability for removing other metal ions from aqueous environments.

Adsorptive removal of oxytetracycline hydrochloride using bagasse-based biochar powder and beads

Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride (OTC), a common antibiotic used to treat specific illnesses in humans and animals, is characterized by poor absorption into cells, low volatility, and high hydrophilicity. It is a potent contaminant that poses a serious threat to the ecosystem, particularly the aquatic sources. Adsorption onto natural adsorbents is one of the most successful, economical, and ecologically friendly ways to remove antibiotics from waste water. The present work focuses on the adsorption of OTC utilizing alginate biochar beads (AlBCB) and biochar powder (BC) derived from bagasse. The influence of several factors were studies and optimized through batch studies employing BC and AlBCB. After 50 min BC displayed a removal of 97%, at an initial concentration of 10 ppm. The experimental data was discovered to follow PFO kinetics and fit with the Freundlich isotherm adsorption model. AlBCB, after a contact time of 40 min, indicated a maximum percentage removal of 86% for initial concentration of 10 ppm OTC. Al-biochar beads showed the maximum percentage removal at pH 10. 0.5 g of adsorbent was used to carry out all batch experiments at room temperature. The adsorption fitted Freundlich adsorption isotherm and intraparticle diffusion kinetics.

Synthesis of a novel chitosan-TiO2 nanocomposite as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue cationic dye from wastewater

This study investigates the efficacy of chitosan-TiO2 nanocomposites (CS-TiO2) as an efficient adsorbent for removing Methylene blue (MB) cationic dye from wastewater. The synthesis of chitosan-TiO2 nanocomposites (CS-TiO2) involved the co-polymerization and crosslinking of Chitosan biopolymer (CS) with titanium dioxide (TiO2). The CS-TiO2 nanocomposites involved their structure, morphology, and characteristics through the utilization of several analytical methods such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, UV-visible, DLS, and XPS. The removal of MB dye examined in different concentrations of chitosan exhibits an increase as the pH of the solution increases; the maximum value was attained at pH 6 and 120 minutes of contact time. The optimal dosage of CS-TiO2 nanocomposites for adsorbing methylene blue (MB) was found to be between 0.10 mg/L and 0.20 mg/L. The experimental data was evaluated using the thermodynamic process, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Langmuir, and Freundlich isotherm models. The data were examined using various kinetic models and found to be consistent with pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and Intraparticle diffusion kinetics models. Desorption and reuse after adsorption of MB onto CS-TiO2 nanocomposite was investigated using different desorbing agents like NH4OH/NH4Cl or NaOH. These results indicate that CS-TiO2 nanocomposite is a highly effective and cost-effective adsorbent for removing MB dyes from contaminated water.

Selenium-Doped Biochar for Removal of Anionic Acid Red and Cationic Crystal Violet Dye

The environmental impact of untreated dye effluent is a concern due to potential mutagenic and allergic effects. This study aims to develop a cost-effective selenium-doped biochar as an adsorbent material to remove acid red (AR) and crystal violet (CV) dyes from water. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were produced using chemical and biological synthesis methods. The SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, and BET surface analysis methods were used to characterize the biochar and selenium-doped biochar (Se-AC and BSe-AC) samples. Surface modification with SeNPs resulted in an increase in surface area to 14.560[Formula: see text]m2/g for Se-AC and 85.456[Formula: see text]m2/g for BSe-AC. Different adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) and adsorption kinetic models (pseudo-firstorder, pseudo-secondorder, and intra-particle diffusion kinetics) were investigated to understand the adsorption patterns of biochar, Se-AC, and BSe-AC. The maximum adsorption capacities of biochar, Se-AC, and BSe-AC for AR and CV dye were found to be between 0.48[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] and 7.51[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], 2.31[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] and 7.86[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], and 6.88[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text] and 9.09[Formula: see text]mg[Formula: see text]g[Formula: see text], respectively, at 313[Formula: see text]K. The obtained negative [Formula: see text] indicates effective adsorption, while a positive [Formula: see text] suggests an endothermic reaction for both dyes. BSe-AC is an eco-friendly alternative to biochar for removing AR and CV.

