Adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution by jackfruit (Artocarpus heteropyllus) leaf powder: A fixed-bed column study

Nutrients recovery from livestock wastewater by batch and gas bubble-column studies with biochar, nano-composite material, and ammonium magnesium phosphate hydrate

The breeding of livestock raises substantial environmental concerns, especially the efficient management of nutrients and pollution. This research is designed to assess the potency of char and modified char in diluting nutrient concentrations in livestock wastewater. The characteristics of graphene oxide, struvite, and calcium-modified char were inspected, defining their efficacy in both batch and bed-column investigations of nutrient sorption. Various factors, including sorption capacity, time of contact, ion levels, a decrease in ion levels over time, and sorption kinetics, have been considered, along with their appropriateness for respective models. The first evaluation of the options concluded that 600 °C char was better since it exhibited higher removal efficiency. Modified char sorption data at 600 °C was used to adjust the models "PSOM, Langmuir", and "Thomas". The models were applied to both batch and bed-column experiments. The maximum phosphate sorption was 110.8 mg/g, 85.73 mg/g, and 82.46 mg/g for B-GO, B-S, and B-C modified chars respectively, in the batch experiments. The highest phosphate sorption in column experiments, at a flow rate of 400 μl/min, was 51.23 mg per 10 g of sorbent. This corresponds to a sorption rate of 5.123 mg/g. B-GO and B-S modified chars showed higher sorption capacities; this was observed in both the batch and bed-column studies. This displayed the capability of graphene oxide and struvite-modified chars for efficient ion and nutrient uptake, whether in single or multi-ion environments, making them a very good candidate for nutrient filtration in livestock wastewater treatment. Additionally, B-GO char enhanced the sorption of phosphate, resulting in augmented seed germination and seedling growth. These results reveal that B-GO char can be used as a possible substitute for chemical fertilizers.

Clay-moringa seedcake composite for removal of cationic and anionic dyes

The present study investigated the potential of a composite prepared from kaolinite clay and moringa seedcake in removing methylene blue (MB) and acid orange-7 (AO-7) dyes from aqueous solutions using batch and column tests. The composite was modified using different chemicals during the synthesis process, and the composites were characterised using different techniques such as FTIR, SEM-EDS and XRD. Characterisation showed the presence of actively charged functional groups and porous structure on the composites prepared. Batch tests were performed to assess the effect of operating conditions such as adsorbent dosage, pH, initial dye concentration and contact time. NaOH-modified and H2SO4/NaOH-modified composites demonstrated the highest adsorption capacities for AO-7 and MB, respectively, and were selected for subsequent studies. The adsorption process of dye was best fitted by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models suggesting that the sorption of MB and AO-7 onto the composites is a heterogeneous, multilayer chemical adsorption process. Long-term fixed-column tests were conducted with the composites to assess the impact of flow rate, bed depth and initial dye concentration on the dye removal efficiency. Optimum removals of 86 and 94%, respectively at pH 2 and pH 10 were obtained for AO-7 and MB in batch tests, along with adsorption capacities of 205.65 and 230.49 mg/g for AO-7 and MB. Results from the column tests were best explained by the Clark model and the Bed Depth-Service Time model. Competing ions impacted the removal of AO-7, while no significant effect was found for MB. The composites could be reused up to four cycles without significantly affecting the adsorption capacity. The present study thus shows the potential of the composite for removal of both the dyes.

Separation of lead from aqueous phase by cucumber peel in column bioreactor: A phenomenon of interaction between biological and chemical system and its ecological importance

This research work represents a holistic approach of separation of aqueous lead through dynamic adsorption on cucumber peel in fixed bed column bioreactor and highlights the biological perspective of mode of interaction between adsorbent and adsorbate. Additionally attempt has been made to elucidate the importance of this process in preservation of aquatic ecosystem. The study illustrates influence of design parameters, periodic surveillance of generated effluents, statistical and mathematical model analyses of results and desorption. The findings exhibited a direct association between quality of treated effluent and speed of the feed solution, feed concentration and height of the fixed bed. Lead removal percentage was at its best (99.25%) at 8 cm bed height, 20 mL min^-1 (0.9 L h^-1) flow rate and 50 mg L^-1 feed concentration whereas adsorption capacity reached its peak (300.26 mg g^-1) when feed concentration was doubled up to 100 mg L^-1. Time bound monitoring confirmed concentration of lead in treated effluents remained within satisfactory level. Adsorbed lead was recovered up to ∼95%. Experimentation with actual industrial effluents demonstrated that lead removal percentage remained in the range of 99.97-99.46% and 99.96-99.17% up to the entire phase of bioreactor operation. In summation proper combination of design parameters of column bioreactor played important role in generating superior quality effluent, multiple reuse of the bioreactor bed was dependent on proper eluant treatment and practicability of the study was ascertained by its ability to maintain concentration of lead in actual industrial effluents within permissible limit for prolonged duration.

