Adsorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by multi-walled carbon nanotubes as affected by Cu(II)

Core-shell architectured NH2-UiO-66@ZIF-8/multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite-based sensitive electrochemical sensor towards simultaneous determination of Pb2+ and Cu2

Amino functionalized zirconium-based metal-organic framework (NH₂-UiO-66) and zinc-based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) were integrated to develop a core-shell architectured hybrid material (NH₂-UiO-66@ZIF-8, NU66@Z8). The morphology and structure evolutions of core-shell NU6@Z8 were investigated by FE-SEM, XRD, FTIR, and XPS. The NU66@Z8 combined with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CMWCNT) was deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for fabricating an electrochemical platform towards detecting Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺. The NU66@Z8/CMWCNT/GCE revealed significantly improved electrochemical performance for determination of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ compared with the individual components, which can be attributed to the strong adsorption capacity, unique core-shell structure, and large electrochemical active surface area of NU66@Z8/CMWCNT. Under the optimal conditions, the developed sensor exhibited excellent sensing capability with a low limit of detection (Pb²⁺,1 nM; Cu²⁺, 10 nM) and a wide determination range (Pb²⁺,0.003-70 μM; Cu²⁺, 0.03-50 μM). The sensor showed high selectivity towards common interfering ions and good repeatability. The real sample recoveries of proposed sensor were in the range 95.0-103% for Pb²⁺ (RSD ≤ 5.3%) and 94.2-106% for Cu²⁺ (RSD ≤ 5.9%), suggesting that the NU66@Z8/CMWCNT is suitable for examining trace heavy metals in natural environment.

Adsorption modeling of organic compounds (OCs) by carbon nanotubes (CNTs): role of OC and CNT properties on the linear solvation energy relationship

This study evaluated a comprehensive database for the adsorption of polar and nonpolar organic compounds (OCs) by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and to use the linear solvation energy relationship (LSER) technique for developing predictive adsorption models of OCs by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). The results showed that coefficient of determinations (R²) values for all compounds are higher variability in the 200 g/mol molecular weight cutoff (74-99%). When the molecular weight cutoff of all OCs is higher than 200 g/mol, the trend of their R² values is decreased (less than 70%). Among all adsorbate descriptor coefficients, V and B terms are the most significant descriptors (p-values ≤ 0.05) in LSER equations for adsorption of low molecular weight polar and nonpolar OCs by both CNTs. Besides, K_OW normalization of all K_d values did not have significant impact on the regression of the LSER model, indicating that hydrophobic interactions are not sole mechanism for the adsorption of OCs on CNTs. Lastly, SWCNTs exhibited higher polar OCs uptake than MWCNTs, which was attributed to more polar surface of SWCNTs as suggested by its high oxygen content (%10).

Recovery and recycle of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals using adsorbents incorporated from waste resources and nanomaterials-A review

Recovery and recycle of wastewater are essential because of the need of huge quantities of water everywhere in this world. Presence of heavy metals in wastewater such as iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), tungsten (W), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), silver (Ag), antimony (Sb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pd), uranium (U), etc is the serious environmental issues and risk for human and animal health. Adsorbents are simple and low-cost methods to treat the pollutants and heavy metals of wastewater. The adsorbents are capable to treat the wastewater prepared from different wastes such as domestic, agricultural, industrial, animal and marine waste etc. In recent years, novel nanomaterials are also used as adsorbents which enhance the treatment efficiency of wastewater. Adsorption is a mass transfer phenomenon revolving shift of elements from a fluid to a solid phase based on the concentration gradient. The mechanism which helps in separation of contaminants from the effluent and the factors governing the efficiency of adsorption are discussed elaborately.

Intensive removal of PAHs in constructed wetland filled with copper biochar

In this study, biochar-loading copper ions (Cu-BC), a novel composite for removing phenanthrene very efficiently from water, was prepared using the impregnation method. The performance of constructed wetlands (CWs) with these modified and original biochar as substrates was analyzed. CW with Cu-BC removed a large amount of phenanthrene (94.09 ± 3.02%). According to the surface characteristics analysis, Cu-BC can promote the removal of pollutants via complex absorption, hydrophobic adsorption, increasing the Lewis Pair and electrostatic attraction. Furthermore the higher nitrate removal rate in the treated system (91.11 ± 1.17%) was observed to have higher levels of bacterial metabolic diversity and denitrifier types. The phenanthrene accumulated in plants with this treatment system was enhanced by the role of copper in photosynthesis. It is able to boost the plant extraction of organic matter.

