Study on Adsorption of Cu and Ba from Aqueous Solutions Using Nanoparticles of Origanum (OR) and Lavandula (LV)

Maize cob (Zea mays) as natural biomass sorbent for crude oil biosorptive removal from contaminated seawater: Taguchi process optimization and biosorptive removal mechanism

Crude oil pollution poses a serious threat to the aquatic environment. Hence, there is an increasing interest in developing an efficient cleaner process technique for oil spill cleanup via agricultural biomass waste-organic sorbent utilization. This work evaluated the effects of independent biosorptive removal at three varying levels (initial concentration of crude oil (Z1, 7.8-15.6 g/L), seawater-oil temperature (Z2, 25-45 °C), sorbent dose (Z3, 1-3 g), and sorbent particle size diameter (Z4, 1.18-4.72 mm)) on the biosorptive removal efficiency and biosorptive capacity performance of maize cob sorbent for crude oil biosorptive removal from seawater. Experiments were designed based on Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design (L9(34)) to study the effects and process optimization. The results revealed that the maize cob sorbent's crude oil biosorptive removal efficiency is related to Z1, Z3, and Z4, while the biosorptive capacity is related to Z1 and Z3. The optimum biosorptive removal efficiency and the biosorptive capacity values were 96.53% and 12.64 g/g, respectively, achieved at optimum factors of Z1 (7.8 g/L), Z3 (3 g), and Z4 (1.18 mm), as well as at Z1 (15.6 g) and Z3 (1 g). The isotherm and kinetic data, respectively, followed the Langmuir isotherms and the pseudo-second-order kinetics with a maximum monolayer biosorptive capacity of 23.31 g g-1. The mechanism of biosorptive crude oil removal was by physical sorption and film diffusion control. Therefore, the maize cob represents an inexpensive and effective natural sorbent for oil spill removal from water bodies.

Recovering the Soybean Hulls after Peroxidase Extraction and Their Application as Adsorbent for Metal Ions and Dyes

This study is aimed at extending the soybean hulls’ lifetime by their utilization as an adsorbent for metal ions (Cd2+ and Cu2+) and dyes (Reactive Yellow 39 (RY 39) and Acid Blue 225 (AB 225)). ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, FE-SEM microscopy, and zeta potential measurements were used for adsorbent characterization. The effect of the solution’s pH, peroxidase extraction, adsorbent particle size, contact time, the pollutant’s initial concentration, and temperature on the soybean hulls’ adsorption potential was studied. Before peroxidase extraction, soybean hulls were capable of removing 72% Cd2+, 71% Cu2+ (at a pH of 5.00) or 81% RY 39, and 73% AB 225 (at a pH of 3.00). For further experiments, soybean hulls without peroxidase were used for several reasons: (1) due to their observed higher metal ion removal, (2) in order to reduce the waste disposal cost after the peroxidase (usually used for wastewater decolorization) extraction, and (3) since the soybean hulls without peroxidase possessed significantly lower secondary pollution than those with peroxidase. Cd2+ and Cu2+ removal was slightly increased when the smaller adsorbent fraction (710-1000 μm) was used, while the adsorbent particle size did not have an impact on dye removal. After 30 min of contact time, 92% and 88% of RY 39 and AB 225 were removed, respectively, while after the same contact time, 80% and 69% of Cd2+ and Cu2+ were removed, respectively. Adsorption of all tested pollutants follows a pseudo-second-order reaction through the fast adsorption, intraparticle diffusion, and final equilibrium stage. The maximal adsorption capacities determined by the Langmuir model were 21.10, 20.54, 16.54, and 17.23 mg/g for Cd2+, Cu2+, RY 39, and AB 225, respectively. Calculated thermodynamic parameters suggested that the adsorption of all pollutants is spontaneous and of endothermic character. Moreover, different binary mixtures were prepared, and the competitive adsorptions revealed that the soybean hulls are the most efficient adsorbent for the mixture of AB 225 and Cu2+. The findings of this study contribute to the soybean hulls’ recovery after the peroxidase extraction and bring them into the circular economy concept.

A review on the applicability of adsorption techniques for remediation of recalcitrant pesticides

Pesticide has revolutionised the agricultural industry by reducing yield losses and by enhancing productivity. But indiscriminate usage of such chemicals can negatively impact human health and ecosystem balance as certain pesticides can be recalcitrant in nature. Out of some of the suggested sustainable techniques to remove the pesticide load from the environment, adsorption is found to be highly efficient and can also be implemented on a large scale. It has been observed that natural adsorption that takes place after the application of the pesticide is not enough to reduce the pesticide load, hence, adsorbents like activated carbon, plant-based adsorbents, agricultural by-products, silica materials, polymeric adsorbents, metal organic framework etc are being experimented upon. It is becoming increasingly important to choose adsorbents which will not leave any secondary pollutant after treatment and the cost of production of such adsorbent should be feasible. In this review paper, it has been established that certain adsorbent like biochar, hydrochar, resin, metal organic framework etc can efficiently remove pesticides namely chlorpyrifos, diazinon, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid, atrazine, fipronil, imidacloprid etc. The mechanism of adsorption, thermodynamics and kinetic part have been discussed in detail with respect to the pesticide and adsorbent under discussion. The reason behind choosing an adsorbent for the removal of a particular pesticide have also been explained. It is further highly recommended to carry out a cost analysis before implementing an absorbent because inspite of its efficacy, it might not be cost effective to use it for a particular type of pesticide or contaminant.

