Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottles Research Articles

Sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine/NH2-MIL-125 heterojunction modified electrospun nanofiber membrane for emulsion separation and PMS-photocatalysis synergistic degradation

Membrane technology for wastewater remediation has generated significant interest, however, the single functionality, dull wettability and easy fouling property of the membrane hinder its practical application. Herein, a self-cleaning and multi-use superwetting nanofiber membrane was prepared by electrospinning and subsequent spraying technique. The sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine/NH2-MIL-125 (CoPcS/NMIL) heterojunction was uniformly enrobed over polyethylene terephthalate (PET) electrospun membrane derived from waste PET bottles. The unique CoPcS/NMIL heterojunction exhibited a dual driving effect in photocatalytic activity and membrane wettability. Therefore, the fabricated CoPcS/NMIL@PET composite membrane demonstrated its capability to address complex water pollution issues effectively. The composite membrane exhibited notable flux permeation ability (538–3180 L m−2 h−1) and achieved excellent separation efficiency of over 99 % for diverse oil-in-water emulsions under the gravity filtration condition. Notably, the membrane can efficiently deal with stubborn high-viscosity crude oil fouling profiting from the photocatalytic self-cleaning function. A high flux recovery ratio of 93.6 % and a low irreversible fouling resistance ratio of 6.4 % can be obtained after 30 min of visible light irradiation. Impressively, CoPcS/NMIL@PET membrane exhibited enhanced permeation flux, separation efficiency and self-cleaning capacity compared to NMIL@PET membrane. Meanwhile, the CoPcS/NMIL@PET-activated peroxomonosulfate (PMS) system exhibited extremely high degradation performance for RhB under visible light with the degradation efficiency of 98 % within 10 min, suggesting its potential in the rapid purification of water-soluble organic pollutants. In addition, the CoPcS/NMIL@PET membrane has good chemical stability and mechanical properties for potential long-term use. Moreover, the demulsification mechanism in oil-water separation and PMS-photocatalysis synergetic mechanism over the fabricated CoPcS/NMIL@PET membrane were also investigated in detail. The research offers a promising approach for the design and fabrication of novel nanofiber membranes that incorporate photosensitizers and MOFs functional surfaces to address the challenges associated with such wastewater treatment.

A New Sustainable PPT Coating Based on Recycled PET to Improve the Durability of Hydraulic Concrete.

A new, sustainable polypropylene terephthalate (PPT) coating was synthesized from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and applied onto a hydraulic concrete substrate to improve its durability. For the first step, PET bottle wastes were ground and depolymerized by glycolysis using propylene glycol (PG) in a vessel-type reactor (20-180 °C) to synthesize bis(2-hydroxypropyl)-terephthalate (BHPT), which was applied as a coating to one to three layers of hydraulic concrete substrate using the brushing technique and polymerized (150 °C for 15 h) to obtain PPT. PET, BHPT, and PPT were characterized by FT-IR, PET, and PPT using TGA, and the PPT coatings by SEM (thickness), ASTM-D3359-17 (adhesion), and water contact angle (wettability). The durability of hydraulic concrete coated with PPT was studied using resist chloride ion penetration (ASTM-C1202-17), carbonation depth at 28 days (RILEM-CPC-18), and the absorption water ratio (ASTM-C1585-20). The results demonstrated that the BHPT and PPT were synthetized (FT-IR), and PPT had a similar thermal behavior to PET (TGA); the PPT coatings had good adhesion to the substrate, with thicknesses of micrometric units. PPT coatings presented hydrophilic hydrophilic behavior like PET coatings, and the durability of hydraulic concrete coated with PPT (2-3 layers) improved (migration of chloride ions decreased, carbonation depth was negligible, and the absorption water ratio decreased).

