Modified Biopolymer Adsorbents for Column Treatment of Sulfate Species in Saline Aquifers

Evaluation of a granular Cu-modified chitosan biocomposite for sustainable sulfate removal from aqueous media: A batch and fixed-bed column study

Adsorption-based treatment of sulfate contaminated water sources present challenges due to its favourable hydration characteristics. Herein, a copper-modified granular chitosan-based biocomposite (CHP-Cu) was prepared and characterized for its sulfate adsorption properties at neutral pH via batch equilibrium and fixed-bed column studies. The CHP-Cu adsorbent was characterized by complementary methods: spectroscopy (IR, Raman, X-ray photoelectron), thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA) and pH-based surface charge analysis. Sulfate adsorption at pH 7.2 with CHP-Cu follows the Sips isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity (407 mg/g) that exceeds most reported values of granular biosorbents at similar conditions. For the dynamic adsorption study, initial sulfate concentration, bed height, and flow rate were influential parameters governing sulfate adsorption. The Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models yield a sulfate adsorption capacity (146 mg/g) for the fixed bed system at optimized conditions. CHP-Cu was regenerated over 5 cycles (33 % to 31 %) with negligible Cu-leaching. The adsorbent also displays excellent sulfate uptake properties, regenerability, and sustainable adsorbent properties for effective point-of-use sulfate remediation in aqueous media near neutral pH (7.2). This sulfate remediation strategy is proposed for other oxyanion systems relevant to contaminated environmental surface and groundwater resources.

Adsorption of methyl orange on low-cost adsorbent natural materials and modified natural materials: a review

Recently a large number of extensive studies have amassed that describe the removal of dyes from water and wastewater using natural adsorbents and modified materials. Methyl orange dye is found in wastewater streams from various industries that include textiles, plastics, printing and paper among other sources. This article reviews methyl orange adsorption onto natural and modified materials. Despite many techniques available, adsorption stands out for efficient water and wastewater treatment for its ease of operation, flexibility and large-scale removal of colorants. It also has a significant potential for regeneration recovery and recycling of adsorbents in comparison to other water treatment methods. The adsorbents described herein were classified into five categories based on their chemical composition: bio-sorbents, activated carbon, biochar, clays and minerals, and composites. In this review article, we want to demonstrate the capacity of natural and modified materials for dye adsorption which can yield significant improvements to the adsorption capacity of dyes such as methyl orange. In addition, the effect of critical variables including contact time, initial methyl orange concentration, dosage of adsorbent, pH, temperature and mechanism on the adsorption efficiency will be covered as part of this literature review.

Reutilization of carbon of waste filter cartridge after its surface modification for the fluoride removal from water by continuous flow process

In the present study, the waste carbon cartridge of the water filter was modified and reutilized for defluoridation of water. The modified carbon was characterized by particle size analysis (PSA), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta potential, pHzpc, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray crystallography (XRD). The adsorptive nature of modified carbon was investigated with pH (4-10), dose (1-5 g/L), contact time (0-180 min), temperature (25-55 °C), fluoride concentration (5-20 mg/L), and the effect of the competitive ions. Adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics, and breakthrough studies were evaluated for fluoride uptake on surface-modified carbon (SM*C). Fluoride adsorption on the carbon accepted Langmuir model (R2 = 0.983) and pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 = 0.956). The presence of HCO3- in the solution reduced the elimination of fluoride. The carbon was regenerated and reused four times; the removal percentage was decreased from 92 to 31.7%. This adsorption phenomenon showed exothermic behavior. The maximum fluoride uptake capacity of SM*C achieved 2.97 mg/g at 20 mg/L of initial concentration. The modified carbon cartridge of the water filter was successfully employed for fluoride removal from water.

A sustainable remediation of Congo red dye using magnetic carbon nanodots and B. pseudomycoides MH229766 composite: mechanistic insight and column modelling studies

In the present investigation, a biocomposite, magnetic carbon nanodot immobilized Bacillus pseudomycoides MH229766 (MCdsIB) was developed and consequently characterized using SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, and VSM analyses to effectively biotreat hazardous Congo red (CR) dye present in water bodies. The adsorptive efficiency of MCdsIB for the detoxification of CR from wastewater was investigated both in batch and column schemes. Optimum batch parameters were found as pH 3, 50 mg L-1 dye concentration, 150 min equilibrium time, and 2 g L-1 MCdsIB dosage. The Freundlich isotherm model best fit the experimental data, and the maximum adsorption capacity of MCdsIB was observed as 149.25 mg g-1. Kinetic data were in accordance with the pseudo-second-order model where the adsorption rate reduced with the rise in the initial concentration of dye. Intra-particle diffusion was discovered as the rate-limiting step following 120 min of the adsorption process. Furthermore, despite being used continually for five consecutive cycles, MCdsIB demonstrated excellent adsorption capacity (> 85 mg g-1), making it an outstanding recyclable material. The CR dye was efficiently removed in fixed-bed continuous column studies at high influent CR dye concentration, low flow rate, and high adsorbent bed height, wherein the Thomas model exhibited an excellent fit with the findings acquired in column experiments. To summarize, the current study revealed the effectiveness of MCdsIB as a propitious adsorbent for CR dye ouster from wastewater.