Synthesis and Characterization of Environmentally Friendly β-Cyclodextrin Cross-Linked Cellulose/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels for Adsorption of Malathion.

The widespread use of malathion enhances agricultural plant productivity by eliminating pests, weeds, and diseases, but it may lead to serious environmental pollution and potential health risks for humans and animals. To mitigate these issues, environmentally friendly hydrogel adsorbents for malathion were synthesized using biodegradable polymers, specifically cellulose, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and biobased epichlorohydrin as a cross-linker. This study investigated the effects of the cellulose-to-PVA ratio and epichlorohydrin (ECH) content on the properties and malathion adsorption capabilities of β-CD/cellulose/PVA hydrogels. It was found that the gel content of the hydrogels increased with a higher cellulose-to PVA and ECH ratio, whereas the swelling ratio decreased, indicating a denser structure that impedes water permeation. In addition, various parameters affecting the malathion adsorption capacity of the hydrogel, namely, contact time, pH, hydrogel dosage, initial concentration of malathion, and temperature, were studied. The hydrogel prepared with a β-CD/cellulose/PVA ratio of 20:40:40 and 9 mL of ECH exhibited the highest malathion adsorption rate and capacity, which indicated an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 656.41 mg g-1 at an initial malathion concentration of 1000 mg L-1. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ζ-potential, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and NMR spectroscopy confirmed malathion adsorption within the hydrogel. The adsorption process followed intraparticle diffusion kinetics and corresponded to Freundlich isotherms, indicating multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous substrates within the adsorbent, facilitated by diffusion.

KOH activated biochar loaded with MnAl-layered double hydroxides for superior adsorption of tetracycline from the aquatic environment

In this study, a promising KOH activated biochar/MnAl-layered double hydroxides (K-BC-LDHs) composite was synthesized using the in-situ chemical co-precipitation method. The results showed that the LDH particles were successfully distributed across the activated biochar during the modification process. More functional groups (Mn − O, Mn − O − Mn) and crystalline minerals (Mn4Al2(OH)12CO3·3H2O) were created and appeared on the surface of the composite. The LDHs modification process decreased the surface area, but increased the pore volume of the activated biochars. In addition, a mesoporous structure was formed, predominately due to the introduction of LDHs particles. The adsorption capacity for TC by K-BC-LDHs reached 1477.67 mg·g−1 and this increase was attributed to the combined actions of pore filling, complexation, and ion exchange, followed by hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, and π-π interactions. The pseudo-second-order kinetics, intra-particle diffusion kinetics, and Langmuir isotherm models well described the adsorption behavior of TC by K-BC-LDHs. Furthermore, TC adsorption by K-BC-LDHs was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The K-BC-LDHs composite exhibited strong adsorption toward TC over a wide pH range (3–9) and there was a certain resistance to coexisting ionic interference. Additionally, the K-BC-LDHs composite showed high adsorption performance toward other pollutants and can potentially be recycled.

Исследование эффективности очистки воды от ионов аммония прокалённым сорбентом из золошлаковых отходов

Experimental studies of sorption on water treatment from ammonium ions by a calcined sorbent based on ash-and-slag waste from thermal power engineering have been carried out. The calcined sorbent was obtained by calcining samples of ash-and-slag from coal combustion at the Novocherkassk State District Power Plant at a temperature of 600 оC for 30 min. The sorption capacity of a sorbent with a dose of 2.0 g per 50 mL of a model solution, a stirrer speed of 200 rpm, pH 7, and sorption time from 10 to 180 minutes was studied. The influence of the initial concentration of model solutions with the content of ammonium ions 5, 20, 50 and 100 mg/L on the amount of adsorption and treatment efficiency was studied. The highest treatment efficiency of 60% was obtained for an initial concentration of ammonium ions in a solution of 20 mg/L. Processing of experimental data was carried out according to the models of pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion kinetics. The best description of the experimental data was obtained using the pseudo-first order model, which has the highest value of the coefficient of determination. The adsorption equilibrium in the system ammonium ions – calcined sorbent was studied for the initial concentration of ammonium ions in solution: 5, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300 mg/L. Processing of experimental data on equilibrium was carried out on the basis of two-parameter adsorption isotherms: Langmuir, Freindlich and Temkin. The value of the coefficient of determination according to the Langmuir isotherm is the largest R2 = 0.9904. Dependences between the cleaning efficiency at adsorption equilibrium and the initial concentration of ammonium ions in solution for the system ammonium ions – calcined sorbent are obtained. With an increase in the initial concentration of ammonium ions in the solution, the treatment efficiency at low initial concentrations increases, and decreases with increasing concentration.