An Overview and Evaluation of Highly Porous Adsorbent Materials for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phenols Removal from Wastewater

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenolic compounds had been widely recognized as priority organic pollutants in wastewater with toxic effects on both plants and animals. Thus, the remediation of these pollutants has been an active area of research in the field of environmental science and engineering. This review highlighted the advantage of adsorption technology in the removal of PAHs and phenols in wastewater. The literature presented on the applications of various porous carbon materials such as biochar, activated carbon (AC), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene as potential adsorbents for these pollutants has been critically reviewed and analyzed. Under similar conditions, the use of porous polymers such as Chitosan and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been well presented. The high adsorption capacities of advanced porous materials such as mesoporous silica and metal-organic frameworks have been considered and evaluated. The preference of these materials, higher adsorption efficiencies, mechanism of adsorptions, and possible challenges have been discussed. Recommendations have been proposed for commercialization, pilot, and industrial-scale applications of the studied adsorbents towards persistent organic pollutants (POPs) removal from wastewater.

Facile synthesis of graphene-based hyper-cross-linked porous carbon composite with superior adsorption capability for chlorophenols

In this work, we proposed a green and cost-effective method to prepare a graphene-based hyper-cross-linked porous carbon composite (GN/HCPC) by one-pot carbonization of hyper-cross-linked polymer (HCP) and glucose. The composite combined the advantages of graphene (GN) and hyper-cross-linked porous carbon (HCPC), leading to high specific surface area (396.93 m²/g) and large total pore volume (0.413 cm³/g). The resulting GN/HCPC composite was applied as an adsorbent to remove 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous solutions. The influence of different solution conditions including pH, ionic strength, contact time, system temperature and concentration of humic acid was determined. The maximum adsorption capacity of GN/HCPC composite (calculated by the Langmuir model) could reach 348.43 mg/g, which represented increases of 43.6% and 13.6% over those of the as-prepared pure GN and HCPC, respectively. The Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model were found to fit well with the adsorption process. Thermodynamic experiments suggested that the adsorption proceeded spontaneously and endothermically. In addition, the GN/HCPC composite showed high adsorption performance toward other organic contaminants including tetracycline, bisphenol A and phenol. Measurement of the adsorption capability of GN/HCPC in secondary effluent revealed a slight decrease over that in pure water solution. This study demonstrated that the GN/HCPC composite can be utilized as a practical and efficient adsorbent for the removal of organic contaminants in wastewater.

Feedforward Artificial Neural Network-Based Model for Predicting the Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Water by Using Deep Eutectic Solvent-Functionalized CNTs

In the recent decade, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have occupied a strategic place in green chemistry research. This paper discusses the application of DESs as functionalization agents for multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to produce novel adsorbents for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous solution. Also, it focuses on the application of the feedforward backpropagation neural network (FBPNN) technique to predict the adsorption capacity of DES-functionalized CNTs. The optimum adsorption conditions that are required for the maximum removal of 2,4-DCP were determined by studying the impact of the operational parameters (i.e., the solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time) on the adsorption capacity of the produced adsorbents. Two kinetic models were applied to describe the adsorption rate and mechanism. Based on the correlation coefficient (R²) value, the adsorption kinetic data were well defined by the pseudo second-order model. The precision and efficiency of the FBPNN model was approved by calculating four statistical indicators, with the smallest value of the mean square error being 5.01 × 10⁻⁵. Moreover, further accuracy checking was implemented through the sensitivity study of the experimental parameters. The competence of the model for prediction of 2,4-DCP removal was confirmed with an R² of 0.99.

Pentachlorophenol removal from aqueous solutions using Montmorillonite modified by Silane & Imidazole: kinetic and isotherm study

BACKGROUND

Removal of pentachlorophenol (PCP) from wastewater containing chlorophenols, due to its toxicity, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties, has been attracted much interests of researchers.

METHODS

In this research, K10 montmorillonite was modified by silane and imidazole (Im) for increasing the removal percentage of PCP from aqueous solutions. It was characterized by FTIR, XRF, FESEM, EDS, and BET techniques. The influence of different parameters such as initial concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature and agitating speed was investigated.

RESULTS

The maximum removal percentage (95%) were obtained for PCP at pH = 4. The isotherm experimental data for pentachlorophenol was best fitted using the Langmuir model and the kinetic studies were better described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption of PCP by the adsorbent was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the modified montmorillonite by silane and imidazole is appropriate and low cost adsorbent for increasing of the removal percentage of PCP from aqueous solutions.

Fe3 O4 @GO on silica sand as an efficient and economical adsorbent; Typical application for removal of phenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol from water samples