Investigation of clay brick waste for the removal of copper, nickel and iron from aqueous solution: batch and fixed - bed column studies

The adsorption of copper, iron and nickel ions from an aqueous solution using Makoro granite clay brick waste through batch and fixed – bed column modes was investigated. The adsorbent was characterised using X-Ray Fluorescence, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). XRD results revealed crystalline peaks of Quartz (51.28 %) and mullite (23.40%) in fresh and loaded adsorbent with unnotable changes before and after adsorption. SEM images indicate the presence of micro pores and irregularly distributed surfaces. Batch kinetic maximum adsorption capacities for iron, copper, and nickel are 7.60, 6.70 and 6.20 mg g⁻¹ media respectively with 60 min as the optimum time. The maximum adsorption capacities at adsorbent dosage of 5 g L⁻¹ were 10.0, 7.60 and 7.20 mg L⁻¹ for iron, copper and nickel ions. The corresponding adsorption capabilities from the fixed-bed column reactor were 2.23, 2.22 and 0.74 mg g⁻¹ media respectively. The thermodynamics parameters of enthalpy change (ΔH) were 5.21, 9.32 and 5.22 kJ mol⁻¹ respectively for Copper, iron and nickel ions and the corresponding entropy change (ΔS) were -0.04, -0.05 and -0.03 kJmol⁻¹K⁻¹respectively and the process being non-spontaneous and exothermic. Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models yielded similar low coefficient of determination (R²) values (0.06 and 0.07) for copper and iron ions. Further investigations such as the use of real wastewater, competition of anions and further media characterisation and modifications are recommended.

Removal of Fluorescein Dye from Aqueous Solutions Using Natural and Chemically Treated Pine Sawdust

The various factors affecting the removal of fluorescein dye using sawdust from aqueous solutions such as time, initial concentration, pH, and temperature were studied. The optimal conditions for removing the FD are 1 g of sawdust at pH 3 and 120 min time of contact. Dye removal dropped from 93.42% to 80.04% with natural pine sawdust (NPS) and from 96.83% to 81.51% with synthetic pine sawdust (SPS) by increasing their concentration from 2 to 10 mg/L. Isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic models were applied for determining their constants. The results indicated that the FD removal equilibrium was effectively defined by the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. Kinetic studies showed that the pseudo-second order was well suited for dye removal, and the internal diffusion process was by two steps. The thermodynamic parameter values suggested that FD removal were physical adsorption, exothermic, lower randomness, and spontaneous.

Removal of Lead(II) from Synthetic Wastewater by Lavandula pubescens Decne Biosorbent: Insight into Composition–Adsorption Relationship

In this work, the widely-abundant, cheap, wild plant Lavandula pubescens Decne was evaluated as an adsorbent for removing Pb(II) ions from wastewater. The chemical composition of the plant was partially isolated and characterized by the corresponding techniques, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, gas liquid chromatography, and FTIR spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity of the dried plant material for Pb(II) ions increased with increasing contact time, initial ion concentration, and temperature, while it decreased with increasing adsorbent dosage. The optimum condition for Pb(II) adsorption was determined as 550 mg/L initial metal concentration, pH ≤ 7, and 90 min of contact. The best fit for Pb(II) adsorption isotherms was the linear form of the Freundlich model; however, the maximum capacity indicated by Langmuir was 91.32 mg/g. The experimental data fit better the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.969), suggesting chemisorption process. Thermodynamic data revealed an endothermic, nonspontaneous, and adsorption process favored at higher concentrations.

The Synthesis and Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on the Adsorption of Cu2+ from Aqueous Solutions

The adsorption of Cu2+ ions from an aqueous solution using AgNPs synthesized from Convolvulus arvensis leaf extract was investigated. The characterization of AgNPs was investigated before and after the adsorption of Cu2+ ions via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The adsorbent contained various functional groups in addition to the AgNPs, which contributed to the Cu2+ ions adsorption. The silver nanoparticle surface consisted of spherical particles and deep pores, which adsorbed numerous Cu2+ ions. The influences of dosage, pH, and contact time on adsorption of 10 and 50 mg/L Cu2+ at 298 K, and initial Cu2+ concentrations at 298 and 323 K were studied. It was found that the highest percentage of Cu2+ ions adsorbed from an aqueous solution was 98.99%; the aqueous solution had 10 mg/L of Cu2+ ions and 0.2 g of AgNPs, at pH 12 and 298 K. A pseudo-second kinetics model offered the most accurate description of the process of adsorption. The process of Cu2+ adsorption more resembled a Langmuir rather than a Freundlich isotherm model, including chemical and physical mixed adsorption (mixed adsorption) processes, and was exothermic and spontaneous.