Adsorption of malachite green on groundnut shell waste based powdered activated carbon

In the present technologically fast changing situation related to waste management practices, it is desirable that disposal of plant waste should be done in a scientific manner by keeping in view economic and pollution considerations. This is only possible when the plant waste has the potential to be used as raw material for some useful product. In the present study, groundnut shell, an agricultural waste, was used for the preparation of an adsorbent by chemical activation using ZnCl2 under optimized conditions and its comparative characterisation was conducted with commercially available powdered activated carbon (CPAC) for its physical, chemical and adsorption properties. The groundnut shell based powdered activated carbon (GSPAC) has a higher surface area, iodine and methylene blue number compared to CPAC. Both of the carbons were used for the removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solution and the effect of various operating variables, viz. adsorbent dose (0.1-1 g l(-1)), contact time (5-120 min) and adsorbate concentrations (100-200 mg l(-1)) on the removal of dye, has been studied. The experimental results indicate that at a dose of 0.5 g l(-1) and initial concentration of 100 mg l(-1), GSPAC showed 94.5% removal of the dye in 30 min equilibrium time, while CPAC removed 96% of the dye in 15 min. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the linearized forms of Freundlich, Langmuir and BET equations to determine maximum adsorptive capacities. The equilibrium data fit well to the Freundlich isotherm, although the BET isotherm also showed higher correlation for both of the carbons. The results of comparative adsorption capacity of both carbons indicate that groundnut shell can be used as a low-cost alternative to commercial powdered activated carbon in aqueous solution for dye removal.     

Wet oxidative regeneration of activated carbon loaded with reactive dye

Wet Oxidative Regeneration (WOR) of powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) loaded with the reactive dyes, namely chemictive brilliant blue R and cibacron turquoise blue G, was studied. Attempts were made to regenerate the loaded carbons designated now as spent carbon. A slurry (10% w/v) of spent carbon in distilled water was oxidized by wet oxidation in the temperature range of 150-250 degrees C using oxygen partial pressures between 0.69-1.38 MPa in an 1 1 SS 316 autoclave. The percent regeneration was determined from a ratio, X(RC)/X(VC), corresponding to an equilibrium adsorption capacity of regenerated carbon/equilibrium adsorption capacity of virgin carbon from an initial adsorption period of 3 h. It was observed that the regeneration mainly occurred due to the oxidation of the adsorbates taking place on the surface of carbon. It was possible to regenerate the spent GAC and PAC to the extent of more than 98% (approximately X(RC)/X(VC) > 0.98) by wet oxidation. After four consecutive cycles of adsorption and regeneration using the same stocks of GAC, carbon weight loss observed at 200 degrees C was about 40%. SEM studies of the regenerated carbon showed widening of the pores and loss of structure between the adjacent pores as compared with the virgin carbon. PAC was found to be more suitable as compared with GAC for the adsorption and wet oxidative regeneration processes to treat the aqueous solution containing lower concentration of unhydrolyzed reactive dye. The suitability of wet oxidative regeneration is demonstrated at a bench scale to treat the synthetic reactive dye solution.     

Improving the detection of fluorescent tracer dyes in groundwater investigations

Groundwater tracing with fluorescent tracer dyes is a valuable tool in many remediation projects. Three of four common dyes can be used concurrently, effectively separated, and their concentrations quantified if modern laboratory instruments and appropriate protocols are used. Unfortunately, investigators often overestimate the amount of introduced dye likely to be detected, use too little dye because of these estimates and concern that colored water might be detectable off‐site, and place sampling reliance solely on grab samples of water. The common result is flawed studies that identify only some of the points to which the dyed water flows. Results are quantitatively compared for monitoring sites during periods where both water samples and granular activated carbon samplers (referred to as carbon samplers) were used. The results demonstrate that carbon samplers are superior to water samples for detecting the presence of the fluorescent tracer dyes evaluated. A technically sound and cost‐effective strategy is to place primary sampling reliance on carbon samplers for detecting the presence of the dyes and secondary reliance on grab samples of water for determining dye concentrations when they are greater than the detection limits.     