Reduced and oxidized rice straw biochar for hexavalent chromium adsorption: Revisiting the mechanism of adsorption

Surface oxygen functional groups of biochar were tuned by oxidation and reduction of biochar for establishing Cr(VI) adsorption mechanism. Oxygen functional groups (OFGs) on the surface of leached rice straw biochar (LBC4-6) obtained from pyrolysis at 400, 500 and 600 °C, were oxidized to furnish OBC4-6 using modified Hummer's method. Reduced biochar RBC4-6 were obtained by esterification and NaBH4/I2 reduction of oxidized biochar (OBC4-6). The modified biochar were characterized by increase in O/C and H/C ratio, respectively, in case of OBC4-6 and RBC4-6. The Cr(VI) adsorption by modified biochar LBC4-6, OBC4-6, and RBC4-6 showed optimum conditions of pH 3 and dose 0.1 g/L with a good non-linear fit for Langmuir & Freundlich isotherm. The maximum adsorption (Qm) followed the trend: OBC4 (17.47 mg/g) > RBC4 (15.23) > OBC5 (13.23) > LBC4 (10.23) > RBC5 (9.83) > OBC6 (9.60) > RBC6 (7.24) > LBC5 (6.32) > LBC6 (5.98). The adsorption kinetics for adsorption of Cr(VI) on to modified biochar fits pseudo second order (PSO), Elovich and intraparticle diffusion kinetics, showing a chemisorptions in case of biochar L/O/RBC4-6. The lower temperature modified biochar O/RBC4 show better Cr(VI) adsorption. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) studies establish optimum OFGs for reduction of Cr(VI) and chelation of the reduced Cr(III). Adsorption and stripping cycles show the oxidized and reduced biochar as better adsorbents with excellent stripping of Cr up to >98 % upon desorption with 1 M NaOH.

Adsorption property and kinetic studies of activated carbon fibers prepared from tissues by CO2 activation

Well-developed micro and mesoporous activated carbon fibers (ACFs) with fiber structure were prepared from tissue by CO2 activation. The XRD patterns and Raman spectrum indicated ACFs had a graphitic and amorphous structure. The SEM results indicated that the sample exhibited fiber structure with lots of mesoporous, with an average pore size of 2-5 nm. The specific surface area of 1517 m2 /g, micro surface area of 412.9 m2 /g, and total pore volume of 1.194 cm3 /g were obtained at 900°C with CO2 activation for 2 hours. ACFs showed relatively high methylene blue adsorption properties with an equilibrium adsorption capacity of 526 mg/g. The kinetic model of the Pseudo-second-order equation was more suitable for MB adsorption than the Pseudo-first-order equation and Intraparticle diffusion kinetics, with a high correlation coefficient value (R>0.999). The present research provided a new idea of bionics for the manufacture of ACFs and brought forward a creative prospect for achieving energy-related CO2 emissions to net-zero and mitigating global warming.

Synthesis of porous calcium-guar gum benzoate nano-biohybrids for sorptive removal of congo red and phosphates from water

