Potential of Agave lechuguilla biomass for Cr(III) removal from aqueous solutions: thermodynamic studies

Optimization of Cd (II) removal from aqueous solution by natural hydroxyapatite/bentonite composite using response surface methodology

Toxic cadmium (Cd) was removed from water using eggshell-based hydroxyapatite (HAp) grafted bentonite (HAp/bentonite) composite through a straightforward chemical synthesis route. The as-prepared adsorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET). Optimization of the initial adsorbate concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and contact time—all of which affect the adsorption process—was performed using the central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology (RSM). 99.3 percent adsorptive removal efficiency was observed at an initial concentration of 61.58 mg/L of Cd (II), with an adsorbent dosage of 1.58 g, a solution pH of 5.88, and a contact time of 49.63 min. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, and the multiple correlation coefficient (R2) was found to be 0.9915 which confirms the significance of the predicted model. The Langmuir isotherm model best represented the adsorption isotherm data, which also predicted a maximum sorption capacity of 125.47 mg/g. The kinetic data were best described by the pseudo-second order model.

High Throughput Profiling of Flavonoid Abundance in Agave lechuguilla Residue-Valorizing under Explored Mexican Plant

Agave lechuguilla waste biomass (guishe) is an undervalued abundant plant material with natural active compounds such as flavonoids. Hence, the search and conservation of flavonoids through the different productive areas have to be studied to promote the use of this agro-residue for industrial purposes. In this work, we compared the proportion of total flavonoid content (TFC) among the total polyphenolics (TPC) and described the variation of specific flavonoid profiles (HPLC-UV-MS/MS) of guishe from three locations. Descriptive environmental analysis, using remote sensing, was used to understand the phytochemical variability among the productive regions. Furthermore, the effect of extractive solvent (ethanol and methanol) and storage conditions on specific flavonoid recovery were evaluated. The highest TPC (16.46 ± 1.09 GAE/g) was observed in the guishe from region 1, which also had a lower normalized difference water index (NDWI) and lower normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). In contrast, the TFC was similar in the agro-residue from the three studied areas, suggesting that TFC is not affected by the studied environmental features. The highest TFC was found in the ethanolic extracts (6.32 ± 1.66 QE/g) compared to the methanolic extracts (3.81 ± 1.14 QE/g). Additionally, the highest diversity in flavonoids was found in the ethanolic extract of guishe from region 3, which presented an intermedia NDWI and a lower NDVI. Despite the geo-climatic induced variations of the phytochemical profiles, the results confirm that guishe is a valuable raw material in terms of its flavonoid-enriched bioactive extracts. Additionally, the bioactive flavonoids remain stable when the conditioned agro-residue was hermetically stored at room temperature in the dark for nine months. Finally, the results enabled the establishment of both agro-ecological and biotechnological implications.

A review of the application of sea material shells as low cost and effective bio-adsorbent for removal of heavy metals from wastewater

The pollution caused by heavy metal ions in industrial wastewater is of a great concern. Applying effective and low-cost methods is an urgent need for treatment of polluted water and aqueous solutions. Biosorption have received the most attention among the various methods. It has become an alternative technique to conventional technologies due to low cost, simple operation and treatment for heavy metal recovery, and high selectivity. In recent years, sea material shells have been applied as one of the most cost-effective bio-adsorbents due to their special properties. They are environmentally friendly, low cost, and easy to access and have high adsorption capacity. The purpose of this review is to present the application of oyster shell, snail shell, and shrimp shell as low-cost and effective biosorbents for removal of noxious heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In addition, heavy metals, their sources, and ways to remediate them from waste streams and various factors affecting the biosorption process with sea materials shells are also reviewed. Moreover, a brief description and literature review of the equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic behaviors of the heavy metal ion adsorption process on sea material shells have been studied. Finally, further applications of sea materials shell for waste effluents treatment are specially focused.

