Efficient sequestration of boron from liquid phase by amidoxime-functionalized poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid): experimental and modelling analyses

This study aims to produce amidoxime-modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) using an optimized method and to investigate the performance of amidoxime-modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) on the adsorption of boron ions in batch operations. Batch adsorption was conducted at the physiochemical parameters of pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial boron concentration. The isotherms and kinetics of adsorption data were studied at various initial boron concentrations. The renewed synthesis process gave a production yield of 77%, and the conversion of nitrile group to amidoxime was 78%. The adsorption reached its optimum point at pH = 8, adsorbent dosage = 4 g·L^-1, and initial adsorbent concentration at 40 ppm. The best model fits for isotherm adsorption was the Sips model with heterogeneity factor (n) = 0.7611. In the kinetic study, the adsorption data fitted best with pseudo-second-order model. The synthesized polymeric adsorbent could be recycled with little decline in its boron entrapment capacities. Hence, amidoxime-modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) exhibited high adsorption capacity and could be potentially explored as an alternative to commercial resin in the removal of boron from wastewater.

Sequestration of p-nitrophenol from liquid phase by poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) containing thioamide group

In this paper, the adsorptive performance of synthesized thiourea (TU) modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (TU-P(AN-co-AA)) polymeric adsorbent for capturing p-nitrophenol (PNP) from aqueous solution was investigated. TU-P(AN-co-AA) was synthesized via the redox polymerization method with acrylonitrile (AN) and acrylic acid (AA) as the monomers, then modified chemically with thiourea (TU). Characterization analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental microanalysis for CHNS, zeta potential measurement, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analysis and thermal analyses were carried out to determine the morphology and physico-chemical properties of the synthesized polymer. The characterization results indicated successful surface modification of polymer with TU. The performance of TU-P(AN-co-AA) for the removal of PNP was investigated under various experimental parameters (adsorbent dosage, initial adsorbate concentration, contact time and temperature). The results demonstrated that the Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the equilibrium and kinetic data, respectively. Thermodynamic studies showed that the uptake of PNP by TU-P(AN-co-AA) was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The results of the regeneration studies suggested that the TU-P(AN-co-AA) polymer is a reusable adsorbent with great potential for removing PNP from wastewater.

Simultaneous Adsorption of Malachite Green and Methylene Blue Dyes in a Fixed-Bed Column Using Poly(Acrylonitrile-Co-Acrylic Acid) Modified with Thiourea

Proper remediation of aquatic environments contaminated by toxic organic dyes has become a research focus globally for environmental and chemical engineers. This study evaluates the adsorption potential of a polymer-based adsorbent, thiourea-modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) (T-PAA) adsorbent, for the simultaneous uptake of malachite green (MG) and methylene blue (MB) dye ions from binary system in a continuous flow adsorption column. The influence of inlet dye concentrations, pH, flow rate, and adsorbent bed depth on adsorption process were investigated, and the breakthrough curves obtained experimentally. Results revealed that the sorption capacity of the T-PAA for MG and MB increase at high pH, concentration and bed-depth. Thomas, Bohart-Adams, and Yoon-Nelson models constants were calculated to describe MG and MB adsorption. It was found that the three dynamic models perfectly simulate the adsorption rate and behavior of cationic dyes entrapment. Finally, T-PAA adsorbent demonstrated good cyclic stability. It can be regenerated seven times (or cycles) with no significant loss in adsorption potential. Overall, the excellent sorption capacity and multiple usage make T-PAA polymer an attractive adsorbent materials for treatment of multicomponent dye bearing effluent in a fixed-bed column system.

Preparation of Ethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate (EGDMA)-Based Terpolymer as Potential Sorbents for Pharmaceuticals Adsorption

Ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) is used as a crosslinker in poly(acrylonitrile (AN)-co-vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC)) to investigate the effect of long-chain crosslinker to the porosity of the terpolymer system. Poly(AN-co-EGDMA-co-VBC) is synthesized by using precipitation polymerization method and further hypercrosslinked by Friedel-Crafts reaction. FT-IR spectra of poly(AN-co-EGDMA-co-VBC) show that the absorption bands at ~1290 cm-1 that are assigned to the C-Cl vibrations are almost disappeared in hypercrosslinked (HXL) poly(AN-co-EGDMA-co-VBC) polymers, confirming that the hypercrosslinking reaction is successful. SEM images show that the morphologies of the polymers are retained through the hypercrosslinking reactions. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis shows that hypercrosslinked polymers had a specific surface area up to 59 m2·g-1. The preliminary performance of the terpolymer adsorbent to capture polar analyte is evaluated by adsorbing salicylic acid and mefenamic acid from aqueous solution in a batch system. The maximum adsorption capacity of salicylic acid and mefenamic acid were up to 416.7 mg·g-1 and 625 mg·g-1, respectively, and the adsorption kinetic data obeyed pseudo-second-order rate equation.

Adsorptive Removal of Methylene Blue from Aquatic Environments Using Thiourea-Modified Poly(Acrylonitrile-co-Acrylic Acid)

The paper evaluates the adsorptive potential of thiourea-modified poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid), (TA-poly(AN-co-AA)) for the uptake of cationic methylene blue (MB) from aquatic environments via a batch system. TA-poly(AN-co-AA) polymer was synthesized through redox polymerization and modified with thiourea (TA) where thioamide groups were introduced to the surface. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), CHNS and Zetasizer were used to characterize the physico-chemical and morphological properties of prepared TA-poly(AN-co-AA). Afterwards, it was confirmed that incorporation of thioamide groups was successful. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium adsorption data were best described, respectively, by a pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich model. Thermodynamic analysis showed the exothermic and spontaneous nature of MB uptake by TA-poly(AN-co-AA). The developed TA-poly(AN-co-AA) polymer demonstrated efficient separation of MB dye from the aqueous solution and maintained maximum adsorption capacity after five regeneration cycles. The findings of this study suggested that synthesized TA-poly(AN-co-AA) can be applied successfully to remove cationic dyes from aquatic environments.

What health professionals at the Jos University Teaching Hospital insert in their ears

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine if health professionals in our hospital insert objects in their ears and the complications which follow.

METHODOLOGY

In this prospective cross-sectional study, validated questionnaires were filled by health professionals working in our Teaching Hospital and analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty one questionnaires were analyzed involving subjects aged 25 to 59 years with a mean of 42 years (SD = +/- 12.5). There were 94 males and 47 females with a male to female ratio of 2:1. Thirty four (24.1%) nurses participated in the study followed by Resident doctors (n = 22, 15.6%) and Intern doctors (n = 20, 14.2%). One hundred and twenty nine (91.5%) individuals 'clean' their ears with majority of them (n = 48, 37.2%) doing so occasionally. Multiple objects were inserted into the ears by 32 (24.0%) subjects and single objects by 98 (76%). The commonest object inserted into the ears to effect 'cleaning' was cotton buds in 115 cases. Twelve (9.3%) subjects recorded ear injuries in the process. Seven (53.3%) subjects with injuries inserted objects into their ears daily. Seven subjects recorded injuries with the use of match sticks. Sixty three (44.7%) subjects had accumulation of cerumen. Cotton buds (n = 29) were the commonest method for cerumen removal. Complications recorded from the removal of cerumen were otalgia (n = 2) and vertigo (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Health professionals in our centre have a practice of inserting various potentially dangerous objects into their ears.