Extractability of Rice Husk Waste Using Green Gamma Radiation for Dye Elimination in Laboratory-Scale Sorption System: Equilibrium Isotherm and Kinetic Analysis

Nowadays, the use of natural materials and especially "waste" valorization has evolved and attracted the wide attention of scientists and academia. In this regard, the use of rice husk (RH) powder as a naturally abundant and cheap byproduct material is gaining superior attention. However, improving the physicochemical properties of such RH is still under research. In the current investigation, the modification of rice husk (RH) via γ-irradiation has shown to be a promising green tool to meet such a need. Clean, prepared, powdered RH samples were subjected to various γ-radiation doses, namely 5, 10, 15 and 25 kGy, and the corresponding samples were named as RH-0, RH-5, RH-10, RH-15, RH-15 and RH-25. Then, the samples were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After irradiation, the samples showed an increase in their surface roughness upon increasing the γ-radiation up to 15 kGy. Furthermore, the sorption capacity of the irradiated RH samples was investigated for eliminating Urolene Blue (UB) dye as a model pharmaceutical effluent stream. The highest dye uptake was recorded as 14.7 mg/g, which corresponded to the RH-15. The adsorption operating parameters were also investigated for all of the studied systems and all adsorbents showed the same trend, of a superior adsorption capacity at pH 6.6 and high temperatures. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were also applied for UB adsorption and an adequate fitted isotherm model was linked with Langmuir fitting. Moreover, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model provided the best fit for the adsorption data. Experimental assays confirmed that the UB dye could be successfully eradicated feasibly from the aqueous stream via a sustainable green methodology.

Continuous fixed-bed adsorption of reactive azo dye on activated red mud for wastewater treatment-Evaluation of column dynamics and design parameters

Continuous adsorption of Remazol Brilliant Blue (RBB) dye in water onto sulfuric acid activated red mud (CATRM) in a fixed bed column was investigated. Breakthrough curves were obtained experimentally by varying the bed height (Z), influent flow rate (Q), and dye concentration(C₀). The adsorption efficiency in the removal of RBB was favored at lower C₀, higher Z, and lower Q. The maximum adsorption capacity of the activated red mud bed in the column was obtained at C₀ = 70 mg/L, Z = 8 cm, and Q = 5 mL/min and found to be 106 mg/g. Important parameters of column dynamics and design such as mass transfer zone (MTZ) and length of unused bed (LUB) were evaluated from the breakthrough curves. The MTZ and LUB have varied with varying Z, which indicated the existence of nonideal conditions. Thomas model was found to be valid to predict the column dynamics and the model parameters were evaluated. Bed depth service time (BDST) model parameters were evaluated to facilitate the determination of packed bed height for the design of packed bed adsorption column. The bed could be regenerated with NaOH solution with desorption efficiency decreasing from 83.8 to 55.72% from the first to third cycle. A fixed bed of CATRM can be effectively used for continuous dye removal from industrial wastewater.

A sustainable biosorption technique for treatment of industrial wastewater using snail shell dust (Bellamya bengalensis)

Water, an essential commodity available to mankind, is constantly under pollution threat. Industries are one of the major causative factors for its poor quality and therefore all organisms depending upon it, directly or indirectly are affected by various life-threatening problems. Thus, the treatment of discharge waste into the freshwater ecosystem is the dire need of the hour. The objective of the study is valorization of discarded snail shells for treatment of industrial wastewater. In the present study, industrial wastewater was treated using snail shell dust obtained from Bellamya bengalensis to assess change in water quality parameters. Various physico-chemical parameters like pH, total dissolved solids, electric conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, chlorides, bicarbonates, orthophosphates, sulfates, nitrates, and ammonia-N were assessed after its treatment with snail shell dust. Based on the present observation, it was concluded that all studied parameters except dissolved oxygen showed a remarkable decline in concentration after treatment with snail shell dust at the rate of 15 g per liter at the end of 4 days. Moreover, increased dissolved oxygen concentration also endorsed an enhancement in water quality. Statistical analysis through Pearson correlation and indices, viz., WQI (Water quality index) as well as Nemerow's Pollution index when applied to the present data, also supported an improvement in the water quality. The findings thus endorsed the utilization of snail shell dust as an eco-friendly technique and can be substituted as a sustainable method for the treatment of industrial wastewater.

Adsorption Behavior of Methylene Blue Cationic Dye in Aqueous Solution Using Polypyrrole-Polyethylenimine Nano-Adsorbent

In this work, a polypyrrole-polyethyleneimine (PPy-PEI) nano-adsorbent was successfully synthesized for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. Synthetic dyes are among the most prevalent environmental contaminants. A new conducting polymer-based adsorbent called (PPy-PEI) was successfully produced using ammonium persulfate as an oxidant. The PEI hyper-branched polymer with terminal amino groups was added to the PPy adsorbent to provide more effective chelating sites for dyes. An efficient dye removal from an aqueous solution was demonstrated using a batch equilibrium technique that included a polyethyleneimine nano-adsorbent (PPy-PEI). The best adsorption parameters were measured at a 0.35 g dosage of adsorbent at a pH of 6.2 and a contact period of 40 min at room temperature. The produced PPy-PEI nano-adsorbent has an average particle size of 25–60 nm and a BET surface area of 17 m²/g. The results revealed that PPy-PEI nano-composite was synthesized, and adsorption was accomplished in the minimum amount of time. The maximum monolayer power, qmax, for MB was calculated using the isothermal adsorption data, which matched the Langmuir isotherm model, and the kinetic adsorption data, which more closely fitted the Langmuir pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Langmuir model was used to calculate the maximum monolayer capacity, or qmax, for MB, which was found to be 183.3 mg g⁻¹. The as-prepared PPy-PEI nano-adsorbent totally removes the cationic dyes from the aqueous solution.