Multi-criteria decision making tool for sustainable concrete production using waste polyethylene terephthalate bottle cap aggregates

The widespread use of concrete has raised concerns about the consumption of its raw materials. To address this issue, researchers are actively exploring alternative waste materials to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. With this objective current study aims to investigate potential use of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle cap aggregates on the characteristics of concrete, both in its fresh and hardened states. Three variations of modified waste PET aggregates (PETA): full (F), half (H), and quarter (Q), with the aim of evaluating their suitability as replacements for conventional coarse aggregates (CCA) was examined. The research assesses the effects of different PETA proportions (3%, 5%, and 8%) on concrete workability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength. The findings reveal that PETA-F and PETA-H adversely affect workability, primarily due to their larger surface area and difficulty in achieving homogeneous blending with other ingredients. In contrast, PETA-Q exhibits superior workability. The use of PETA-Q results in reduced compressive strength due to its smaller size and limited load-bearing capacity. Notably, PETA-H demonstrates improved compressive strength after 28 days. Interestingly, PETA-Q shows enhancements in splitting tensile and flexural strength, making it the top-performing alternative for fresh and hardened concrete properties. Overall, this research indicates that PETA-Q is most suitable for sustainable concrete production. Furthermore, the application of a multi-criteria decision-making tool validates our findings and determines that a 5% replacement of CCA with PETA is optimal, as higher replacements result in strength reduction. The utilization of PETA not only minimizes CCA consumption but also contributes to the development of eco-friendly, sustainable concrete. This study underscores the potential of environmentally conscious concrete and encourages the adoption of sustainable solutions for plastic waste management.

Synthesis of Cr(OH)3/ZrO2@Co-based metal-organic framework from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) for hydrogen production via formic acid dehydrogenation at low temperature

Recycling waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into value-added ligand materials for synthesizing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived catalysts is an eco-friendly and economically viable process. The waste PET bottles were readily broken down into 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC) ligands in a highly alkaline environment. Herein, we fabricated a Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalyst via the carbonization of PET-derived UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks for the catalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid at low temperatures. The as-prepared Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalyst provides a turnover frequency of 7685 h−1 for hydrogen generation (120 mL in 1.5 min) at ambient temperature. This is due to the uniform dispersion of the fine metal nanoparticle (NPs) (Co NPs, ∼3.75 nm) and the synergistic effect of the Co NPs and Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 supports. In addition, the characterization results indicate that porous Zr-MOFs may effectively enclose tiny particles, which is favorable for enhanced dehydrogenation performance. In addition, the Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalysts demonstrated excellent stability against aggregation and were recyclable over seven cycles without any significant catalytic loss. Thus, this study provides a sustainable methodology for the development of MOF-derived, effective, and stable catalysts for formic acid dehydrogenation towards hydrogen production.

A statistical-experimental study to investigate the optimal parameters of fibres made from waste PET bottles for strengthening concrete

This research investigated using waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle fibres in concrete. Experimental tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of PET fibre-strengthened concrete. The effects of the fibre volume fraction and fibre length were studied to obtain optimal values. Moreover, a thorough statistical analysis was performed to identify the parameter that impacts the inclusion of PET fibres in concrete. Furthermore, the study explored the effect of PET fibres on reinforced concrete beams of shear failure mode. The results showed that incorporating PET fibres significantly enhances the ductility of the concrete material and reduces shrinkage. It also promotes the initial stiffness, the inelastic absorbed energy and the ductility of steel-reinforced concrete beams.

Facile fabrication of oriented polyethylene terephthalate foams as novel solar interfacial vapor generator from waste bottles

AbstractThe massive arbitrarily discarded waste of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles become a major environmental pollution source for soils and oceans. Using these waste products to acquire purified water has great significance. We developed a novel strategy of inducing crystallization coupled with solvent exchanging to obtain oriented PET/carbon nanotubes (CNT) foams from waste PET bottles and to fabricate solar interfacial vapor generators (SIVGs). The obtained PET/CNT foams had low densities of 0.18 g/cm3 and high specific strength with compressive stress of 1.8 MPa. The PET/CNT foams generated excellent capillary action that the water delivering rate reached 93.60 kg/m2 h. In addition, the oriented PET foams demonstrated a promising thermal concentration effect that its surface temperature reached 132.8°C. It could evaporate up to 0.82 kg/m2 h under the illumination of 1 sun. Meanwhile, the foams with CNT clusters dispersion also exhibited excellent electrical resistance of 3.57 × 103 Ω m with a low percolation threshold of 0.5 wt.% CNT. This work provides a novel strategy of manufacturing PET SIVG. The key aspect of this work is the significant increase in the surface temperature and the conductivity of PET SIVG compared with other polymer‐based SIVGs, highlighting its novelty and importance.