Adsorption and reduction of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution using polypyrrole/calcium rectorite composite adsorbent

Chromate is considered to be a toxic contaminant because of its potential to harm animal and human health. In this study, polypyrrole/calcium rectorite clay composites (PPy/Ca-REC composites) were prepared as a potential adsorbent, via in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer for adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The XRD results indicated that the clay sheets were exfoliated in the prepared composites. SEM results showed good dispersion of the PPy on the clay sheets. The adsorption of Cr(VI) onto the PPy/Ca-REC adsorbent was highly pH-dependent, and the removal efficiency by PPy/Ca-REC composites was much higher than the PPy homopolymer. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model with an equilibrium reached within 30-180 min. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted well by the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum adsorption capacity of 714.29-833.33 mg/g at 25-45 °C. The PPy/Ca-REC composites could be regenerated and reused for three consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles without loss of the original removal efficiency for Cr(VI) removal. Furthermore, the selective adsorption of Cr(VI) was demonstrated in binary adsorption systems with coexisting ions. The mechanisms of Cr(VI) removal containing electrostatic interactions, ionic interaction as well as reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), which could be observed by the XPS results.

Toxic and genotoxic effects of hexavalent chromium in environment and its bioremediation strategies

Chromium is one of the major inorganic environmental pollutants, which is added in the environment through various natural and anthropogenic activities and exists mainly in two forms: Cr(III) and Cr(VI). Cr(VI) is considered to be more toxic than Cr(III) due to its high solubility and mobility. It is a well-reported occupational carcinogen associated with lung, nasal, and sinus cancers. Thus, this review article provides the detailed information on the occurrence, sources of chromium contamination in the environment and their toxicological effects in human, animal, plants as well as in microorganisms, and bioremediation strategies to minimize the toxic effects.

Temperature based adsorption studies of Cr(vi) using p-toluidine formaldehyde resin coated silica material

A PTFR coated silica material was developed, characterised and applied for the treatment of hexavalent chromium.

Adsorption performance of low-cost gelatin–montmorillonite nanocomposite for Cr(iii) ions

Preparation of gelatin–montmorillonite (G–MMT) nanocomposite from Na–montmorillonite (Na–MMT) and gelatin through intercalation method and its adsorption of Cr(iii).

Antiprotozoal activity against Entamoeba histolytica of plants used in northeast Mexican traditional medicine. Bioactive compounds from Lippia graveolens and Ruta chalepensis

Amoebiasis caused by Entamoeba histolytica is associated with high morbidity and mortality is becoming a major public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Because of the side-effects and the resistance that pathogenic protozoa build against the standard antiparasitic drugs, e.g., metronidazole, much recent attention has been paid to plants used in traditional medicine around the world in order to find new antiprotozoal agents. We collected 32 plants used in Northeast Mexican traditional medicine and the methanolic extracts of these species were screened for antiprotozoal activity against E. histolytica trophozoites using in vitro tests. Only 18 extracts showed a significant inhibiting activity and among them six plant extracts showed more than 80% growth inhibition against E. histolytica at a concentration of 150 µg/mL and the IC50 values of these extracts were determined. Lippia graveolens Kunth and Ruta chalepensis Pers. showed the more significant antiprotozoal activity (91.54% and 90.50% growth inhibition at a concentration of 150 µg/mL with IC50 values of 59.14 and 60.07 µg/mL, respectively). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extracts from these two plants afforded carvacrol (1) and chalepensin (2), respectively, as bioactive compounds with antiprotozoal activity.

Thermodynamic parameters for adsorption equilibrium of heavy metals and dyes from wastewaters

This meta-analysis evaluates adsorption studies that report thermodynamic parameters for heavy metals and dyes from wastewaters. The adsorbents were derived from agricultural waste, industrial wastes, inorganic particulates, or some natural products. The adsorption mechanisms, derivation of thermodynamic relationships, and possible flaws made in such evaluation are discussed. This analysis shows that conclusions from the examined standard enthalpy and entropy changes are highly contestable. The reason for this flaw may be the poor physical structure of adsorbents tested, such that pore transport controlled the solute flux, leaving a surface reaction process near equilibrium.