A review on adsorptive separation of toxic metals from aquatic system using biochar produced from agro-waste

Water is a basic and significant asset for living beings. Water assets are progressively diminishing due to huge populace development, industrial activities, urbanization and rural exercises. Few heavy metals include zinc, copper, lead, nickel, cadmium and so forth can easily transfer into the water system either direct or indirect activities of electroplating, mining, tannery, painting, fertilizer industries and so forth. The different treatment techniques have been utilized to eliminate the heavy metals from aquatic system, which includes coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, membrane filtration, oxidation, flotation, ion exchange, photo catalysis and adsorption. The adsorption technique is a better option than other techniques because it can eliminate heavy metals even at lower metal ions concentration, simplicity and better regeneration behavior. Agricultural wastes are low-cost biosorbent and typically containing cellulose have the ability to absorb a variety of contaminants. It is important to note that almost all agro wastes are no longer used in their original form but are instead processed in a variety of techniques to improve the adsorption capacity of the substance. The wide range of adsorption capacities for agro waste materials were observed and almost more than 99% removal of toxic pollutants from aquatic systems were achieved using modified agro-waste materials. The present review aims at the water pollution due to heavy metals, as well as various heavy metal removal treatment procedures. The primary objectives of this research is to include an overview of adsorption and various agriculture based adsorbents and its comparison in heavy metal removal.

Removal of Sb(III) by 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double-network composites from an aqueous batch and fixed-bed system

We created 3D-reduced graphene oxide/sodium alginate double network (GAD) beads to address the problem of local water pollution by antimony. GAD is a novel material with the high specific surface area of graphene and biosecurity of sodium alginate. Due to the introduction of graphene, the thermal stability and specific surface area of GAD are enhanced, as shown from the FTIR, TGA, BET, Raman, and XRD characterizations. The influence of different environmental variables-such as the pH, dosage, temperature, contact time, and sodium chloride concentration on the Sb(III) sorption with GAD-was investigated. The adsorption results fit well with both the pseudo-second order (R² > 0.99) and Freundlich (R² > 0.99) isotherm models. The temperature rise has a negative influence on the adsorption. The Langmuir adsorption capacity is 7.67 mg/g, which is higher than many adsorbents. The GAD results from the fixed-bed adsorption experiment were a good fit with the Thomas model (R² > 0.99). In addition, GAD appears to be a renewable and ideal adsorbent for the treatment of antimony pollution in aqueous systems.

Isothermal and Kinetic Investigation of Exploring the Potential of Citric Acid-Treated Trapa natans and Citrullus lanatus Peels for Biosorptive Removal of Brilliant Green Dye from Water

Trapa natans peels (TNPs) and Citrullus lanatus peels (CLPs) were utilized for the biosorptive removal of brilliant green dye (BGD), after modifying with citric acid. Characterization and surface morphology were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. For the removal of BGD by citric acid-treated Trapa natans peels (CA-TNPs), the optimum conditions were obtained with adsorbent dose 0.8 g, contact time 25 minutes, initial pH 5, temperature 30°C, and agitation speed 100 rpm, while for the citric acid-treated Citrullus lanatus peels (CA-CLPs), adsorbent dose 0.8 g, contact time 20 minutes, pH 5, temperature 30°C, and agitation speed 100 rpm gave optimum results. The qmax values obtained were 108.6, 128, 144.9, and 188.68 mg/g for R-TNP, CA-TNP, R-CLP, and CA-CLP, respectively, while the correlation coefficient (R2) values obtained were 0.985, 0.986, 0.985, and 0.998 for R-TNP, CA-TNP, R-CLP, and CA-CLP, respectively. These favor the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, with negative (ΔG0) values of all adsorbents, determining that the adsorption phenomenon is exothermic and spontaneous in nature. Both citric acid-treated peels of Trapa natans and Citrullus lanatus were found suitable for bulk-scale eradication of hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic basic cationic dyes.

Fixed-Bed Column Technique for the Removal of Phosphate from Water Using Leftover Coal

The excessive discharge of phosphate from anthropogenic activities is a primary cause for the eutrophication of aquatic habitats. Several methodologies have been tested for the removal of phosphate from aqueous solutions, and adsorption in a flow-through reactor is an effective mechanism to reduce the nutrient loading of water. This research aimed to investigate the adsorption potential of leftover coal material to remove phosphate from a solution by using continuous flow fixed-bed column, and analyzes the obtained breakthrough curves. A series of column tests were performed to determine the phosphorus breakthrough characteristics by varying operational design parameters such as adsorbent bed height (5 to 8 cm), influent phosphate concentration (10–25 mg/L), and influent flow rate (1–2 mL/min). The amorphous and crystalline property of leftover coal material was studied using XRD technology. The FT-IR spectrum confirmed the interaction of adsorption sites with phosphate ions. Breakthrough time decreased with increasing flow rate and influent phosphate concentration, but increased with increasing adsorbent bed height. Breakthrough-curve analysis showed that phosphate adsorption onto the leftover coal material was most effective at a flow rate of 1 mL/min, influent phosphate concentration of 25 mg/L, and at a bed height of 8 cm. The maximal total phosphate adsorbed onto the coal material’s surface was 243 mg/kg adsorbent. The Adams–Bohart model depicted the experimental breakthrough curve well, and overall performed better than the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models did, with correlation values (R²) ranging from 0.92 to 0.98. Lastly, leftover coal could be used in the purification of phosphorus-laden water, and the Adams–Bohart model can be employed to design filter units at a technical scale.