Reuse of non-degradable waste PET bottles for ground improvement

ABSTRACT This paper describes California bearing ratio (CBR) tests carried out to investigate the suitability of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles for ground improvement. For the studies, quarry dust is used as an infill, and it is prepared at a relative density of 57.6% within the CBR mould with a diameter of 150 mm. Experiments are carried out by embedding cut PET bottles with a diameter of 5.6 cm within the infill to provide cellular confinement in three different configurations, i.e. three-bottle, four-bottle and five-bottle configurations. The effect of bottle height on the performance of the systems is investigated by considering three cell (bottle) heights, viz., 6.6 cm, 9.3 cm and 11.6 cm. To analyse the performance of the cellular confinement, vertical stress distribution below the applied load is determined. It is observed that the performance of the PET bottle embedded system is better when it is placed within the isobar (σz/q) of 0.3. Based on the CBR values and improvement factor, it is observed that a four-bottle configuration with a height of 6.6 cm is effective in sustaining higher loads. The proposed study provides guidelines for using these bottles for stabilising blocked pavements.

Preparation and characterization of ultrafiltration membranes derived from recycled Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles

The pressing need for sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials in the face of escalating environmental concerns has led to exploring the transformation of discarded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into functional ultrafiltration membranes. This research prepares and characterizes ultrafiltration membranes derived from PET bottle waste. The study involves collecting PET waste material and fabrication processes to develop asymmetric flat sheet membranes blended with varying proportions of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) using phase inversion techniques. Rigorous characterization employing SEM, EDS analysis, and water vapor permeability (WVP) assessments examine these membranes' structural, morphological, and performance attributes. The surface analysis elucidates a notable correlation between increased PEG content and larger pore sizes, consistent with prior studies involving PEG in membrane modifications. Additionally, incorporating PEG in the casting solution elevates water vapor permeability. Ultrafiltration experiments reveal differing rejection rates, with membrane M2 exhibiting enhanced anti-fouling properties despite reduced flux compared to M3 and M4. This research lays the groundwork for repurposing PET waste into selective membrane materials, emphasizing optimization strategies to enhance membrane quality and performance for diverse operational settings.

Conversion of PET Bottle Waste into a Terephthalic Acid-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Removing Plastic Nanoparticles from Water

Micro- and nanoparticles of plastic waste are considered emerging pollutants with significant environmental and health impacts at high concentrations or prolonged exposure time. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a known metal-organic framework (MOF) using terephthalic acid (TPA) recovered from the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle waste. This approach adds value to the existing large amounts of bottle waste in the environment. Fully characterized zinc-TPA MOF (MOF-5) was used for the extraction and removal of engineered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanoparticles from water with a high efficiency of 97% and 95%, respectively. Kinetic and isotherm models for the adsorption of polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) on the MOF surface were investigated to understand the mechanism. The Qmax for PVC and PMMA NPs were recorded as 56.65 mg/g and 33.32 mg/g, respectively. MOF-5 was characterized before and after adsorption of PNPs on the surface of MOF-5 using a range of techniques. After adsorption, the MOF-5 was successfully regenerated and reused for the adsorption and removal of PNPs, showing consistent results for five adsorption cycles with a removal rate of 83–85%. MOF-5 was characterized before and after adsorption of PNPs on the surface using a range of techniques. The MOF-5 with PNPs on the surface was successfully regenerated and reused for the adsorption and removal of polymer nanoparticles, showing consistent results for five extraction cycles. As a proof of concept, MOF-5 was also used to remove plastic particles from commercially available body scrub gel solutions. Such methods and materials are needed to mitigate the health hazards caused by emerging micro- and nanoplastic pollutants in the environment.