In this research, the layer-by-layer coating of silica sand surface with monolayer of graphene oxide (GO) immobilized on magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃ O₄ MNPs) sublayer was investigated as a novel, low-cost, effective, and green nanocomposite material for adsorption of phenol and 2,4-dichloro-phenol (DCP). Several characterization techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to confirm the successful synthesis of Fe₃ O₄ MNPs@GO on silica. The efficiency of Fe₃ O₄ MNPs@GO-coated silica (SiO₂ ) for the removal of the target phenolic compounds from water samples was evaluated. The maximum removal of phenol (52%) and DCP (73%) was observed using 1.0 g adsorbent, initial concentration of 12.5 mg/dm³ (for phenol) and 15 mg/dm³ (for DCP), sample volume of 10 ml (for phenol) and 15 ml (for DCP), contact time of 20 min (for phenol) and 10 min (for DCP), and pH = 5. The adsorption isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich as well as kinetic and intraparticle diffusion models were also examined. Eventually, SiO₂ /Fe₃ O₄ MNPs@GO was regenerated five times for removal of examined contaminants and their removal efficiency from the water inlet of a water treatment plant was assessed. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Immobilizing monolayer of GO nanosheets on silica sands surface for the first time has been achieved. GO monolayer anchors on silica sands through Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles as sublayer without using very expensive tris(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane agent. Modified silica sands are introduced as a novel and economic pollutants adsorbent, which can be used in filter sands of water treatment industry. The SiO₂ /Fe₃ O₄ MNPs@GO significantly reduces the amount of phenol and 2,4-dichloro-phenol (DCP) as model organic pollutants from water samples.

Occurrence of disinfection by-products in sewage treatment plants and the marine environment in Hong Kong

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are generated by disinfectants reacting with organic matters. Previous studies have focused on DBPs in drinking water, but they have not paid sufficient attention to DBPs in sewage treatment plants (STPs), where the sources and compositions of DBPs are much more complicated, and there is a likelihood of more toxic DBPs being formed. In this study, the occurrence of DBPs in six STPs in Hong Kong and the potential impact of the effluents from the STPs on the marine environment were investigated. In STPs, the mean concentrations of the total DBPs ranged from 1160 to 17,019 ng/L, 1562 to 20,795 ng/L, and 289 to 1037 ng/L in the influent, effluent, and seawater, respectively. Trihalomethanes, haloacetonitriles, and trihalophenols were the most commonly detected DBPs, whereas hexachloro-1,3-butadiene and halocarbazoles were not detected in the STPs and in the marine environment in Hong Kong. Secondary treatment efficiently removed DBPs and DBP precursors. Regarding disinfection techniques, UV irradiation showed little effect on the concentrations of DBPs, whereas sodium hypochlorite significantly elevated the levels of both traditional and emerging DBPs. The effluents from two selected STPs that use chlorination have an obvious impact on the marine environment. This work presents the potential sources of DBPs in sewage, the influence of the treatment processes and disinfection techniques employed in STPs on the removal/formation of DBPs, and the impact of the effluents from the STPs on the marine environment. This work also highlights the need for investigating the emerging DBPs generated in STPs and their related environmental concerns.

Predictive models for adsorption of organic compounds by Graphene nanosheets: comparison with carbon nanotubes

The Linear Solvation Energy Relationships (LSER) technique was applied in the present study for predicting models of organic compounds (OCs) adsorption by Graphene and Graphene oxide (GO), and the results were compared with those of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT). Adsorption database of 38 OCs (28 aromatic and 10 aliphatic) for Graphene and 69 OCs (59 aromatic and 10 aliphatic) for GO were collected from the literature and our laboratory. The r² of the LSER models on the adsorption of aromatic OCs by Graphene and GO at three different equilibrium concentrations gradually increased up to OC molecular weight of 400 g/mol, after which a declining trend was observed for GO, while there was no visible change for Graphene. Among descriptors for all LSER models, V (molecular volume) and B (hydrogen bond accepting) for Graphene nanosheets (GNS) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were the most significant descriptors (p values ≤ 0.05). B term had high value and was negatively correlated with adsorption of all OCs by Graphene (-1.24 to -9.45), GO (-0.55 to -9.31), SWCNT (-0.10 to -5.38) and MWCNT (-1.24 to -1.85). LSER successfully trained models for adsorption of OCs by GNS, and model coefficients were dependent on adsorbent type and OC properties.

Effects of metal ions and pH on ofloxacin sorption to cassava residue-derived biochar

In this study, the impacts of various cations, cation strength and pH on ofloxacin (OFL) adsorption to cassava residue-derived biochars were determined. The associated adsorption mechanisms are discussed. The biochars were prepared at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 350°C to 750°C, and labeled as CW350, CW450, CW550, CW650 and CW750. The Freundlich model provided the best fit to describe the adsorption capacity of OFL and the Freundlich coefficient (logK_f) increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The inclusion of Zn²⁺ or Al³⁺ increased OFL sorption capacities of five biochars, while Cu²⁺ reduced sorption to CW450 and CW550. No significant impacts on OFL sorption were observed in the presence of K⁺ and Ca²⁺. The concentration of Ca²⁺ affected the adsorption capacity of CW550, but had no significant impact on other biochars. The pH of OFL solution, ranging from 3 to 9, had no significant changes on OFL adsorption by all the tested biochars. Results of FTIR spectra and zeta potential indicated that electrostatic interactions, cationic exchange, metal bridging and micropore filling could be the main sorption mechanism between OFL and biochars. These studies indicated that cassava residue can be converted into biochars that are effective adsorbents for removing OFL from aqueous solution.