Langmuir Adsorption Kinetics in Liquid Media: Interface Reaction Model

Adsorption kinetic equation has been derived assuming that the process follows the behavior of a heterogeneous chemical reaction at the solid-liquid interface. This equation is converted into the Langmuir isotherm at equilibrium and describes well the unsteady-state adsorption process. Based on that, a working equation has been developed, which gives adsorption-rate-constant independent of operating parameters including concentration. Also, a kinetic model expressed as a sum of first- and second-order systems available in the literature has been applied (modified with the interface reaction concept) to determine the adsorption rate constant. Both methods gave similar results. Three dimensionless numbers have been developed to determine and distinguish pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics justified from the viewpoint of chemical kinetics. It is shown that curve-fitting with a high correlation coefficient could validate an empirical kinetic model, but the fitted model parameters could not automatically be related to chemical kinetic parameters if the model itself is not grounded on well-defined chemical kinetics. Finally, it is concluded that the currently applied empirical approach could not provide reliable data for comparison among similar systems, while the Langmuir kinetic equation developed based on the concept of heterogeneous reaction would be a good basis for standardization of the method for adsorption system characterization.

A fixed bed column study of natural and chemically modified Lagerstroemia speciosa bark for removal of synthetic Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solution

The present study evaluates the feasibility of using natural Lagerstroemia speciosa bark (NLSB) and chemically modified Lagerstroemia speciosa bark (CLSB) in removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solution in fixed bed column process. The effect of influent flow rate, bed depth and inlet Cr(VI) ion concentration on the Cr(VI) removal capacity of NLSB and CLSB was investigated. The column exhaustion time increased with increase in bed depth and reverse trend was obtained with increase in flow rate and influent Cr(VI) ion concentration. The Bohart-Adams, Thomas and Yoon-Nelson dynamic models were applied at various studied experimental conditions to predict the breakthrough curve behavior and to determine the characteristics fixed bed column parameters that are very crucial in scale up of the column process for its industrial scale application. Both Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models showed very good agreement with the column data and explained the mechanism of Cr(VI) adsorption by NLSB and CLSB in column process. The high Cr(VI) adsorption capacity and regeneration efficiency of NLSB and CLSB in column suggest its applicability in removal of Cr(VI) present in industrial effluents.

Adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from water using leaf biomass (Vitis vinifera) in a fixed-bed column study

INTRODUCTION

Adsorption of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) onto modified activated carbons (AC-H₃PO₄) produced from leaf biomass of Vitis vinifera leaf litter in a fixed bed column experiment was investigated in this study.

METHODS

The column bed was packed with the produced activated carbons in a uniform particle size of ˃ 64 μm. Experimental parameters including the initial concentration of the solution, column bed height, the mass of adsorbent and flow rate were optimized to establish the best adsorption efficiency parameters for the system. Breakthrough and saturated time were estimated from the column fixed bed experimental data and analysed using the Adam-Bohart, Thomas model, and Yoon-Nelson models.

RESULTS

Maximum sorption capacities of produced activated carbon ACH₃PO₄ based on Thomas model were 159.61 and 208.64 mg/g for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. The results indicated the breakthrough and saturated time of the system increased concurrently with the increase in bed height and initial concentrations, while an increase in flow rate enhanced fractional bed utilization (FBU) efficiency of the column. Thomas and Yoon-Nelson model best describe the prediction of breakthrough data and sorption behaviour of PFOA and PFOS indicating suitability of AC-H₃PO₄ column design.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that agro based adsorbent is a good alternative to non-ago based adsorbent. The surface characteristics of the phosphoric acid modified activated carbons AC-H₃PO₄ affirmed the removal of PFOA and PFOS from the contaminated water.

Rapid and efficient removal of acetochlor from environmental water using Cr-MIL-101 sorbent modified with 3, 5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanate

The excessive use of acetochlor (ACT), a commonly used herbicide with latent endocrine disrupting functions, causes surface water pollution. The efficient removal of ACT from contaminated water supplies is of paramount importance. In the current work, 3,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanate (BTP) was successfully anchored onto Cr-MIL-101 walls via covalent incorporation to afford Cr-MIL-101-BTP as a novel adsorbent for the high-efficiency removal of ACT in aqueous solutions. The kinetic adsorption process, adsorption isotherms, adsorbent regeneration, and key parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, pH value, and ionic strength, for the adsorption of ACT were studied. Results showed that a pseudo-second-order rate equation effectively describes the adsorption kinetics. The Langmuir model exhibited a better fit to adsorption isotherm than the Freundlich model. Given the π-π stacking and hydrogen bond interaction, the adsorption capacity in Cr-MIL-101-BTP approached a maximum of 312.5 mg/g for ACT, which was considerably higher than the adsorption capacities of many other reported adsorbents. The excellent adsorption characteristics of Cr-MIL-101-BTP toward ACT were preserved in a wide pH range and high concentration of background electrolytes. In addition, the result showed that partition coefficient (PC) of Cr-MIL-101-BTP was 356.14 mg/g/μM at 5 mg/L of ACT concentration, which was found as the outperformer in all tested subjects. The ACT adsorption capacity of Cr-MIL-101-BTP at the breakthrough point was greatly influenced by initial concentration, and could be described by the Thomas model. Regeneration experiments indicated that the Cr-MIL-101-BTP was recycled at least six times without significant loss of adsorption capacity. Moreover, Cr-MIL-101-BTP did not show cytotoxic activity against the tested HepG2 cell lines and did not pose serious risks to Daphnia carinata survival (48 h LC₅₀ = 446.6 μg/mL). These results prefigured the promising potential of Cr-MIL-101-BTP as a novel adsorbent for the efficient removal of ACT from aqueous solutions.

Pharmaceutical and anticorrosive substance removal by woodchip column reactor: removal process and effects of operational parameters

Urban stormwater has recently been considered a potential water resource to augment urban water supplies; however, the existence of emerging contaminants limits urban stormwater utilization. This study aims to use woodchip bioreactors, which are natural and inexpensive, to remove emerging contaminants from artificial stormwater, with a focus on the contaminant removal processes in the woodchip bioreactor and on the effects of operational parameters on the system performance. Seven commonly detected emerging contaminants - acetaminophen (ACE), caffeine (CAFF), carbamazepine (CBZ), ibuprofen (IBU), sulfathiazole (SFZ), benzotriazole (BT) and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (5-MeBT) - were studied. The results showed that the removal efficiency and removal processes are heavily dependent on the compound. ACE and CAFF have the highest removal efficiencies (≥80%), and sorption and biodegradation are both crucial for their removal. However, IBU exhibits very limited sorption and biodegradation and hence has the worst removal (≤15%). The removal efficiencies of the other compounds (SFZ, CBZ, BT and 5-MeBT) range from ∼30 to 60%, and sorption is likely the main removal process. The effects of several operational parameters, including woodchip type, operation time, season and flow rate, on the removal rate of emerging contaminants were also explored. The results of this study showed that the woodchip column system, which is capable of sorption and biodegradation, represents a promising treatment process for removing emerging contaminants from urban stormwater.

New insights from modelling and estimation of mass transfer parameters in fixed-bed adsorption of Bisphenol A onto carbon materials

The removal of Bisphenol A, 2,2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (BPA) in fixed-bed columns was investigated by breakthrough adsorption tests at different operation conditions and further prediction by a mathematical model to describe the adsorption-diffusion process onto two synthesized carbon porous materials. In this study, a xerogel (RFX) prepared by an optimized conventional sol-gel method and a lignin-based activated carbon (KLP) obtained via chemical activation were used in batch and fixed-bed adsorption experiments. The materials were fully characterized and their adsorptive properties were compared to those obtained with a commercial activated carbon (F400). RFX and KLP materials reached the equilibrium adsorption in only 24 h, whereas F400 activated carbon required 48 h. In addition, F400 and KLP adsorbents showed higher equilibrium adsorption capacity values (q_e = 0.40 and 0.22 kg/kg, for F400 and KLP, respectively) than that obtained for the xerogel (q_e = 0.08 kg/kg). Both synthesized carbon-adsorbents were studied in fixed-bed adsorption tests, exploring the effect of the operation conditions, e.g., initial BPA concentration (0.005-0.04 kg/m³), weight of adsorbent (0.01-0.05 g) and volumetric flow rate (0.2 to 1.0 mL/min), on the adsorption performance of the column. All the tested adsorption columns reached the equilibrium in a very short time, due to the efficient dimensionless of the bed. Additionally, the regeneration of the exhausted adsorbent was studied, achieving the total reuse of the solids after three consecutive cycles using methanol as regeneration agent. Finally, a mathematical model based on mass conservation equations was proposed, allowing to efficiently fit the experimental BPA breakthrough curves and estimate the external and adsorbed-phase mass transfer coefficients with a high accuracy.

Adsorption Characteristics and Transport Behavior of Cr(VI) in Shallow Aquifers Surrounding a Chromium Ore Processing Residue (COPR) Dumpsite