Using polyethylene terephthalate bottle waste as a viable precursor for the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resin in fabrication of jute fibre reinforced composites

The present research effort employs glycolysed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle waste as a precursor for the synthesis of unsaturated polyester resin (rUPR). This resin is then used for manufacturing composites that are reinforced with jute fibres using the sheet moulding compound technique. The limited crosslinking of styrene in the rUPR was elucidated using a combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The elevated exothermic reaction energy of 1152 kJ and the clearly identifiable peak observed at 1620 cm−1 in the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrum provided substantial evidence for this phenomenon. Additionally, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the recycled unsaturated polyester resin (rUPR) demonstrated a higher level of amorphous nature This observation can be attributed to reduced viscosity and enhanced ductility of rUPR. The utilisation of the rUPR as a matrix material has shown significant effectiveness in enhancing the tensile and flexural properties of composites reinforced with jute fibres. Thereby, the objective of this research is to develop a thermoset resin using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rUPR) waste material for identification its suitability in manufacturing composites with jute fibres as reinforcement.

Experimental Study on the Properties of Concrete with Partial Replacement of Sand by Plastic Pet Bottle Fiber

The use of plastic is increasing day by day, although steps were taken to reduce its consumption. The suitability of replacement of plastic pet bottle fiber as sand in concrete and its advantages are studied here. Plastic bottles are a major issue of solid waste disposal. Several things which were invented for our convenient life are responsible for polluting environment due to improper waste management technique. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is used for carbonated beverage and water bottles. This is an environmental issue as waste plastic bottles are difficult to biodegrade and involve processes either to recycle or reuse. In the Modern world, the construction industry is searching for cost-effective materials for enhancing the strength of concrete structures. This study is carried out with the possibility of using the waste PET bottles as the partial replacement of fine aggregate in Ordinary Portland cement. The percentage substitution that gives higher compressive strength was used for determining the other properties such as flexural strength test.

Waste polyethylene terephthalate plastic derived Zr-MOF for high performance supercapacitor applications

The chemical conversion of plastic waste into metal-organic framework (MOF) materials has emerged as a significant research field in addressing issues associated to the environment and the economy. The significant advantages of MOFs as electrode material for energy/supercapacitors arises from their extensive surface area and notable porosity. The present study involved the synthesis of Zirconium-Metal Organic Frameworks (Zr-MOF) by the solvothermal method, utilizing plastic waste in the form of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The morphological and structural characteristics of the Zr-MOF were inspected through several analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The as prepared Zr-MOF demonstrated very high specific surface area of 927.567 m2 g−1 with mesoporous nature of the materials estimate by BJH method. The electrochemical characteristics of the Zr-MOF in 3-electrode system exhibited a notable specific capacitance of 822 F g−1 when subjected to a low scan rate of 2 mV S−1, while the specific capacitance estimated through galvanostatic charge-discharge exhibited an enhanced value of 890 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1. Additionally, the working electrode composed of Zr-MOF demonstrated noteworthy capacitance retention of 92% after 5000 charge discharge cycles. This research presents novel opportunities for the utilization of waste PET bottles in fabrication of highly functional Zr-MOF, aiming to advance the development of next-generation supercapacitors and environmental remediation.

Novel one-step synthesis of solid-state carbonized polymer dots by heating at around melting point of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle plastic waste

Production of luminescent carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) in the solid state has been a crucial challenge due to their tendency to self-aggregate, leading to fluorescence quenching and limiting their applicability in the solid state. In this work, we present an environmentally friendly method for producing solid-state CPDs with high photoluminescence (PL) intensity by simple one-step heating method using waste PET bottle plastic as the raw material. Based on the PET thermal analysis, heating temperatures between 200 °C and 300 °C and heating duration were explored. Through systematic experimentation, we discovered that heating temperature and time play a crucial role in controlling PL intensity, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption, carbonization degree, and structure of CPDs. The carbonization of CPDs occurs when the heating temperature exceeds the PET melting point, resulting in strong PL characteristics in the range of 400 and 600 nm. However, when the temperature rises, the PL decreases as the number of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of CPDs increases. The optimal conditions for high PL intensity were 260 °C for 2.5 h. Our one-step heating approach provides a cost-effective solution for recycling PET waste, offering promising potential for various applications.