This work aims to develop an eco-sound nano-bio-hybrid sorbent using sustainable materials for sorptive elimination of congo red and phosphates from aquatic environment. An amphipathic biopolymer derivative, high DS guar gum benzoate (GGBN) was used for entrapment of as synthesized calcium carbonate nanoparticles using solvent diffusion nano-precipitation technique. Designer nano-biohybrids were developed upon experimenting with various materials stoichiometry. SEM, XRD and EDX studies confirmed near-uniform impregnation of rhombohedral calcium carbonate crystals throughout the biopolymer matrix. Average pore size distribution and surface area of final product Ca-GGBNC, were estimated from NDLFT and BET methods respectively. Analysis of adsorption findings acquired at study temperature 27 ± 2 °C showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Ca-GGBNC recorded qmax, 333.33 mg/g for congo red azo dye and that for phosphate was at 500 mg/g. Adsorptive removal was noted and both components followed pseudo second order kinetics. Intra-particle diffusion kinetics investigation disclosed that the boundary layer effect was prominent and the adsorption rates were not solely directed by the diffusion stage. Activation energy, Ea was to be estimated using Arrhenius equation at 56.136 and 47.015 KJ/mol for congo red and phosphates respectively. The calculated thermodynamic parameters(ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) revealed the spontaneous, feasible and endothermic sorption process. Owing to active surface area, spherical size, functional moiety and porous network, antibacterial properties of nanobiohybrid were persistent and MIC against E. coli and S. aureus were recorded at 200 μg/mL and 350 μg/mL respectively.

Potential Application of Innovative Aspergillus terreus/ Sodium Alginate Composite Beads as Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Adsorbents for Alizarin Red S Dye: Isotherms and Kinetics Models.

Fungi were used as one of the most common bioremediation methods. From this perspective, our study highlights the optimization of Alizarin Red S (ARS) dye adsorption performance for the sodium alginate (SA) by using the fungus Aspergillus terreus (A. terreus) to form a composite bead and the possibility of its reusability. This was accomplished by mixing SA with different ratios of biomass powder of A. terreus, including 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%, to form composite beads of A. terreus/SA-0%, A. terreus/SA-10%, A. terreus/SA-20%, A. terreus/SA-30%, and A. terreus/SA-40%, respectively. The ARS adsorption characteristics of these composite mixtures were analyzed at various mass ratios, temperatures, pH values, and initial concentrations. Moreover, sophisticated techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to detect the morphological and chemical properties of this composite, respectively. The experimental results revealed that A. terreus/SA-20% composite beads have the highest adsorption capacity of 188 mg/g. Its optimum adsorption conditions were achieved at 45 ∘C and pH 3. Moreover, the ARS adsorption was well explained by the Langmuir isotherm (qm = 192.30 mg/g) and pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion kinetics. The SEM and FTIR findings corroborated the superior uptake of A. terreus/SA-20% composite beads. Lastly, the A. terreus/SA-20% composite beads can be employed as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to other common adsorbents for ARS.

New insight into desorption behavior and mechanism of oil from aged oil-contaminated soil in microemulsion

The intractable nature of oil-contaminated soil (OS) constitutes the chief limiting factor for its remediation. Herein, the aging effect (i.e., oil–soil interactions and pore-scale effect) was investigated by analyzing the properties of aged OS and further demonstrated by investigating the desorption behavior of the oil from the OS. XPS was performed to detect the chemical environment of N, O, and Al, indicating the coordination adsorption of carbonyl groups (oil) on the soil surface. Alterations in the functional groups of the OS were detected using FT–IR, indicating that the oil–soil interactions were enhanced via wind-thermal aging. SEM and BET were used to analyze the structural morphology and pore-scale of the OS. The analysis revealed that aging promoted the development of the pore-scale effect in the OS. Moreover, the desorption behavior of oil molecules from the aged OS was investigated via desorption thermodynamics and kinetics. The desorption mechanism of the OS was elucidated via intraparticle diffusion kinetics. The desorption process of oil molecules underwent three stages: film diffusion, intraparticle diffusion, and surface desorption. Owing to the aging effect, the latter two stages constituted the major steps for controlling oil desorption. This mechanism provided theoretical guidance to apply microemulsion elution for remedying industrial OS.

Synergistic removal of sulfamethoxazole and dimethyl phthalate by five constructed wetland substrates