This study explored the stratigraphic distribution and soil/shallow aquifer characteristics surrounding a chromium ore processing residue (COPR) dumpsite at a former chemical factory in China. Total Cr levels in top soils (5–10 cm) nearby the COPR dumpsite were in the range of 8571.4–10711.4 mg/kg. Shallow aquifers (1–6 m) nearby the COPR dumpsite showed a maximum total Cr level of 9756.7 mg/kg. The concentrations of Cr(VI) in groundwater nearby the COPR dumpsite were 766.9–1347.5 mg/L. These results display that the top soils, shallow aquifers, and groundwater of the study site are severely polluted by Cr(VI). Then, three aquifers (silt, clay, and silty clay), respectively, collected from the depth of 1.4–2.4 m, 2.4–4.8 m, and 4.8–11.00 m were first used to evaluate the adsorption characteristics and transport behavior of Cr(VI) in shallow aquifers by both batch and column experiments. The adsorption of Cr(VI) on tested aquifers was well described by pseudo-second-order equation and Freundlich model. The adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) on three aquifers followed the order: clay > silty clay > silt. The kinetics proved that Cr(VI) is not easily adsorbed by the aquifer mediums but transports with groundwater. Thermodynamics indicated that Cr(VI) adsorption on tested aquifers was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic. Cr(VI) adsorption on tested aquifers decreased with increasing pH. Furthermore, the transport of Cr(VI) in adsorption columns followed the sequence of clay < silty clay < silt. Desorption column experiments infer that the Cr(VI) adsorbed on aquifers will desorb and release into groundwater in the case of rainwater leaching. Therefore, a proper treatment of the COPR and a comprehensive management of soils are vital to prevent groundwater pollution.

Characterization of pulverized Marula seed husk and its potential for the sequestration of methylene blue from aqueous solution

Dyes are ranked as an important class of pollutants which affect the aesthetic property of the environment when present even in very low concentrations. This study was carried out to explore the potential use of an agricultural waste (Marula seed husk) to decontaminate methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The effect of change in water chemistry was also examined. The influence of basic adsorption parameters such as contact time, temperature, dosage, pH and particle size on the efficiency of adsorption were investigated. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were used to describe the equilibrium data while Pseudo first, second order and Elovich kinetic models were used to evaluate the kinetics of the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in enthalpy (ΔH°), entropy (ΔS°) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) were evaluated. Natural surface water showed higher MB removal efficiency than de-ionized water. The sorption process was favored more in alkaline pH range (7–10). The dye adsorption process was found to be endothermic, while ΔG° was negative implying that the reaction is spontaneous. Functional group analyses on the adsorbent showed the presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups. The Langmuir equilibrium model best described the adsorption process based on the linearized coefficient. The Pseudo second order model best described the kinetics of the reaction.

A breakthrough column study for removal of malachite green using coco-peat

A continuous adsorption study in a fixed bed column using coco-peat (CP) as an adsorbent was carried out for the removal of toxic malachite green (MG) from contaminated water. Fixed bed column studies were carried out to check field application viability. Various parameters like particle size, pH, concentration, dose and interference were exercised to optimize dye removal. Data obtained from breakthrough column studies were evaluated using Thomas and BDST model. Thomas rate constants K_t (0.22 ml min^-1 mg^-1) and adsorption capacity q_o (181.04 mg g^-1) were estimated and found to favor efficiency of CP. Thomas model was tested with several parameters like flow rate, concentration, and bed depth. Upon increase in input dye concentration, flow rate and bed height, adsorption coefficients increased. According to BDST model, maximum dye uptake of 468.26 mg/l was obtained with an input dye concentration of 5 mg/l. HYBRID and MPSD error functions were tested and found that Thomas model fits best. Dilute hydrochloric acid was found best for desorption. Real wastewater from textile industry was analyzed and confirmed the prospect of large-scale industrial application. In conclusion, coco-peat can be used as a promising bio-sorbent in column bed for scavenging of MG from contaminated water.

Adsorption of Rhodamine B dye from aqueous solution onto acid treated banana peel: Response surface methodology, kinetics and isotherm studies

The adsorption of rhodamine B (RhB) using acid modified banana peels has been examined. Chemical characteristics of the adsorbents were observed in order to determine active functional groups. The major functional groups on the surface were OH, C = O, C = C and C-O-C. Interactions between operational parameters were studied using the central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The predictions of the model output indicated that operational factors influenced responses at a confidence level of 95% (P<0.05). The optimum conditions for adsorption were pH 2 at a 0.2 g/L dose within 60 minutes of contact time. Isotherm studies were carried out using the optimized process variables. The data revealed that RhB adsorption fitted the Langmuir isotherm equation while the reduction of COD followed the Freundlich isotherm. Kinetic experiments fitted the pseudo second order model for RhB removal and COD reduction. The adsorption mechanism was not the only rate controlling step. Diffusion through the boundary layer described the pattern of adsorption.

Application of biochar for acid gas removal: experimental and statistical analysis using CO2

Acid gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are common contaminants in oil and gas operations, landfill gases, and exhaust stacks from power plants. While there are processes currently used to treat these effluents (e.g., amine absorption and adsorption using zeolite), many of these processes require high energy, space, and hazardous chemicals. Removal using biochar derived from the fast pyrolysis of forestry residues represents a more sustainable option. In this study, adsorption using CO₂ as a surrogate for acid gases was investigated using various biochars produced from fast pyrolysis of sawmill residues. Response surface methodology was used to determine operating conditions for maximum adsorption and assess interaction of the adsorption parameters, i.e., temperature, inlet feed flow rate, and CO₂ concentration, on biochar adsorption capacity. The Freundlich isotherm best represented the equilibrium adsorption, and the kinetic model was pseudo first-order. Thermodynamic analysis indicated the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. The biochar had better adsorption capacity relative to commercial zeolite. Our results suggested that biochar could be used as a sustainable and cost-effective option for contaminant removal from acid gases produced in landfill gas treatment, fossil fuel extraction, and/or combustion.