Activation of waste MDF sawdust charcoal and its reactive dye adsorption characteristics

This paper reports an experimental investigation of converting waste medium density fibreboard (MDF) sawdust into chars and activated carbon using chemical activation and thermal carbonisation processes. The MDF sawdust generated during the production of architectural mouldings was characterised and found to have unique properties in terms of fine particle size and high particle density. It also has a high content of urea formaldehyde resin used as a binder in the manufacturing of MDF board. Direct thermal carbonisation and chemical activation of the sawdust by metal impregnation and acid (phosphoric acid) treatment prior to pyrolysis treatment were carried out. The surface morphology of the raw dust, its chars and activated carbon were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Adsorptive properties and total pore volume of the materials were also analysed using the BET nitrogen adsorption method. Liquid adsorption of a reactive dye (Levafix Brilliant red E-4BA) by the derived sawdust carbon was investigated in batch isothermal adsorption process and the results compared to adsorption on to a commercial activated carbon (Filtrasorb F400). The MDF sawdust carbon exhibited in general a very low adsorption capacity towards the reactive dye, and physical characterisation of the carbon revealed that the conventional chemical activation and thermal carbonisation process were ineffective in developing a microporous structure in the dust particles. The small size of the powdery dust, the high particle density, and the presence of the urea formaldehyde resin all contributed to the difficulty of developing a proper porous structure during the thermal and chemical activation process. Finally, activation of the dust material in a consolidated form (cylindrical pellet) only achieved very limited improvement in the dye adsorption capacity. This original study, reporting some unexpected outcomes, may serve as a stepping-stone for future investigations of recycle and reuse of the waste MDF sawdust which is becoming an increasing environmental and cost liability.     

利用含铝废盐酸制备聚合氯化铝

以某医药企业产生的含铝废盐酸为原料制备了液体聚合氯化铝(PAC)。确定了适宜的有机物去除方法和碱化剂,考察了碱化剂投加量、废盐酸铝离子含量等合成条件对PAC产品指标的影响,并比较了自制PAC和市售PAC对该企业污水站二沉池出水的混凝效果。实验结果表明:采用活性炭吸附法去除废盐酸中有机物,选择固体Ca O作为碱化剂,在活性炭投加量1‰(w)、吸附时间1 h、铝离子含量9.5%(w,以Al_2O_3计)、CaO投加量80 g/L、反应时间24 h的条件下,制备的液体PAC达到行业标准HG/T 2677—2017《工业聚氯化铝》中的Ⅲ类标准;自制PAC对废水COD和SS的去除率均优于市售PAC,不仅可替代其使用,还可外售产生经济效益。     

花生壳活性炭吸附溶液中的铀

以农林废弃物花生壳为原料、氢氧化钾为活化剂、微波为热源，制备了花生壳活性炭。以花生壳活性炭为吸附剂吸附溶液中的U(VI)，考察了初始U(VI)质量浓度、活性炭加入量、溶液pH、吸附时间对U(VI)去除效果的影响。实验结果表明，在溶液中初始U(VI)质量浓度为30mg/L、活性炭加入量为0.5g/L、溶液pH为5.5、吸附时间为150min的较佳条件下，活性炭对U(VI)的吸附量为56.37mg/g，U(VI)去除率为93.94％。     

Adsorptive Removal of Diuron Herbicide on Carbon Nanotubes Synthesized from Plastic Waste

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized from waste polyethylene bottles and their use as an adsorbent for the removal of diuron herbicide from aqueous solution was evaluated. Batch adsorption was performed by varying adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time, and temperature. Kinetic models applied to experimental data indicated that the pseudo-second-order model had the best fit. The equilibrium data were analyzed using different isotherm models. The adsorption capacity of CNTs for diuron removal, determined using the Hill isotherm, was approximately 40.37 mg/g at 303 K. From thermodynamic studies, the values of ΔH° (kJ/mol) and ΔS° [kJ/(mol K)] were calculated as ?17.307 and ?0.0528, respectively, which suggested that the adsorption process was exothermic. The negative values of ΔG° at three different temperatures indicated that adsorption of diuron on CNTs was favorable.     

Recovery of copper and cobalt from ancient slag.

About 2.5 million tonnes of copper smelter slag are available in Küre, northern part of Turkey. This slag contains large amounts of metallic values such as copper and cobalt. A representative slag sample containing 0.98% Cu, 0.49% Co and 51.47% Fe was used in the experimental studies. Two different methods, direct acid leaching and acid baking followed by hot water leaching were used for recovering Cu and Co from the slag. The effects of leaching time, temperature and acid concentration on Cu- and Co-dissolving efficiencies were investigated in the direct acid leaching tests. The optimum leaching conditions were found to be a leaching time of 2 h, acid concentration of 120 g L(-1), and temperature of 60 degrees C. Under these conditions, 78% Cu and 90% Co were extracted. In the acid baking + hot water leaching tests, 74% Co was dissolved after 1 h of roasting at 200 degrees C using a 3:1 acid:slag ratio, whereas the Cu-dissolving efficiency was 79% and the total slag weight loss was approximately 50%.     