Frequent detection and joint toxicity of sulfonamides (SAs) and phthalate acid esters (PAEs) in water environment have caused serious health and safety problems that can be reduced by vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). However, it remains unclear what kind of substrate used in VFCW can synergistically remove SAs and PAEs. In this study, it was determined if biochar, zeolite, vermiculite, peat and sand synergistically removed sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and dimethyl phthalate (DMP) as representatives of SAs and PAEs by using batch and column experiments. The batch experiments showed that pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetics and Freundlich isotherm could better describe the synergistic adsorption of SMX and DMP on each substrate. SMX promoted hydrophobic interaction between DMP and each substrate so that low concentration DMP almost was adsorbed completely at neutral pH. Both neutral and alkaline pH conditions were favorable for synergistic adsorption of SMX and DMP on each substrate. The column experiments showed that removal of SMX or DMP in VFCW by substrate adsorption alone was limited with run time increasing, but SMX and DMP were effectively removed with run time increasing when loaded with simulated wastewater, SMX and DMP. The VFCW not only removed 94.7% SMX and 91.8% DMP after running 50 d, but also improved total nitrogen removal. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that biochar, zeolite, vermiculite, peat and sand filled in VFCW can synergistically remove SMX and DMP.

Removal of aqueous eriochrome blue-black R by novel Na-bentonite/hickory biochar composites

Advanced clay sorbents have attracted widespread attentions for applications in environment remediation and pollution control. Here, a facile and environmentally-friendly approach to synthesizing a porous Na-bentonite/hickory-biochar composite sorbent from hickory waste biomass using hand-milling and carbon-bed pyrolysis was investigated. The sorbents, made using a range of clay/biomass ratios and at a range of temperatures, were characterized and examined for their ability to remove Eriochrome blue black R (EBBR) anionic organic dyes from aqueous solution. The composite sorbents showed increased microporosity and O-containing functional groups over the pyrolyzed bentonite control. The composite prepared with 10% biomass by weight, and at 600 °C had the greatest EBBR adsorption, and was best fit to Freundlich isotherm and intraparticle diffusion kinetics models. The modeled maximum EBBR sorption capacity of this composite (2020.5 mg g−1, R2 adj = 0.92), which was attributed to the dispersion of bentonite particles over the biochar surface. These results show the bentonite/biochar composite to have great potential for use in environmental remediation applications.

Zwitterionic ammonium-sulfonato grafted cellulose for efficient thallium removal and adsorption mechanism study

Thallium (Tl) has posed serious impacts on human being concerning increasingly serious pollution in aqueous environments. However, little information on removal method than conventional heavy metals have been available. In the present work, zwitterionic N-(3-sulfonato-1-propyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium grafted cellulose fibre (DMAE-PS) has been fabricated. The chemical component, thermal stability and surface properties of as-prepared materials are identified by FT-IR, elemental analysis, TGA, XRD, BET and SEM. DMAE-PS is shown to be very efficient for removing Tl(I) from water samples with a loading capacity of 274.7 mg (Tl(I))·g−1 (DMAE-PS), representing one of the best performances among bio-mass derived materials. The adsorption is consistent with the Freundlich model following a pseudo-second order (K2 = 4.36 × 10−4 g·mg−1·min−1, R2 = 0.999) and two-step intra-particle diffusion kinetics. The selectivity towards Tl(I) is also remarkably, 1–2 orders (distribution ratio KTl/M = 14.85–289.29) of magnitude larger than competing metals (Zn2+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+). The SEM, XPS and UV-visible spectrum collectively reveal that -SO3−-Tl(I) ionic interaction is probably the main driving force for specific adsorption, which shows a high stability against pH variation. The fabricated DMAE-PS is a sustainable bio-adsorbent with synthetic availability, high removing capacity and strong selectivity, therefore, potentially feasible in treatment of Tl(I) polluted environmental samples.

Adsorption of lead ions (Pb2+) from wastewater using effective nanocomposite GO/CMC/FeNPs: Kinetic, isotherm, and desorption studies

In this paper, we propose a new, effective, and easy-to-implement technology for hydrothermal synthesis of an adsorption material based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and graphene oxide (GO) decorated with iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) for water purification from heavy metals. The purpose was to study the effect of the iron content in the materials on their physicochemical and adsorption properties. The synthesized materials were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. Complex adsorption studies were performed using the example of lead ion removal from contaminated aqueous media. The influence of pH and contact time on the process efficiency was studied. The mechanism of adsorption was analyzed using pseudo first-order and pseudo second-order, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich kinetics models. The results showed an optimal pH of 6 and contact time of 30 min. The process is best described by a pseudo second-order model. The material with a mass content of iron nanoparticles of 18% (CMC/GO + Fe 18 wt%) showed the largest adsorption capacity for Pb ions (1850 mg g−1). Adsorption isotherms of lead ions from aqueous media by the synthesized composite materials were studied using Dubinin–Radushkevich and BET models. The adsorption process is based on the chemical interaction of extracted ions with the surface of an adsorbent. Desorption studies showed the possibility of using the GO/CMC/FeNPs in real processes for purification of aqueous media. The obtained maximum value of adsorption capacity for the CMC/GO + Fe 18 wt% material was 1850 mg g−1, which is one of the highest in the literature for composite materials based on GO and vegetable raw material processing products.