Fabrication of a magnetite/diazonium functionalized-reduced graphene oxide hybrid as an easily regenerated adsorbent for efficient removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution

A magnetic hybrid nanomaterial, which contains magnetite (Fe₃O₄) particles and diazonium functionalized-reduced graphene oxide (DF-RGO), was fabricated via a three-pot reaction. First, the reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was synthesized via a redox reaction. Second, diazonium functionalized-RGO was prepared via a feasible chemical reaction. Third, Fe₃O₄ particles were loaded onto the surface of DF-RGO by covalent bonding, fabricating the M-DF-RGO hybrid. The fabricated hybrid was characterized by SEM, TEM, AFM, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, TGA, Raman spectroscopy, and magnetometry. The resulting M-DF-RGO hybrid possessed unique magnetic properties and was applied to remove 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from aqueous solution. The adsorption of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP on the M-DF-RGO hybrid was performed under various conditions, with respect to initial chlorophenol concentration, pH, and contact time. The results suggest that the adsorption of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP onto the M-DF-RGO hybrid is strongly dependent on pH and weakly dependent on contact time. In addition, the adsorption isotherm of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP on the M-DF-RGO hybrid fits the Freundlich model well and the adsorption capacities of 4-CP and 2,4-DCP on M-DF-RGO reached 55.09 and 127.33 mg g⁻¹, respectively, at pH 6 and 25 °C. In this situation, intermolecular interactions including π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding are operative. The calculated results of density functional theory further demonstrate that 2,4-DCP molecules could be more easily absorbed than 4-CP molecules by the M-DF-RGO hybrid. Moreover, the M-DF-RGO hybrid could be easily separated by a magnetic separation process, and showed good recyclability of more than five cycles.

A magnetite/diazonium functionalized-reduced graphene oxide hybrid is an easily regenerated and recyclable adsorbent for removal of chlorophenols from aqueous solution.

Adsorption of organic contaminants by graphene nanosheets: A review

Graphene nanosheets (GNS) such as graphenes and graphene oxides (GOs) have been widely investigated as next-generation adsorbents in both water and wastewater treatment processes due to their unique physicochemical properties and their affinity towards different classes of organic contaminants (OCs). In the last five years, more than 40 articles investigating adsorption of different classes of OCs by graphene and GO were published in peer-reviewed journals. Adsorption mechanisms were controlled by molecular properties of OCs (e.g., aromatic vs aliphatic, molecular size and hydrophobicity), characteristics of adsorbents (e.g., surface area, pore size distribution, and surface functional groups), and background solution properties (e.g., pH, ionic strength, surfactants, NOM, and temperature). This literature survey includes: (i) a summary of adsorption of OCs by GNS, (ii) a comprehensive discussion of the mechanisms and factors controlling the adsorption of OCs by GNS and a comparison of their adsorption behaviors with those of CNT. This literature survey also identifies future research needs and challenges on the adsorption of OCs by GNS.

Insight into highly efficient co-removal of p-nitrophenol and lead by nitrogen-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon: Performance and modelling

Highly efficient simultaneous removal of Pb(II) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) contamination from water was accomplished by nitrogen-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (N-Fe/OMC). The mutual effects and inner mechanisms of their adsorption onto N-Fe/OMC were systematically investigated by sole and binary systems, and thermodynamic, sorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics models. The liquid-film diffusion step might be the rate-limiting step for PNP and Pb(II). The fitting of experimental data with Temkin model indicates that the adsorption process of PNP and Pb(II) involve physisorption and chemisorption. There exist site competition and enhancement of PNP and Pb(II) on the sorption to N-Fe/OMC. Moreover, N-Fe/OMC could be regenerated effectively and recycled by using dilute NaOH and acetone. These demonstrated superior properties of N-Fe/OMC indicate that it could be applied to treatment of wastewaters containing both lead and PNP.

Mechanism of Intrinsic Chemiluminescence Production from the Degradation of Persistent Chlorinated Phenols by the Fenton System: A Structure-Activity Relationship Study and the Critical Role of Quinoid and Semiquinone Radical Intermediates

We found recently that intrinsic chemiluminescence (CL) could be produced by all 19 chlorophenolic persistent organic pollutants during environmentally friendly advanced oxidation processes. However, the underlying mechanism for the structure-activity relationship (SAR, i.e., the chemical structures and the CL generation) remains unclear. In this study, we found that, for all 19 chlorophenol congeners tested, the CL increased with an increasing number of chlorine atoms in general; and for chlorophenol isomers (such as the 6 trichlorophenols), the CL decreased in the order of meta- > ortho-/para-Cl-substituents with respect to the -OH group of chlorophenols. Further studies showed that not only chlorinated quinoid intermediates but also, more interestingly, chlorinated semiquinone radicals were produced during the degradation of trichlorophenols by the Fenton reagent; and the type and yield of which were determined by the directing effects, hydrogen bonding, and steric hindrance effect of the OH- and/or Cl-substitution groups. More importantly, a good correlation was observed between the formation of these quinoid intermediates and CL generation, which could fully explain the above SAR findings. This represents the first report on the structure-activity relationship study and the critical role of quinoid and semiquinone radical intermediates, which may have broad chemical and environmental implications for future studies on remediation of other halogenated persistent organic pollutants by advanced oxidation processes.