Agricultural solid waste for the removal of organics: adsorption of phenol from water and wastewater by palm seed coat activated carbon

Adsorption studies for phenol removal from aqueous solution on activated palm seed coat carbon (PSCC) were carried out under varying experimental conditions of contact time, phenol concentration, adsorbent dose and pH. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 3 h for phenolic concentrations 10-60 mg l(-1). Kinetics of adsorption obeyed a first order rate equation. The percent removal remained constant over the pH range 4-9 for a phenolic concentration of 25 mg (l-1). The equilibrium data could be described well by the Freundlich isotherm equation. The adsorption of phenol on PSCC follows the film diffusion process. A comparative study with a commercial activated carbon showed that PSCC is two times more effective than commercial activated carbon. The studies showed that the palm seed coat carbon can be used as an efficient adsorbent material for the removal of phenolics from water and wastewater.     

Performance and Microbial Characteristics of Bioaugmentation Systems for Polyacrylamide Degradation

Efficient and reliable removal of polyacrylamide (PAM), which are present in oil extraction waste water, is critically important to prevent toxic discharges to receiving waters. In the present study, two PAM degrading bacterial strains, namely HWBI and HWBIII, were isolated from the activated sludge and soil in an oil field. Two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were bioaugmented with either HWBI or HWBIII and the performance of each bacteria for enhancing PAM removal was compared. The effects of bioaugmentation on the performance of the SBRs with different exogenous strains after a single inoculation were investigated under long term operation. Results showed that for the SBR augmented with HWBI, 70% of PAM was removed at the end of the first operation cycle, and the removal remained at approximately 70% in the following eight cycles after a single inoculation. For the SBR augmented with HWBIII, only 45% of the PAM was removed in the first cycle after the inoculation, and PAM removal decreased to 30% after eight cycles. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), a molecular screening technique, was applied to track the supplemented bacterial strains and to evaluate the effects of bioaugmentation on the microbial communities and to investigate the optimal bioaugmentation strategy.     

Removal potential of toxic 2378-substituted PCDD/F from incinerator flue gases by waste-derived activated carbons

The application of activated carbons has become a commonly used emission control protocol for the removal or adsorption of persistent organic pollutants from the flue gas streams of waste incinerators. In this study, the 2378-substituted PCDD/F removal efficiency of three types of activated carbons derived from the pyrolysis of refuse derived fuel, textile waste and scrap tyre was investigated and compared with that of a commercial carbon. Experiments were carried out in a laboratory scale fixed-bed reactor under a simulated flue gas at 275 °C with a reaction period of four days. The PCDD/F in the solid matrices and exhaust gas, were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. In the absence of activated carbon adsorbent, there was a significant increase in the concentration of toxic PCDD/F produced in the reacted flyash, reaching up to 6.6 times higher than in the raw flyash. In addition, there was a substantial release of PCDD/F into the gas phase, which was found in the flue gas trapping system. By application of the different commercial, refuse derived fuel, textile and tyre activated carbons the total PCDD/F toxic equivalent removal efficiencies in the exhaust gas stream were 58%, 57%, 64% and 52%, respectively. In general, the removal of the PCDDs was much higher with an average of 85% compared to PCDFs at 41%. Analysis of the reacted activated carbons showed that there was some formation of PCDD/F, for instance, a total of 60.6 μg I-TEQ kg⁻¹ toxic PCDD/F was formed in the refuse derived fuel activated carbon compared to 34 μg I-TEQ kg⁻¹ in the commercial activated carbon. The activated carbons derived from the pyrolysis of waste, therefore, showed good potential as a control material for PCDD/F emissions in waste incinerator flue gases.     

酒石酸改性活性炭对烟气脱硝钴氨吸收液中Co~(3+)的催化还原

废气中的NO和SO2可通过钴氨吸收液去除,但钴氨吸收液中的Co~(2+)易被氧化成Co~(3+)而失去脱硝能力。为了实现Co~(2+)的再生,采用酒石酸溶液对活性炭进行改性,提高其对Co~(3+)的催化还原能力,考察了活性炭催化剂改性及活化条件对钴氨吸收液Co~(3+)还原率及NO去除率的影响。实验结果表明:在酒石酸溶液浓度为1.5 mol/L、改性时间为18 h、活化温度为400℃、活化时间为4 h的条件下,改性活性炭的催化性能最佳;Co~(3+)还原率为67.5%,比原炭提高了11.9百分点;对应的钴氨吸收液的NO去除率为86.0%,比原炭提高了26.0百分点。pHpzc测定、Boehm滴定和BET表征结果表明,与原炭相比,改性活性炭酸性增强,羧基和内酯基含量增加,微孔数目增加,比表面积增大。这些表面特性的改变使改性活性炭的催化性能得到改善。     