Eco-utilization of steel slag: Preparation of Fe-based calcium silicate hydrate and its application in As(V) removal

Arsenic (As), a carcinogenic heavy metal, is a toxic environmental pollutant that threatens human and environmental health. Here, a cost-effective and high-performance Fe-based calcium silicate hydrate (Fe-CSH) was synthesized through a one-step alkaline activation process using steel slag as an in situ Ca and Fe source to treat As(V)-containing solutions. The synthesized Fe-CSH exhibited a flower-like structure with numerous interleaving nanosheets, which provided abundant adsorption sites. More importantly, this compound could remove large quantities of As(V) from wastewater, achieving maximum adsorption capacities of up to 141.5 mg/g at a pH of 5. The adsorption kinetics were consistent with a Langmuir isotherm model and followed pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion kinetics. Thermodynamics analyses indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and feasible. XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and XPS analyses indicated that the outstanding adsorption performance of the Fe-CSH could be due to the release of Ca2+ and OH– from this material. The released Ca2+ reacted with arsenate ions via coprecipitation, whereas OH– promoted the generation of Fe hydroxide from iron ions, which adsorb As(V) by forming stable bidentate surface complexes. Ultimately, a potential process was proposed for the remediation of As-containing wastewater using hierarchically structured Fe-CSH derived from steel slag. The “trash-to-treasure” strategy implemented for the repurposing of steel slag and the remediation of As-contaminated wastewater are both conducive to sustainable development.

Thermal-chemical modified rice husk-based porous adsorbents for Cu (II), Pb (II), Zn (II), Mn (II) and Fe (III) adsorption

Heavy metal ions contamination, a threat to ecological balance, aquatic life, and human health, co-exists in water bodies and soil systems such as mining sites, tanneries, petrochemical refineries, pesticide, fertilizer, construction, chemical industries, and others. In this study, raw rice husk and potassium hydroxide (KOH) activated novel rice husk (RH)-based adsorbents: potassium hydroxide (KOH) activated RH (KOH-RH), KOH activated RH hydrochar (KOH-RHH), and KOH activated silver (Ag) nanoparticle modified RH (AgNP-KOH-RH) were synthesized and applied on synthetic wastewater to treat hazardous heavy metal ions, Cu2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ through fixed-bed flow column adsorption. Maximum Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+ uptake was obtained 7.14 mg/g, 9.02 mg/g and 8.53 mg/g, respectively by KOH-RHH. The maximum Fe3+ and Mn2+ uptake was 1.66 mg/g and 0.98 mg/g, respectively by AgNP-KOH-RH. After 1st run of adsorption, the adsorbents were recovered and re-used for 2nd adsorption run. Maximum Cu2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+ uptake was 11.98 mg/g, 9.46 mg/g, 1.29 mg/g, 19.55 mg/g and 14.58 mg/g, respectively obtained by KOH-RHH at 2nd adsorption run. AgNP-KOH-RH obtained the minimum retention time for adsorption and maximum color removal for both runs. Compared with commercial adsorbents such as coconut shell activated carbon, higher heavy metal ions adsorption capacity (>90%) and color removal have been obtained with both KOH-RHH and AgNP-KOH-RH. The adsorption kinetics was well fitted into the intra-particle diffusion (IPD) kinetics model. The detailed characterization of the adsorbents such as surface area, porosity, and surface morphology was conducted for deriving the mechanism. It can be stated that the significant adsorption capacity of heavy metals and color by KOH-RHH and AgNP-KOH-RH with repetitive adsorption runs will provide new insight into adsorption mechanisms and the development of next-generation commercial adsorbents for industrial wastewater treatment.