Continuous dye adsorption and desorption on an invasive macrophyte (Salvinia minima)

The continuous adsorption-desorption of methylene blue (MB) on an invasive macrophyte, Salvinia minima, was investigated in fixed-bed columns. The effects of bed depth (h) (9.30, 18.70, and 28 cm), inlet dye concentration (C₀) (51 ± 1.20, 154 ± 2.00, and 250 ± 1.50 mg L^-1), and flow rate (Q) (7 and 14 mL min^-1) on dye removal and breakthrough curves were assessed. Thomas, modified dose-response (MDR) and bed depth service time (BDST) models were fitted to the experimental data. Desorption and regeneration studies were also performed. The breakthrough time was affected by h, C₀, and Q. The dynamic bed capacity at the breakthrough point (q_b) increased with increasing h but decreased with increasing C₀ and Q. Dynamic bed capacities (q_e) from 318 to 322 mg g^-1 were achieved at h = 28 cm, C₀ = 154 ± 2.0, or 250 ± 1.50 mg L^-1, independently of the Q value. High MB removals were also observed (75-78%). FTIR analysis revealed that hydroxyl and carboxyl groups could be involved in dye adsorption. MDR and BDST models were both successfully used to predict the breakthrough curves of MB adsorption onto S. minima. A high regeneration efficiency (> 87%) was obtained after three adsorption-desorption cycles. These results confirm that the use of S. minima biomass could be a very efficient and eco-friendly alternative for MB adsorption in continuous mode.

Application of Phragmites australis to remove phenol from aqueous solutions by chemical activation in batch and fixed-bed columns

The ability of the agricultural residue of Phragmites australis to serve as an absorbent material used to remove phenol from aqueous solutions in batch and continuous fixed-bed columns was investigated. Prepared adsorbents were characterized by SEM, FTIR, and pHpzc methods. The equilibrium adsorption (qe) of phenol was increased from 9.61 to 29.40 mg/g when the initial phenol concentrations increased from 50 to 150 mg/L. The max adsorption capacity of Phragmites australis was found to be 29.60 mg/g at 30 °C. In column studies, a higher flow rate, higher initial concentration of phenol, and shorter packing layer height increase the column adsorption capacity of phenol. In a batch and continuous fixed-bed column studies, the experiment data was evaluated by some classic models. Fitting degree between the experimental results shows that the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics and Langmuir model were the best. Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models were in good agreement with the experimental breakthrough curve data. Both batch and continuous investigation indicated that Phragmites australis could be used as a fine adsorbent to remove phenol and that the adsorption efficiency improved significantly in the column experiment.

Polysaccharide-based cationic hydrogels for dye adsorption

With advances in soft material design and engineering, naturally resourced polysaccharides have frequently been used to construct hydrogels because of their unique properties such as renewability, biodegradability and biocompatibility. In this work, we use a water-soluble microbial polysaccharide, salecan as a trapped natural polymer, poly(acrylamide-co-diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PAD) as a functional matrix to prepare salecan/PAD hydrogels through a facile one-pot method. We employed a variety of spectroscopic techniques to probe the physicochemical properties of the designed hydrogels. The results demonstrated that salecan not only tuned the polarity of the PAD hydrogels, but also endowed them with adjustable water content. Subsequently, the adsorption performance of these hydrogels to methyl orange (MO) dye was investigated in detail. It was found that the salecan/PAD had the ability to remove MO from the surrounding aqueous solutions. In addition, adsorption kinetic data were nicely described by pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption isotherm data fitted well with the Freundlich equation. Having tailorable physicochemical properties coupled with the ability to uptake dye, these salecan-incorporated hydrogels could be promising platform for wastewater treatment and removal of heavy metal ions.

A Ni-based catalyst with polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a dispersant supported in a pretreated fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue for C9 petroleum resin (C9 PR) hydrogenation

A Ni-based catalyst (Ni-PVP/PFC3R) with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as a dispersant supported in a pretreated fluid catalytic cracking catalyst residue (PFC3R) was synthesized and applied to C9 petroleum resin (C9 PR) hydrogenation. For comparison, a Ni catalyst without PVP (Ni/PFC3R) was prepared in the same way. Ni-PVP/PFC3R exhibited higher activity and better stability. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, H₂-temperature programmed reduction/temperature programmed desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The catalysts had a smaller crystallite size and stronger interactions between the Ni species and the PFC3R support in the presence of PVP. The effects of nickel loading, H₂ pressure, temperature and reaction time for C9 PR hydrogenation over Ni-PVP/PFC3R were investigated. The bromine number was reduced to 1.25 under the following conditions: nickel content of 12 wt%, PVP amount of 1.5 wt%, temperature of 270°C, H₂ pressure of 8 MPa and reaction time of 240 min.