Activated carbon from Ceiba pentandra hulls, an agricultural waste, as an adsorbent in the removal of lead and zinc from aqueous solutions

The ability of low-cost activated carbon prepared from Ceiba pentandra hulls, an agricultural waste material, for the removal of lead and zinc from aqueous solutions has been investigated. In the batch tests experimental parameters were studied, including solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial metal ions concentration. The adsorbent exhibited good sorption potential at pH 6.0. Maximum removal of lead (99.5%) and of zinc (99.1%) with 10 g/l of sorbent was observed at 50 mg/L sorbate concentration. Removals of about 60-70% occurred in 10 min, and equilibrium was attained at around 50 min for both metals. The functional groups (CO, SO,-OH) present on the carbon surface were responsible for the adsorption of metal ions. The adsorption parameters were analysed using both the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The data are better fitted by the Freundlich isotherm as compared to Langmuir model, and the adsorption capacities for lead and zinc were 25.5 and 24.1 mg/g, respectively. Kinetics of adsorption obeyed a second order rate equation and the rate constant was found to be 2.71 x 10(-2) and 2.08 x 10(-2) g/mg/min for lead and zinc, respectively. The desorption studies were carried out using dilute HCl, and the effect of HCl concentration on desorption was studied. Maximum desorptions of 85% for lead and 78% for zinc were attained with 0.15 M HCl.     

Assessment of the use of spent copper slag for land reclamation.

The shortage of waste landfill space for waste disposal and the high demand for fill materials for land reclamation projects in Singapore have prompted a study on the feasibility of using spent copper slag as fill material in land reclamation. The physical and geotechnical properties of the spent copper slag were first assessed by laboratory tests, including hydraulic conductivity and shear strength tests. The physical and geotechnical properties were compared with those of conventional fill materials such as sands. The potential environmental impacts associated with the use of the spent copper slag for land reclamation were also evaluated by conducting laboratory tests including pH and Eh measurements, batch-leaching tests, acid neutralization capacity determination, and monitoring of long-term dissolution of the material. The spent copper slag was slightly alkaline, with pH 8.4 at a solid : water ratio of 1 : 1. The batch-leaching test results show that the concentrations of the regulated heavy metals leached from the material at pH 5.0 were significantly lower than the maximum concentrations for their toxicity limits referred by US EPA's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). It was also found that the material is unlikely to cause significant change in the redox condition of the subsurface environment over a long-term period. In terms of physical and geotechnical properties, the spent copper slag is a good fill material. In general, the spent copper slag is suitable to be used as a fill material for land reclamation.     

Assessment of Potential Capability of Water Bamboo Leaves on the Adsorption Removal Efficiency of Cationic Dye from Aqueous Solutions

Removal of toxic pollutants from water and wastewater is becoming an important process with the increase of industrial activities. The present study focused on assessing the suitability and efficiency of water bamboo leaves (WBL) for the removal of cationic dye from aqueous solutions. The effect of different variables in the batch method including solution pH (2–12), initial dye concentration (50–250 mg L^?1), adsorbent dose (0.05–0.30 g), contact time (5–180 min) and temperature (283–333 K) on the dye removal was investigated. The adsorption kinetics was discussed in view of four kinetics models. The results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetics model described dye adsorption on WBL very well. The experimental equilibrium data were also tested by four isotherm models. It was found that adsorption of dye on WBL fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, implying the binding energy on the whole surface of the adsorbent was uniform and the dye molecules onto the surface of the adsorbent were monolayer coverage. Calculation of various thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption process indicated feasibility and exothermic nature of dye adsorption.     

木质素基聚合物的制备及亚甲基蓝的吸附

以木质素磺酸钠为原料单体、环氧氯丙烷为交联剂,采用反相乳液聚合法制备了木质素磺酸钠交联聚合物(SLCP),并将其用于水中有机染料的吸附。表征结果显示:SLCP基本保留了木质素磺酸钠的骨架和官能团,具有良好的热稳定性。实验结果表明:SLCP对亚甲基蓝(MB)有较好的吸附选择性,在加入量为0.5 g/L时就有较高的吸附效率;在溶液p H2~6范围内吸附量随溶液p H增大而迅速提高,溶液p H6后吸附量趋于稳定;最佳吸附温度为35℃;在SLCP加入量0.5 g/L、溶液p H 6.5、吸附温度25℃、初始MB质量浓度100.5 mg/L的条件下,吸附150 min基本可达平衡,吸附平衡时的吸附量和MB去除率分别为191.2 mg/g和95.1%;SLCP对MB的吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,吸附动力学符合Lagergren拟二级动力学方程。     

