Steam activation,characterisation and adsorption studies of activated carbon from maize tassels

In this paper, steam-produced activated carbon (STAC) from maize tassel (MT) was evaluated for its ability to remove basic dye (methylene blue MB) from aqueous solution in a batch adsorption process. The equilibrium experiments were conducted in the range of 50–300 mg/L initial MB concentrations at 30°C, for effect of pH, adsorbent dosage and contact time. The experimental data were analysed by Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models of adsorption. Freundlich adsorption isotherm was found to have highest value of R²(R²=0.97) compared to other models of Langmuir and Temkin having (0.96 and 0.95 respectively). STAC has a high adsorptive capacity for MB dye (200 mg/g) and also showed favourable adsorption for the dye with the separation factor (R_L<1) for the dye-activated carbon system. The kinetic data obtained were analysed using pseudo first-order kinetic equation and pseudo second-order kinetic equation. The experimental data fitted well into pseudo second-order kinetic equation, as demonstrated by the high value of R².     

Magnetic particles precipitated onto wheat husk for removal of methyl blue from aqueous solution

Magnetic particles prepared via co-precipitation and impregnated onto wheat husk (MN-WH) were used for the removal of methyl blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Experiments were conducted in a batch mode for optimization regarding pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentrations, and temperature. Maximum adsorption (98%) was achieved at pH 5. The adsorption data were fitted into pseudo-first, pseudo-second, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich equation revealing that adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The four most common isotherm models, i.e. the Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R), were used to evaluate the data, with the best fit to a Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.996), followed by a Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.995), indicating monolayer adsorption of MB on the surface of MN-WH. Thermodynamic parameters calculated from the Van't Hoff equation revealed that the adsorption is exothermic (ΔHº = ?19.7 kJ mol^?1).     

Removal of congo red and basic violet 1 by chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) sawdust,a saw mill waste: batch and column studies

The efficiency of chir pine sawdust (CPS) for adsorptive removal of the dyes, congo red (CR) and basic violet 1 (BV), from aqueous solution was evaluated using batch and column studies. The equilibrium was attained in 60 min for CR and 45 min for BV. The adsorption of BV obeyed the Langmuir isotherm model while the Freundlich isotherm fitted the equilibrium data of CR adsorption. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacities (Q_o) of CPS for BV and CR were 11.3 and 5.8 g kg^?1, respectively. The kinetic data for CR were best fitted to the Lagergren pseudo-first-order model and for BV to the pseudo-second-order model. The intra-particle diffusion was found to be the rate-controlling step for CR adsorption, while the adsorption kinetics of BV were controlled by both intra-particle and liquid-film diffusion. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The adsorption activation energy (E_a) for CR (124 kJ mol^?1) implied chemical adsorption while that for BV (5.4 kJ mol^?1) indicated physical adsorption. An increase in the Thomas model constant (K_Th) with increasing flow indicated that for both dyes the mass transport resistance decreased during adsorption. Thus, CPS may be an efficient low-cost adsorbent for decolorization of dye-containing wastewaters.     

Adsorption of methylene blue onto activated carbon derived from periwinkle shells: kinetics and equilibrium studies

Periwinkle shell, an abundant and inexpensive natural resource, was used to prepare activated carbon by physicochemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) as the activating agents at 850 °C for 2 h. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of methylene blue dye on such carbon were then examined at 25 °C. Adsorption isotherm of the methylene blue (MB) on the activated carbon was determined and correlated with common isotherm equations. The equilibrium data for methylene blue adsorption well fitted to the Langmuir equation, with maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 500.00 mg/g. Two simplified kinetic models including pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order equation were selected to follow the adsorption processes. The adsorption of methylene blue on activated carbon derived from periwinkle shell could best be described by the pseudo-second-order equation. The kinetic parameters of this best-fit model were calculated and discussed.     