Simultaneous removal of atrazine and copper using polyacrylic acid-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon from water: adsorption mechanism

Highly efficient simultaneous removal of atrazine and Cu(II) was accomplished using synthesized polyacrylic acid-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (P-MMC) as compared to magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (MMC) and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). The mutual effects and interactive mechanism of their adsorption onto P-MMC were investigated systematically by binary, preloading and thermodynamic adsorption procedures. In both binary and preloading systems, the adsorption of atrazine was inhibited to some extent by the presence of Cu(II) because of selective recognition and direct competition, but the presence of atrazine had negligible effect on Cu(II) desorption. With the coexistence of humic acid (0–20 mg L⁻¹), both atrazine and Cu(II) sorption increased slightly in sole and binary systems. With the concentration of coexisting NaCl increasing from 0 to 100 mM, the adsorption capacity for Cu(II) slightly decreased, but as for atrazine adsorption, it decreased at first, and then increased slightly in sole and binary systems. P-MMC was applied to treat real environmental samples, and the sorption capacities for atrazine and Cu(II) in real samples were all more than 91.47% and 96.43% of those in lab ultrapure water, respectively. Finally, comprehensively considering the relatively good renewability and the superior behavior in the application to real water samples, P-MMC has potential in removal of atrazine, Cu(II) and possibly other persistent organic pollutants from wastewater.

Quantitative relationships between the adsorptivity of carbonaceous materials in soil for Pb(II) and soil organic matter content

Strong adsorptivity of manufactured carbonaceous materials (MCMs) mediates the behavior of heavy metals in soil. Laboratory-reported adsorptivity of MCMs often deviates from their actual abilities in soil, because soil organic matter (SOM) can change the adsorptive abilities of MCMs by coating dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the surface of the MCMs. It was considered that the influence of SOM on the adsorptivity of MCMs in soil follows a sequential pathway of SOM releasing DOM in soil solution and subsequent DOM binding onto MCMs, thereby altering MCM surface acidity and hence changing MCM adsorptivity for heavy metals. In this study, we first extracted DOM from ten topsoils collected over a broad region of China with a wide range of SOM. The DOM solutions were then used to load DOM onto four MCMs including activated carbon (AC), multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and two biochars (BC400 and BC700), respectively, obtaining a total of 44 MCM-DOM complex samples with known amounts of bound DOM. These MCM-DOM complex samples were then determined for their surface acidities and adsorptive abilities for Pb(II). We found that there were significant correlations between DOM concentration and SOM content, between DOM binding onto MCMs and DOM concentration, between surface acidity of MCM-DOM complexes and DOM binding onto MCMs, as well as between Pb(II) adsorption on MCM-DOM complexes and surface acidity of MCM-DOM complexes. With understanding of these individual linear correlations, linear relationships between the Pb(II) adsorption and SOM content were established by combining individual correlations and by directly plotting the former against the latter. These relationships may be used to accurately predict the adsorptive abilities of MCMs for heavy metals in soils via simply determining SOM.

Removal of oxytetracycline and determining its biosorption properties on aerobic granular sludge

This study investigates biosorption of Oxytetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, using aerobic granular sludge as an adsorbent in aqueous solutions. A sequencing batch reactor fed by a synthetic wastewater was operated to create aerobic granular sludge. Primarily, the pore structure and surface area of granular sludge, the chemical structure and the molecular sizes of the pharmaceutical, operating conditions, such as pH, stirring rate, initial concentration of Oxytetracycline, during adsorption process was verified. Subsequently, thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of the adsorption were examined and adsorption isotherm studies were carried out. It was shown that the aerobic granular sludge was a good alternative for biosorption of this pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical was adsorbed better at pH values of 6-8. The adsorption efficiency increased with rising ionic strength. Also, it was seen that the adsorption process was an exothermic process in terms of thermodynamics. The adsorption can be well explained by Langmuir isotherm model.