An Overview of Modified Chitosan Adsorbents for the Removal of Precious Metals Species from Aqueous Media

This mini-review provides coverage of chitosan-based adsorbents and their modified forms as sustainable solid-phase extraction (SPE) materials for precious metal ions, such as gold species, and their complexes in aqueous media. Modified forms of chitosan-based adsorbents range from surface-functionalized systems to biomaterial composites that contain inorganic or other nanomaterial components. An overview of the SPE conditions such as pH, temperature, contact time, and adsorbent dosage was carried out to outline how these factors affect the efficiency of the sorption process, with an emphasis on gold species. This review provides insight into the structure-property relationships for chitinaceous adsorbents and their metal-ion removal mechanism in aqueous media. Cross-linked chitosan sorbents showed a maximum for Au(III) uptake capacity (600 mg/g), while S-containing cross-linked chitosan display favourable selectivity and uptake capacity with Au(III) species. Compared to industrial adsorbents such as activated carbon, modified chitosan sorbents display favourable uptake of Au(III) species, especially in aqueous media at low pH. In turn, this contribution is intended to catalyze further research directed at the rational design of tailored SPE materials that employ biopolymer scaffolds to yield improved uptake properties of precious metal species in aqueous systems. The controlled removal of gold and precious metal species from aqueous media is highly relevant to sustainable industrial processes and environmental remediation.

Phosphorus and sulphates removal from wastewater using copper smelter slag washed with acid

Abstract

In this study, we present the performance of acid washed copper smelter slag for the adsorption of phosphates and sulphates from wastewater. The aim of the study was to investigate the removal of phosphates and sulphates from wastewater using acid washed copper smelter slag at batch scale by exploring influences of different variables. The leachate concentrations of copper, iron, manganese and lead released from the adsorbent were 1.8, 128.2, 0.32 and 0.20 mg L−1, respectively at pH 2. The point of zero charge was at pH 6.04, Pseudo-Second Order kinetic model described the adsorption process better with an R2 value of 0.99. The experimental maximum adsorption capacities for phosphates and sulphates were 0.51 and 0.24 mg g−1 media, respectively, and 0.96 mg P g−1 media at pH 12 and 0.39 mg g−1 media for sulphates at pH 2, respectively. The process was endothermic with temperature having insignificant impact during adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities for thermodynamic study were 0.103 ± 0.09 and 0.046 ± 0.004 mg g−1 media respectively, for PO43− P and SO42− at 60 °C. This study showed that acid washed copper smelter slag has an improved adsorption capacity for phosphate and sulphate ions but further investigations should be conducted to find ways of further improving the adsorbent performance.

Article highlights

Modular Chitosan-Based Adsorbents for Tunable Uptake of Sulfate from Water

The context of this study responds to the need for sorbent technology development to address the controlled removal of inorganic sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from saline water and the promising potential of chitosan as a carrier system for organosulfates in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. This study aims to address the controlled removal of sulfate using chitosan as a sustainable biopolymer platform, where a modular synthetic approach was used for chitosan bead preparation that displays tunable sulfate uptake. The beads were prepared via phase-inversion synthesis, followed by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde, and impregnation of Ca²⁺ ions. The sulfate adsorption properties of the beads were studied at pH 5 and variable sulfate levels (50–1000 ppm), where beads with low cross-linking showed moderate sulfate uptake (35 mg/g), while cross-linked beads imbibed with Ca²⁺ had greater sulfate adsorption (140 mg/g). Bead stability, adsorption properties, and the point-of-zero charge (PZC) from 6.5 to 6.8 were found to depend on the cross-linking ratio and the presence of Ca²⁺. The beads were regenerated over multiple adsorption-desorption cycles to demonstrate the favorable uptake properties and bead stability. This study contributes to the development of chitosan-based adsorbent technology via a modular materials design strategy for the controlled removal of sulfate. The results of this study are relevant to diverse pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications that range from the controlled removal of dextran sulfate from water to the controlled release of chondroitin sulfate.