Production and characterisation of solid waste-derived fuel briquettes from mixed wood wastes and waste pet bottles

Wood waste and waste Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles are two of the solid wastes posing severe challenges to waste management facilities and constituting nuisance to humans and the environment in Nigeria due to poor management. These wastes could be utilized to produce solid biofuels for various energy applications to reduce CO2 emissions. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the potential of converting these wastes locally into solid waste-derived fuels (SWDF) briquettes in a bid to present an alternative approach to managing them. Four types of SWDF briquettes were produced from mixed wood waste and waste PET bottles in blend ratios of 100:0, 60:40, 50:50, and 40:60 using a screw press briquetting machine with single extrusion die. The effect of PET plastic amount on different properties, such as net calorific value, ash content, durability, and density, of the produced briquettes was investigated. In addition, obtained results were compared with the quality standards of densified fuels specified by the European Pellet Council. to ascertain the quality of the produced SWDF briquettes. The results revealed that the SWDF briquettes made only from mixed wood waste exhibited the lowest calorific value (17.15 MJ/kg) and highest ash content (2.74 %), while the SWDFs made from blends of mixed wood waste and PET bottles had higher calorific values (17.85–20.77 MJ/kg) and lower ash contents (1.05–1.37 %). Moreover, except for density and chlorine content (<750 kg/m3 and <0.03 wt% respectively), all the produced SWDFs complied with the quality standards of densified fuels specified by the European Pellet Council. These results suggest that these blends could yield SWDFs with improved quality and combustion properties, and could present a new way of managing these solid wastes.

Enhancing concrete performance using protective coating fabricated by recycled waste material

The motivation behind this research is to enhance concrete using a coating fabricated from waste materials. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was added to asphalt (AP) cement of 60/70 penetration grade at different percentages. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images show that 6% PET is the optimum mix proportion, and then ternary blends were done by mixing the prepared AP/PET with nano silica (nS) at different ratios (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5) wt./wt. The prepared coatings were evaluated by determining drying time, dry film thickness (DFT), adhesion strength, impact resistance, and flexibility. The formulated coatings were applied to concrete substrates, and the performance of coated concrete cubes was examined by determining water absorption, contact angle, and chloride diffusion. The durability of coated concrete was evaluated by measuring the changes in compressive strength after immersion in both sulfuric acid and sodium chloride solutions separately. The study proved the eco-efficient use of PET waste bottles in protective coating preparation, and the experimental results detected that nS has a significant mechanism for improving coating performance as follows; drying time of AP/PET-2 reduced with 61% as compared to AP/PET, the increment of DFT of AP/PET-2 was 25%, and adhesion strength was improved by 90%. On the same time, silica nano particles are mainly contributes for enhancing coated concretes. Where water absorption reduced with 75%, contact angle increased by 55%, and chloride permeability resistance enhanced to 40%. Finally, improvement durability of coated concrete was 25% and 20% after immersion for 28 d in both sulfuric (3%) acid and sodium chloride (5%) solutions, respectively.

Assessment of factors influencing Indonesian residents’ intention to use a deposit–refund scheme for PET bottle waste

The collection rate is a difficult and important issue in the management of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle waste, as it is related to the behavior of the community to participate and comply with the system established by the government. One system that has been shown to increase the collection rate of PET bottle waste is the deposit–refund scheme (DRS). We tested residents’ intention to participate in the DRS using the theory of planned behavior and complemented it with several important variables that could influence the model. The method used is partial least square-structural equation modeling. The result of the study is that all the variables studied were positively influenced according to their respective paths. Nevertheless, environmental awareness is the latent variable with the strongest positive effect on attitude, and attitude has the strongest positive effect on intention. Public information is the latent variable that positively influences all variables related to intention. The proposed model can be applied globally to identify factors that influence recycling participation, particularly for DRS, and help achieve sustainable development goals while initiating a circular economy by recycling plastic bottle waste.

PET waste management in Pakistan through use of PET shreds as additive in backfill soil.