Linear solvation energy relationships (LSER) for adsorption of organic compounds by carbon nanotubes

The objective of this paper was to create a comprehensive database for the adsorption of organic compounds by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and to use the Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (LSER) technique for developing predictive adsorption models of organic compounds (OCs) by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Adsorption data for 123 OCs by MWCNTs and 48 OCs by SWCNTs were compiled from the literature, including some experimental results obtained in our laboratory. The roles of selected OCs properties and CNT types were examined with LSER models. The results showed that the r(2) values of the LSER models displayed small variability for aromatic compounds smaller than 220 g/mol, after which a decreasing trend was observed. The data available for aliphatics was mainly for molecular weights smaller than 250 g/mol, which showed a similar trend to that of aromatics. The r(2) values for the LSER model on the adsorption of aromatic and aliphatic OCs by SWCNTs and MWCNTs were relatively similar indicating the linearity of LSER models did not depend on the CNT types. Among all LSER model descriptors, V term (molecular volume) for aromatic OCs and B term (basicity) for aliphatic OCs were the most predominant descriptors on both type of CNTs. The presence of R term (excess molar refractivity) in LSER model equations resulted in decreases for both V and P (polarizability) parameters without affecting the r(2) values. Overall, the results demonstrate that successful predictive models can be developed for the adsorption of OCs by MWCNTs and SWCNTs with LSER techniques.

Environmental application of nanotechnology: air, soil, and water

Global deterioration of water, soil, and atmosphere by the release of toxic chemicals from the ongoing anthropogenic activities is becoming a serious problem throughout the world. This poses numerous issues relevant to ecosystem and human health that intensify the application challenges of conventional treatment technologies. Therefore, this review sheds the light on the recent progresses in nanotechnology and its vital role to encompass the imperative demand to monitor and treat the emerging hazardous wastes with lower cost, less energy, as well as higher efficiency. Essentially, the key aspects of this account are to briefly outline the advantages of nanotechnology over conventional treatment technologies and to relevantly highlight the treatment applications of some nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based nanoparticles, antibacterial nanoparticles, and metal oxide nanoparticles) in the following environments: (1) air (treatment of greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds, and bioaerosols via adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, thermal decomposition, and air filtration processes), (2) soil (application of nanomaterials as amendment agents for phytoremediation processes and utilization of stabilizers to enhance their performance), and (3) water (removal of organic pollutants, heavy metals, pathogens through adsorption, membrane processes, photocatalysis, and disinfection processes).

Effect of humic acid on the sulfamethazine adsorption by functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous solution: mechanistic study

The presence of humic acid (HA) inhibited sulfamethazine (SMZ) adsorption by three types of multi-walled carbon nanotubesviacompetitive interactions, molecular sieving, and pore blockage in solution (pH < 9).

Correlation and prediction of adsorption capacity and affinity of aromatic compounds on carbon nanotubes

Adsorption of 22 nonpolar and polar aromatic compounds on 10 carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with various diameters, lengths and surface oxygen-containing group contents was investigated to develop predictive correlations for adsorption, using the isotherm fitting of Polanyi theory-based Dubinin-Ashtakhov (DA) model. Adsorption capacity of aromatic compounds on CNTs is negatively correlated with melting points of aromatic compounds, and surface oxygen-containing group contents and surface area ratios of mesopores to total pores of CNTs, but positively correlated with total surface area of CNTs. Adsorption affinity is positively correlated with solvatochromic parameters of aromatic compounds, independent of tube lengths and surface oxygen-containing group contents of CNTs, but negatively correlated with surface area ratios of mesopores to total pores of CNTs. The correlations of adsorption capacity and adsorption affinity with properties of both aromatic compounds and CNTs clearly have physical significance, can be used successfully with DA model to predict adsorption of aromatic compounds on CNTs from the well-known physiochemical properties of aromatic compounds (i.e., solvatochromic parameters, melting points) and CNTs (i.e., surface area and total acidic group contents), and thus can facilitate the environmental application of CNTs as sorbents and environmental risk assessment of both aromatic contaminants and CNTs.

Kinetic and isotherm modeling of Cd (II) adsorption by L-cysteine functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes as adsorbent

In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were functionalized by L-cysteine to show the kinetic and isotherm modeling of Cd (II) ions onto L-cysteine functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The adsorption behavior of Cd (II) ion was studied by varying parameters including dose of L-MWCNTs, contact time, and cadmium concentration. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms and kinetics were also investigated based on Cd (II) adsorption tests. The results showed that an increase in contact time and adsorbent dosage resulted in increase of the adsorption rate. The optimum condition of the Cd (II) removal process was found at pH=7.0, 15 mg/L L-MWCNTs dosage, 6 mg/L cadmium concentration, and contact time of 60 min. The removal percent was equal to 89.56 at optimum condition. Langmuir and Freundlich models were employed to analyze the experimental data. The data showed well fitting with the Langmuir model (R2=0.994) with q max of 43.47 mg/g. Analyzing the kinetic data by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equations revealed that the adsorption of cadmium using L-MWSNTs following the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with correlation coefficients (R2) equals to 0.998, 0.992, and 0.998 for 3, 6, and 9 mg/L Cd (II) concentrations, respectively. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second-order. Overall, treatment of polluted solution to Cd (II) by adsorption process using L-MWCNT can be considered as an effective technology.