Batch and fixed-bed column study for p-nitrophenol, methylene blue, and U(VI) removal by polyvinyl alcohol-graphene oxide macroporous hydrogel bead

There is an increasing need to explore effective and clean approaches for hazardous contamination removal from wastewaters. In this work, a novel bead adsorbent, polyvinyl alcohol-graphene oxide (PVA-GO) macroporous hydrogel bead was prepared as filter media for p-nitrophenol (PNP), dye methylene blue (MB), and heavy metal U(VI) removal from aqueous solution. Batch and fixed-bed column experiments were carried out to evaluate the adsorption capacities of PNP, MB, and U(VI) on this bead. From batch experiments, the maximum adsorption capacities of PNP, MB, and U(VI) reached 347.87, 422.90, and 327.55 mg/g. From the fixed-bed column experiments, the adsorption capacities of PNP, MB, and U(VI) decreased with initial concentration increasing from 100 to 400 mg/L. The adsorption capacities of PNP, MB, and U(VI) decreased with increasing flow rate. Also, the maximum adsorption capacity of PNP decreased as pH increased from 3 to 9, while MB and U(VI) presented opposite tendencies. Furthermore, the bed depth service Time (BDST) model showed good linear relationships for the three ions' adsorption processes in this fixed-bed column, which indicated that the BDST model effectively evaluated and optimized the adsorption process of PVA-GO macroporous hydrogel bead in fixed-bed columns for hazardous contaminant removal from wastewaters.

Flower stamen-like porous boron carbon nitride nanoscrolls for water cleaning

With the development of the textile industry, commercial organic dyes in waste water are posing as serious issues. Recently, nanomaterials such as porous nanosheets have proven to be efficient in adsorbing the dyes from waste water. However, it still remains a challenge to develop novel nanomaterials as effective absorbents for water cleaning. Herein, we report novel flower stamen-like porous boron carbon nitride (BCN) nanoscrolls for water cleaning. The porous BCN nanoscrolls with a high surface area of 890 m² g^-1 display excellent dye adsorption performances up to the adsorption capacity of 620 mg g^-1 of Congo red and 250 mg g^-1 of methylene blue, which have a great potential value for water cleaning applications.

Comparative study of adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) ion from aqueous solution in fixed bed column by peanut shell and almond shell using empirical models and ANN

Cr(VI) is a toxic water pollutant, which causes cancer and mutation in living organisms. Adsorption has become the most preferred method for removal of Cr(VI) due to its high efficiency and low cost. Peanut and almond shells were used as adsorbents in downflow fixed bed continuous column operation for Cr(VI) removal. The experiments were carried out to scrutinise the adsorptive capacity of the peanut shells and almond shells, as well as to find out the effect of various operating parameters such as column bed depth (5-10 cm), influent flow rate (10-22 ml min^-1) and influent Cr(VI) concentration (10-20 mg L^-1) on the Cr(VI) removal. The fixed bed column operation for Cr(VI) adsorption the equilibrium was illustrated by Langmuir isotherm. Different well-known mathematical models were applied to the experimental data to identify the best-fitted model to explain the bed dynamics. Prediction of the bed dynamics by Yan et al. model was found to be satisfactory. Applicability of artificial neural network (ANN) modelling is also reported. An ANN modelling of multilayer perceptron with gradient descent and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithms have also been tried to predict the percentage removal of Cr(VI). This study indicates that these adsorbents have an excellent potential and are useful for water treatment particularly small- and medium-sized industries of third world countries. Almond shell represents better adsorptive capacity as breakthrough time and exhaustion time are longer in comparison to peanut shell.

Enhanced adsorption of cesium on PVA-alginate encapsulated Prussian blue-graphene oxide hydrogel beads in a fixed-bed column system

A continuous fixed-bed column study was performed using PVA-alginate encapsulated Prussian blue-graphene oxide (PB-GO) hydrogel beads as a novel adsorbent for the removal of cesium from aqueous solutions. The effects of different operating parameters, such as initial cesium concentration, pH, bed height, flow rate, and bead size, were investigated. The maximum adsorption capacity of the PB-GO hydrogel beads was 164.5mg/g at an initial cesium concentration of 5mM, bed height of 20cm, and flow rate of 0.83mL/min at pH 7. The Thomas, Adams-Bohart, and Yoon-Nelson models were applied to the experimental data to predict the breakthrough curves using non-linear regression. Although both the Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models showed good agreement with the experimental data, the Yoon-Nelson model was found to provide the best representation for cesium adsorption on the adsorbent, based on the χ(2) analysis.

Adsorption of hexavalent chromium from synthetic and electroplating effluent on chemically modified Swietenia mahagoni shell in a packed bed column

Packed bed column studies were carried out to evaluate the performance of chemically modified adsorbents for the sequestration of hexavalent chromium from synthetic and electroplating industrial effluent. The effects of parameters such as bed height (3-9 cm), inlet flow rate (5-15 mL/min), and influent Cr(VI) concentration (50-200 mg/L) on the percentage removal of Cr(VI) and the adsorption capacity of the adsorbents in a packed bed column were investigated. The breakthrough time increased with increasing bed height and decreased with the increase of inlet flow rate and influent Cr(VI) concentration. The adsorption column models such as Thomas, Adams-Bohart, Yoon-Nelson, and bed depth service time (BDST) were successfully correlated with the experimental data. The Yoon-Nelson and BDST model showed good agreement with the experimental data for all the studied parameter conditions. Results of the present study indicated that the chemically modified Swietenia mahagoni shell can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater in a packed bed column.