Evaluation of Kinetic, Equilibrium and Thermodynamics of Cationic Ion Using Agro-Industrial Residues of Plantain (Musa paradisiaca)

Functionality and mechanistic parametric study of the potential of waste plantain peels and commercial bentonite for soybean oil refining

The consumption of unrefined vegetable oil poses acute and chronic health issues, yet improper disposal of waste plantain peels is not environmentally sustainable. This research investigates the feasibility, mechanism and thermodynamics of waste plantain peels, and commercial bentonite clay for soybean oil refining. Experiment was carried out using masses (1-4 g) of commercial bentonite clay, and unripe plantain peel ash (UPPA) to degummed and neutralized free fatty acid (FFA) contents in crude soybean oil at varying temperatures (50-120 °C), and time (15-35 min) for treatment of soybean oil. FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and XRF techniques were applied to characterize the sample. The results established that at optimum 4.0 g dosage, the UPPA (97.73%) was more effective in the removal of FFA from oil at 50 °C and 20 min, while the clay (90%) was more effective in the removal of colour pigment from the vegetable oil 100 °C, and 25 min. The optimum efficiency of Clay-Ash-composite (70:30) in adsorbing pigment from soybean oil corresponds to 80%. The impact of changing viscosities, densities, and acid values on the performance of UPPA, clay, and clay-UPPA composite was investigated. Mechanistic studies confirmed the pseudo-second-order kinetics at 5 × 10-2 g/mg min-1 and 1.87 × 10-1 g/mg min-1, with corresponding adsorption capacity of 30.40 mg/g and 4.91 mg/g, at R2 ≤ 0.9982. The UPPA-driven sorption of FFA occurred as a physisorption and exothermic process (- 620.60 kJ/mol), while colour pigment removal occurred by chemisorption and endothermic process (22.40 kJ/mol). The finding recommends UPPA and composite as economically feasible for refining soybean oil.

Activated carbon derived from sugarcane and modified with natural zeolite for efficient adsorption of methylene blue dye: experimentally and theoretically approaches

The introduction of activated carbon/natural zeolite (AC/NZ) as an efficient and reliable nanoadsorbent for enhancing methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption. By calcining sugarcane waste at various temperatures between 500 and 900 °C, activated carbons (ACs) are formed. Both XRD and SEM were used for the characterization of the prepared adsorbents. Adsorption measurements for the removal of MB dye were made on the impact of pH, beginning MB concentration, and contact time. The maximum AC500/NZ adsorption capacity for MB dye at 25 °C, pH 7, and an AC500/NZ mass of 50 mg was found to be approximately 51 mg/g at an initial concentration of 30 ppm. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the Temkin isotherm model describe the adsorption process. The Temkin model shows that the adsorption energy is 1.0 kcal/mol, indicating that the MB-to-AC500/NZ adsorption process occurs physically. Our Monte Carlo (MC) simulation studies supported our findings and showed that the Van der Waals dispersion force was responsible for the MB molecule's physical adsorption. The AC500/NZ adsorbent is thought to be a strong contender for water remediation.