Adsorption removal of antiviral drug oseltamivir and its metabolite oseltamivir carboxylate by carbon nanotubes: Effects of carbon nanotube properties and media

This investigation evaluated the adsorption behavior of the antiviral drugs of oseltamivir (OE) and its metabolites (i.e., oseltamivir carboxylate (OC)) on three types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) including single-walled CNT (SWCNT), multi-walled CNT (MWCNT), and carboxylated SWCNT (SWCNT-COOH). CNTs can efficiently remove more than 90% of the OE and OC from aqueous solution when the initial concentration was lower than 10(-4) mmol/L. The Polanyi-Manes model depicted the adsorption isotherms of OE and OC on CNTs better than the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The properties of OE/OC and the characteristics of CNTs, particularly the oxygen functional groups (e.g., SWCNT-COOH) played important roles during the adsorption processes. OE showed a higher adsorption affinity than OC. By comparing the different adsorbates adsorption on each CNT and each adsorbate adsorption on different CNTs, the adsorption mechanisms of hydrophobic interaction, electrostatic interaction, van der Waals force, and H-bonding were proposed as the contributing factors for OE and OC adsorption on CNTs. Particularly, for verifying the contribution of electrostatic interaction, the changes of adsorption partition efficiency (Kd) of OE and OC on CNTs were evaluated by varying pH from 2 to 11 and the importance of isoelectric point (pHIEP) of CNTs on OE and OC adsorption was addressed.

Removal of 1,2-dichlorobenzene from water emulsion using adsorbent catalysts and its regeneration

Purification of emulsions of 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) by carbon-based adsorbent catalysts has been studied. The cycle of purification includes: (1) adsorption of 1,2-DCB from the aqueous phase and (II) reductive regeneration by hydrodechlorination of the adsorbed 1,2-DCB by molecular hydrogen in the liquid phase. 1,2-DCB adsorption from aqueous solutions has been found to proceed by the mechanism of volume filling of pores. The rate of hydrodechlorination was shown to correlate with the particle size of the active component: the finer the particles, the higher the activity of the adsorbent catalyst. Pd/FAS with an average Pd particle size of 2.8 nm was found to be the most efficient catalyst.

Competitive sorption used to probe strong hydrogen bonding sites for weak organic acids on carbon nanotubes

We recently proposed that weak acids (AH) adsorb to partially oxidized carbonaceous materials in part by forming strong hydrogen bonds with acidic surface groups, depicted by (A···H···O-surf)(-), known as negative charge-assisted hydrogen bonds, (-)CAHBs. Here we use competition experiments to show that sorption of AH on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be described conceptually by a dual specific/nonspecific domain model, where one domain involves (-)CAHB sites that can become saturated. The trends observed in single-solute adsorption, including the stoichiometric release of hydroxide upon sorption of carboxyate or phenolate anions, were consistent with trends in the previous studies and pointed to the formation of (-)CAHB. 3,4-Dinitrophenolate formed (-)CAHBs more efficiently than did 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenolate because of alleviation of steric hindrance to approach by the ortho chlorines. Competition against a (-)CAHB-capable target compound was greater when the competitor was also (-)CAHB-capable than when it was not (e.g., benzoate as target vs 3,4-dinitrophenolate or nitrobenzene as competitor; mono-n-butyl phthalate as target vs methyl benzoate or p-tolyl acetate as competitor). Experiments also revealed competition between the nitroaromatic species for π-π electron donor-acceptor sites. The findings will contribute to a better understanding of the adsorption mechanism of ionizable compounds on carbonaceous materials.

Synthesis of flower-shaped ZrO2–C composites for adsorptive removal of trichlorophenol from aqueous solution

A novel kind of nanoflake zirconia–carbon (ZrO₂–C) composite exhibited a much improved capacity to adsorb TCP.

Adsorption of sulfamethazine by multi-walled carbon nanotubes: effects of aqueous solution chemistry

The adsorption of SMZ by MWCNTs was studied under varied pH, ionic strength, cations and anions in solution. The results indicated that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms, and π–π interaction also played an important role.

Adsorption of synthetic organic contaminants by carbon nanotubes: a critical review

In last ten years, a large number (80⁺) of articles regarding aqueous phase adsorption of a variety of synthetic organic compound (SOC) by CNTs were published in peer-reviewed journals. Adsorption depends upon the physicochemical properties of the adsorbates and CNTs as well as the background water chemistry. Among all properties reported in the literature, no parameter was reported as solely controlling SOC adsorption by CNTs. In this article, these contributing parameters were reviewed and the associated explanations were discussed. This comprehensive literature survey provides (i) a thorough CNT characterization summary, (ii) a discussion of adsorption mechanisms of SOCs by CNTs and (iii) a summary of the statistical adsorption model development efforts. It also includes discussions of agreements and differences in the literature, and identifies some research needs.