Tolerance to cadmium of Agave lechuguilla (Agavaceae) seeds and seedlings from sites contaminated with heavy metals

We investigated if seeds of Agave lechuguilla from contaminated sites with heavy metals were more tolerant to Cd ions than seeds from noncontaminated sites. Seeds from a highly contaminated site (Villa de la Paz) and from a noncontaminated site (Villa de Zaragoza) were evaluated. We tested the effect of Cd concentrations on several ecophysiological, morphological, genetical, and anatomical responses. Seed viability, seed germination, seedling biomass, and radicle length were higher for the non-polluted site than for the contaminated one. The leaves of seedlings from the contaminated place had more cadmium and showed peaks attributed to chemical functional groups such as amines, amides, carboxyl, and alkenes that tended to disappear due to increasing the concentration of cadmium than those from Villa de Zaragoza. Malformed cells in the parenchyma surrounding the vascular bundles were found in seedlings grown with Cd from both sites. The leaves from the contaminated place showed a higher metallothioneins expression in seedlings from the control group than that of seedlings at different Cd concentrations. Most of our results fitted into the hypothesis that plants from metal-contaminated places do not tolerate more pollution, because of the accumulative effect that cadmium might have on them.

Waste biomass adsorbents for copper removal from industrial wastewater--a review

Copper (Cu(2+)) containing wastewaters are extensively released from different industries and its excessive entry into food chains results in serious health impairments, carcinogenicity and mutagenesis in various living systems. An array of technologies is in use to remediate Cu(2+) from wastewaters. Adsorption is the most attractive option due to the availability of cost effective, sustainable and eco-friendly bioadsorbents. The current review is dedicated to presenting state of the art knowledge on various bioadsorbents and physico-chemical conditions used to remediate Cu(2+) from waste streams. The advantages and constraints of various adsorbents were also discussed. The literature revealed the maximum Cu adsorption capacities of various bioadsorbents in the order of algae>agricultural and forest>fungal>bacterial>activated carbon>yeast. However, based on the average Cu adsorption capacity, the arrangement can be: activated carbon>algal>bacterial>agriculture and forest-derived>fungal>yeast biomass. The data of Cu removal using these bioadsorbents were found best fit both Freundlich and Langmuir models. Agriculture and forest derived bioadsorbents have greater potential for Cu removal because of higher uptake, cheaper nature, bulk availability and mono to multilayer adsorption behavior. Higher costs at the biomass transformation stage and decreasing efficiency with desorption cycles are the major constraints to implement this technology.

Adsorption of nitrobenzene from aqueous solution on activated sludge modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

A novel method was conducted to modify activated sludge with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CB) to obtain an adsorbent to remove aqueous nitrobenzene. The adsorption characteristics of nitrobenzene onto modified activated sludge (MAS) were investigated, by contrast with those of unmodified activated sludge (UMAS). Nitrobenzene adsorption onto MAS is more favorable than that of UMAS at initial nitrobenzene concentrations below 150 mg/L, above which they have an equivalent adsorption capacity. pH value has a significant influence on the adsorption capacity, especially from 10.0 to 12.6 for MAS and from 9.0 to 11.0 for UMAS. The modification changes the steady even surface of activated sludge into uneven one, which is better for adsorption. The hydroxyl of activated sludge and hydrophobic group of CB adsorb nitrobenzene molecules, and CB increases the adsorption sites. The nitrobenzene adsorption onto MAS follows Langmuir isotherm, implying the adsorption occurrence tends to be on a homogeneous surface by monolayer adsorption other than multi-layer adsorption which accounts for the adsorption onto UMAS. The maximum adsorption capacity of MAS is 40.6, 25.0 and 25.6 mg/g at 6.0, 25.0 and 40.0°C, respectively. MAS presents to be a good adsorbent to remove nitrobenzene from water, and CB is a successful modifier.

Modeling the adsorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solution onto Agave lechuguilla biomass: study of the advective and dispersive transport

The biosorption of Cr(III) onto packed columns of Agave lechuguilla was analyzed using an advective-dispersive (AD) model and its analytical solution. Characteristic parameters such as axial dispersion coefficients, retardation factors, and distribution coefficients were predicted as functions of inlet ion metal concentration, time, flow rate, bed density, cross-sectional column area, and bed length. The root-mean-square-error (RMSE) values 0.122, 0.232, and 0.285 corresponding to the flow rates of 1, 2, and 3 (10(-3))dm3min(-1), respectively, indicated that the AD model provides an excellent approximation of the simulation of lumped breakthrough curves for the adsorption of Cr(III) by lechuguilla biomass. Therefore, the model can be used for design purposes to predict the effect of varying operational conditions.

Biosorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions by biomass of Agaricus bisporus

In this study, biosorption of Cr (VI) ion was investigated by using biomass of Agaricus bisporus (a species of mushroom) in a temperature and shaking speed controlled shaker. The effect of shaking speed, biomass concentration, initial metal ion concentration and initial pH on biosorption yield was determined and the fitness of biosorption data for Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models was investigated. Optimum biosorption conditions were found to be pH 1, C0=50 mg/l, m=10 g/l, shaking speed=150 rpm, T=20 degrees C Cr (VI), respectively. It was found that biosorption of Cr (VI) ions onto biomass of A. bisporus was better suitable to Freundlich adsorption model than Langmuir adsorption model. The correlation coefficients for the second-order kinetic model obtained were found to be 0.999 for all concentrations. These indicate that the biosorption system studied belongs to the second-order kinetic model.

Evaluation of Fuller's earth for the adsorption of mercury from aqueous solutions: a comparative study with activated carbon

Fuller's earth (FE) has been used as an adsorbent in this work to remove mercury from aqueous solutions. For the purpose of comparison, simultaneous experiments using activated carbon (AC) have also been done. The aim of the work is to test how best FE can be used as an adsorbent for mercury. Equilibrium isotherms, such as Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin-Redushkevich, Temkin, Harkins-Jura, Halsey and Henderson have been tested. Kinetic studies based on Lagergren first-order, pseudo-second-order rate expressions and intra-particle diffusion studies have been done. The batch experiments were conducted at room temperature (30 degrees C) and at the normal pH (6.7+/-0.2) of the solution. It has been observed that Hg(II) removal rate is better for FE than AC, due to large dosage requirement, whereas the adsorption capacity of AC is found to be much better than FE. Hence, although FE can be used as an adsorbent, a high dosage is required, when compared to AC. Hybrid fractional error function analysis shows that the best-fit for the adsorption equilibrium data is represented by Freundlich isotherm. Kinetic and film diffusion studies show that the adsorption of mercury on FE and AC is both intra-particle diffusion and film diffusion controlled.

Thermodynamic aspects of sorption of Fe2+ onto unbleached Kraft fibres

The sorption of Fe(2+) onto unbleached kraft fibre was investigated at different conditions such as pH, temperature, and concentrations. The sorption, which increased with concentration and temperature, followed the Langmuir isotherm. Thermodynamically, the process was spontaneous and endothermic. It was found that the precipitation of Fe(2+) was highly dependent on pH and reached 100% when pH exceeded approximately 8.

Biosorption of Cd(II), Cr(III), and Cr(VI) by saltbush (Atriplex canescens) biomass: Thermodynamic and isotherm studies

The biosorption data of Cd(II), Cr(III), and Cr(VI) by saltbush leaves biomass were fit on the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms at 297 K. The Cd(II) and Cr(III) solutions were adjusted to pH 5.0 and the Cr(VI) solution was adjusted to pH 2.0. The correlation coefficient values indicated that the data fit better the Freundlich model. The maximal capacities (K(F)) were found to be 5.79 x 10(-2), 3.25 x 10(-2), and 1.14 x 10(-2) mol/g for Cr(III), Cd(II), and Cr(VI), respectively. Similar results were obtained using the Langmuir and the Dubinin-Radushkevick equations. Thermodynamic parameters calculated from the Khan and Singh equation and from the q(e) vs C(e) plot show that the equilibrium constants for the biosorption of the metals follow the same order of the maximal capacities. The negative Gibbs free energy values obtained for Cd(II) and Cr(III) indicated that these ions were biosorbed spontaneously. The mean free energy values calculated from the Dubinin-Radushkevick equation (10.78, 9.45, and 9.05 for Cr(III), Cr(VI), and Cd(II), respectively) suggest that the binding of Cd(II), Cr(III), and Cr(VI) by saltbush leaves biomass occurs through an ionic exchange mechanism.