Preparation and performance of arsenate (V) adsorbents derived from concrete wastes

Solid adsorbent materials, prepared from waste cement powder and concrete sludge were assessed for removal of arsenic in the form of arsenic (As(V)) from water. All the materials exhibited arsenic removal capacity when added to distilled water containing 10–700 mg/L arsenic. The arsenic removal isotherms were expressed by the Langmuir type equations, and the highest removal capacity was observed for the adsorbent prepared from concrete sludge with heat treatment at 105 °C, the maximum removal capacity being 175 mg-As(V)/g. Based on changes in arsenic and calcium ion concentrations, and solution pH, the removal mechanism for arsenic was considered to involve the precipitation of calcium arsenate, Ca₃(AsO₄)₂. The enhanced removal of arsenic for the adsorbent prepared from concrete sludge with heat treatment was thought to reflect ion exchange by ettringite. The prepared adsorbents, derived from waste cement and concrete using simple procedures, may offer a cost effective approach for arsenic removal and clean-up of contaminated waters, especially in developing countries.     

Detection of polar organic substances relevant for drinking water

Testfilter systems help in the study of the persistence of organic compounds. Hence, they are remedial measures to control pollution of the environment. The filters used as biological fixed-bed reactors should enable the simulation of the biological degradation of organic compounds before they reach the waterworks. The German chemical industry has used filters based on activated carbon for more than 20 years in order to determine the microbial poorly degradable fraction of the dissolved organic carbon in the sewage effluents. The testfilter systems proved to work well on the basis of group and ‘sum’ parameters. The new challenge was to investigate whether the testfilter concept holds also for a diversification of drinking water relevant and non-relevant single compounds. Therefore, the first task was to develop analytical methods for classes of drinking water relevant compounds in the very complex matrix of waste water. Thereafter, these methods were applied for the detection of the selected compounds in the testfilter systems and their occurrence in the receiving waters. Methods of analysis were developed for the following classes of chemical compounds: aliphatic amines, aromatic sulfonates, halogenated carboxylic acids and organic phosphates. Furthermore the formation of yet unknown drinking water relevant compounds was studied. As a result it was concluded that the major reasons for the formation of these compounds are: (1) formation of by-products during various steps in the chemical synthesis; (2) chemical reactions in the influents of the treatment plants; and (3) metabolism in the waste water treatment plant. Experiments with compounds like 6-[methyl(phenylsulfonyl)amino]hexanoic acid (HPS) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) which are known from the literature to be well degradable, confirmed that the testfilters can be utilized for simulating the performance of the underground passage. On the other hand, persistent compounds, for which 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonate is a characteristic representative, remained in the filter system without being degraded. As far as the testfilters are concerned it was concluded that the activated carbon retains its adsorption capacity to a certain extent even after a long time of operation. Because it is not possible to distinguish between microbial degradation and adsorption, it was necessary to develop a modified filter set-up for testing single substances. ©     

Uptake of dyes by a promising locally available agricultural solid waste: coir pith

The adsorption of rhodamine-B and acid violet by coir pith carbon was carried out by varying the parameters such as agitation time, dye concentration, adsorbent dose and pH. The adsorption followed both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity was found to be 2.56 mg and 8.06 mg dye per g of the adsorbent for rhodamine-B and acid violet, respectively. Adsorption of dyes followed first order rate kinetics. Acidic pH was favorable for the adsorption of acid violet and alkaline pH was favorable to rhodamine-B. Desorption studies showed that alkaline pH was favorable for the desorption of acid violet and acidic pH was favorable for the desorption of rhodamine-B.     

Ggum-poly(Itaconic Acid) Based Superabsorbents Via Two-Step Free-Radical Aqueous Polymerization for Environmental and Antibacterial Applications

Ggum-based conducting hydrogels possessing dye removal and antibacterial property were developed by two-step free-radical aqueous polymerization method. Conductivity was introduced with polyaniline (PANI) chains incorporated within the crosslinked network of Ggum-poly(itaconic acid) superabsorbent. The material properties of the synthesized samples were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Results showed that synthesized samples exhibited the best antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Synthesized samples were found to be effective in removal of toxic methylene blue (MB) dye from the waste water. The adsorption kinetics of superabsorbents has been described by using pseudo first and pseudo second order kinetics models. Furthermore, application of hydrogels to improve the water retention properties of different soils was also studied for agricultural purpose.