Effects of sulfide reduction on adsorption affinities of colloidal graphene oxide nanoparticles for phenanthrene and 1-naphthol

The abiotic transformation of nanomaterials in the natural environment can significantly affect their fate,transport, and effects. We observed that the adsorption affinities of graphene oxide nanoparticles(GONPs) for both phenanthrene and 1-naphthol were profoundly enhanced in the presence of sulfide, an environmentally relevant reductant, with doses as low as 0.5 mM Na(2)S per 10 mg/L GONPs. For phenanthrene adsorption enhancement was predominantly caused by the increased surface hydrophobicity from Na(2)S treatment. For 1-naphthol, however, adsorption enhancement was caused mainly by the conversion of the epoxy/ether groups on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) to the phenolic hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, which allowed more significant H-bonding between 1-naphthol and GONPs. The findings of this study underline that abiotic transformation of GO not only affects the stability and mobility of GONPs, but also influences the adsorptive interactions between GONPs and environmental contaminants, and consequently, may increase the environmental risks of GONPs.

Carbon nanodots prepared from o-phenylenediamine for sensing of Cu(2+) ions in cells

A simple hydrothermal method was applied to prepare carbon nanodots (C dots) from o-phenylenediamine (OPD). The C dots exhibit photoluminescence at 567 nm when excited at 420 nm. In the presence of Cu(2+) ions, the colour of C dots changes from yellow to orange, with an increased PL intensity as a result of the formation of Cu(OPD)2 complexes on the surfaces of C dots. The D-band to G-band ratios of C dots in the absence and presence of 80 nM Cu(2+) ions are 1.31 and 4.75, respectively. The C dots allow the detection of Cu(2+) ions with linearity over a concentration range of 2-80 nM, with a limit of detection of 1.8 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The cell viability values of A549, MCF-10A, and MDA-MB-231 cells treated with 3 μg mL(-1) of C dots are all greater than 99%, showing their great biocompatibility. Having great water dispersibility, photostability, chemical stability (against NaCl up to 0.5 M), great selectivity, and biocompatibility, the C dots have been employed for the localization of Cu(2+) ions in the cancer cells (A549 cells) treated with 10 μM Cu(2+) ions.

Co-sorption of ofloxacin and Cu(II) in soils before and after organic matter removal

Various mechanisms play roles simultaneously for antibiotic sorption on solid particles. Previous studies simply emphasized mechanisms that match the increased or decreased antibiotic sorption by metal ions, without a general concept including these diverse mechanisms in their co-sorption. We observed both increased and decreased OFL and Cu(II) sorption in their co-sorption system. The comparison of the sorption coefficients of primary adsorbate (Kd(pri)) and co-adsorbate (Kd(co)) suggested that enhanced sorption occurred at high Kd(pri) region (low primary adsorbate concentration). Competitive sorption was observed when Kd(pri) was decreased to a certain value depending on solid particle properties. We thus summarized that if the adsorbates were introduced with low concentrations, OFL (such as hydrophobic region in solid particles) and Cu(II) (such as inner-sphere complexation sites) occupied their unique high-energy sorption sites. Cu(II) complexed with the adsorbed OFL, and OFL bridged by the adsorbed Cu(II) promoted the sorption for both chemicals. With the increased concentrations, the adsorbates spread to some common sorption sites with low sorption energy, such as cation exchange and electrostatic attraction region. The overlapping of Cu(II) and OFL on these sorption sites resulted in competitive sorption at high concentrations. The previously reported apparently increased or decreased sorption in antibiotic-metal ion co-sorption system may be only a part of the whole picture. Extended study on the turning point of decreased and increased sorption relating to water chemistry conditions and solid particle properties will provide more useful information to predict antibiotic-metal ion co-sorption.

Adsorption and desorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol onto and from ash as affected by Ag(+), Zn (2+), and Al (3+)

Metal cations and organic pollutants mostly co-exist in the natural environment. However, their interactions in adsorption processes have yet to be adequately addressed. In the current study, the effect of inorganic cations with different charges (Ag(+), Zn(2+), and Al(3+)) on the adsorption and desorption of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) onto and from processed ash derived from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw was investigated. The adsorption and desorption of TCP were both nonlinear; the isotherm and kinetics curves fitted well using the Freundlich equation and a pseudo-second-order model, respectively. The presence of Ag(+) promoted TCP adsorption, while Zn(2+) and Al(3+) reduced TCP adsorption onto ash. The desorption of TCP from ash showed obvious hysteresis, and the presence of Ag(+), Zn(2+), and Al(3+) caused the desorption to be less hysteretic. The suppression of TCP adsorption by Zn(2+) and Al(3+) was ascribed to the partial overlapping of adsorption groups between TCP and metal ions. Al(3+) had a stronger inhibition effect than that of Zn(2+) due to its higher binding capacity and larger hydrated ionic radius than those of Zn(2+). Enhanced adsorption of TCP onto ash by Ag(+) was ascribed to its ability to reduce the competitive adsorption of water molecules on ash surface by replacing the original ions, such as Na(+) and Ca(2+), and compressing the hydrated ionic radius of these metal ions. In addition, Ag(+) was able to bind with the aromatic organic compounds containing π-electrons, which resulted in a further increase of TCP adsorption by ash.