The management of waste plastic bottles is one of the major environmental challenges in the world. Plastic bottles are composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is non-biodegradable, resulting in environmental problems. Various studies have been carried out on the use of waste PET bottles in the form of custom-made strips as a stabilizer. However, no significant research has been carried out on the use of waste PET bottle shreds already available in the market. These shreds do not require any special technology or arrangement for bulk production. In this study, the shear strength of low plastic silty clay was improved using locally available PET shreds, and their prospective application in the backfill soil was investigated. Standard Proctor tests and direct shear tests were conducted on soil stabilized with three different sizes of plastic shreds (2mm, 6mm, and 10mm) in four different percentages (1%, 3%, 5%, and 10%). Findings revealed that adding PET shreds in 1% content improves the shear strength characteristics. However, the shear strength parameters decrease with further increase in PET shred content. Therefore, PET shreds in 1% content can be added in backfill soil to improve its shear strength. Pakistan needs to construct 0.77 million housing units annually to keep up with its population growth. The statistics of seven major cities of Pakistan show that the PET waste management issue of Pakistan can be resolved by using PET shreds as a backfill additive in only 32% of the new houses required to be constructed.

Development of reusable Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst for catalytic hydrolysis of waste PET bottles into terephthalic acid.

In order to efficiently recycle waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, this study aimed to enhance the hydrolysis process to convert PET bottle into valuable terephthalic acid (TPA) by developing effective and reusable Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts. A series of Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by the impregnation method with different Ni loadings (5-15 wt%) and was characterized by various techniques including XRD, SEM-EDX, and N2 adsorption-desorption. The prepared catalysts were employed in the catalytic hydrolysis of PET under varied influencing factors, namely reaction temperature (220-280 °C), reaction time (20-60 min), and Ni loading. The response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the operating condition to produce the maximum TPA yield, and the optimal values were determined as follows: reaction temperature = 267.07 °C, reaction time = 48.54 min, and Ni loading = 12.90 wt%, giving the highest TPA yield of 97.06%. The R2, F-value, and P-value of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were 0.9982, 424.96, and <0.0001, respectively, indicating a good fit of the model. The results from XRD and FTIR measurement of the produced TPA indicated the high purity and comparable chemical structures to the TPA standard. In addition, the 12.9Ni/Al catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity in repeated cycles of hydrolysis process of PET and could be regenerated by calcination to restore its catalytic activity. This finding could be a promising alternative for an effective TPA recovery from waste plastic bottles.

Efficient removal of Cr (VI) from wastewater using recycled polymer-based supported ionic liquid membrane technology

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is a hazardous form of chromium that poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. Meanwhile, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, despite their widespread use and practicality, contribute substantially to the plastic waste problem. Converting waste PET bottles into polymeric membranes offers significant promise. Supported ionic liquid membrane (SILM) technology is a relatively new technique that shows the potential to treat contaminated water efficiently. Experimental studies have demonstrated the influence of different operating conditions on Cr (VI) separation using SILM. The key parameters include concentrations of the feed phase, carrier (Aliquat 336), and strip phase (HCl) and their interactions. Around 98% of Cr (VI) can be removed at a feed concentration of 25 mg/l, a carrier concentration of 5%, and 0.5 M of HCl as a stripping agent. The optimal carrier concentration for membrane extraction was 5% (v/v), leading to a maximum removal rate of 98.34% at optimized values. To assess the impact of carrier concentration on the membrane, SEM-EDS mapping was done. The successful wastewater treatment from such an innovative approach enables handling plastic management and water pollution.

Ultrasounds assisted one-pot oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using green synthesized aluminum terephthalate [MIL-53(Al)

Oxidative desulfurization (ODS) is considered to be one of the most promising desulfurization processes as it is energy-efficient and requires mild operating conditions. In this study, a novel green synthesized Al- based metal–organic framework with high surface area has been synthesized hydrothermally using waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PET) as a source of terephthalic acid as an organic linker. The prepared Al based MOF have been characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity of the prepared Al-MOF was evaluated in the oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of both modeled and real crude oil samples. The different operating parameters (temperature, time, catalyst dose, oxidant loading and sonication) on the ODS performance have been optimized. The optimal conditions for maximum removal of thiophene from modeled oil samples were found to be 30 min, 0.5 g of catalyst and 1:3 oil to oxidant ratio. Under the optimized conditions, sulfur removal in real oil samples obtained from Alexandria petroleum company was 90%. The results revealed that, the presented approach is credited to cost-effectiveness, environmental benignity, and ease of preparation, predicting great prospects for desulfurization of fuel oils on a commercial level.