Ackee apple (Blighia sapida) seeds: a novel adsorbent for the removal of Congo Red dye from aqueous solutions

The ability of ackee apple (AA) seeds to remove Congo Red (CR) dye from aqueous solution was investigated. AA was characterised using thermo gravimetric analyser, scanning electron microscopy, Braunauer Emmett Teller, pH_pzc, elemental analysis and Boehm titration. The effects of operational parameters such as adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial dye concentration and solution pH were studied in a batch system. pH has a profound influence on the adsorption process. Maximum dye adsorption was observed at pH 3.0. The reaction was fast, reaching equilibrium in 90 min. Adsorption data were best described by Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with a maximum monolayer coverage of 161.89 mg·g^?1. Both boundary layer and intraparticle diffusion mechanisms were found to govern the adsorption process. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard free energy change (Δ G ⁰), standard enthalpy change (Δ H ⁰), and standard entropy change (Δ S ⁰) were studied. Values of Δ G ⁰ varied between?30.94 and?36.56 kJ·mol^?1, Δ H ⁰ was 25.61 kJ·mol^?1, and Δ S ⁰ was 74.84 kJ·mol^?1·K^?1, indicating that the removal of CR from aqueous solution by AA was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Regeneration and reusability studies were carried out using different eluents. AA gave the highest adsorption efficiency up to four cycles when treated with 0.3 M HCl. AA was found to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of CR dye from aqueous solution.     

Selenium content of rice,mixed plant foods and fish from Bangladesh

Static and dynamic adsorption studies of Co (II) ions have been undertaken at fixed pH and ionic strength taking binary biopolymeric beads of cross-linked calcium alginate and carboxy methylcellulose as biosorbents. The adsorption data were applied to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations and various static parameters were calculated. The dynamic nature of adsorption process was quantified in terms of several kinetic constants such as rate constants for adsorption (K) and Lagergreen rate constant (K _ad). The influence of various experimental parameters such as solid-to-liquid ratio, pH, and temperature, the presence of salts and chemical composition of biopolymeric beads were investigated on the adsorption of cobalt ions.     

Adsorptive removal of rhodamine B from textile wastewater using water chestnut (Trapa natans L.) peel: adsorption dynamics and kinetic studies

Water chestnut peel, an agricultural bio-waste, was used as a biosorbent for removal of rhodamine B (RhB), basic textile dye, from an aqueous solution. The effects of various experimental parameters were studied. The equilibrium data correlated well with a Freundlich isotherm (R² = 0.98–0.99) followed by a Halsey isotherm model (R² = 0.98–0.99) which indicated heterogeneity of the adsorbent surface and multilayer adsorption of RhB dye onto the water chestnut peel waste (WCPW). High correlation coefficients (R² = 0.99) together with close agreement between experimental q_e (0.4–1.7 mg g^?1) and calculated q_e (0.4–2.5 mg g^?1) suggested that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, with k₂ values in the range of 52–3.4 × 10^?1 g mg^?1 min^?1 at different concentrations. The overall mechanism of adsorption was controlled by both liquid-film and intra-particle diffusions. The negative values of change in Gibb's free energy (?ΔG⁰ = 19.2–29.2 kJ mol^?1) and positive values of change in enthalpy (ΔH⁰ = 30.9–117.6 kJ mol^?1) revealed the process to be spontaneous and endothermic. WCPW was found to be an effective adsorbent for removal of RhB, a cationic dye, from an aqueous solution.     

Removal of C.I. acid brown 75 from aqueous solution by kaolinite

The adsorption of acid brown 75 onto kaolinite in aqueous solution was studied with respect to the pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial concentration, and operating temperature. Desorption of dye from dye-saturated kaolinite was observed. Experimental data indicated that the adsorption capacity of kaolinite for the dye was higher in acidic rather than in basic solution. The maximum adsorption capacity of kaolinite towards the dye was found to be 96.5 mg g^?1 (pH 1.0). At the optimal adsorption condition, the dye removal ratio was 95.5%. Dye-saturated kaolinite could desorb at aqueous NaOH, the desorption ratio of dye was 78.8%. The linear Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models are well fitting to represent the experimental data.     

改性碳纳米管原始样品吸附亚甲基蓝的性能研究

利用直接制备的碳纳米管原始样品作为染料亚甲基蓝的吸附剂,采用次氯酸钠溶液对于碳纳米管原始样品进行表面修饰改性,改性处理后碳纳米管对亚甲基蓝吸附性较好,本工艺简单有效,所获得的吸附剂具有磁性,吸附过后用磁铁易于达到固液分离的效果.吸附性能结果表明:本吸附剂对水溶液中亚甲基蓝的吸附在60 min基本达到平衡,吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型(R2>0.99).改性后的磁性碳纳米管吸附亚甲基蓝的平衡吸附量qe与亚甲基蓝溶液的平衡浓度Ce的关系满足Langmuir(R2>0.99)、Freundlich(R2>0.91)以及Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)(R2>0.92)等温吸附模型.通过Langmuir模型计算可知改性磁性碳纳米管对亚甲基蓝的最大吸附容量为101.6 mg.g-1,由D-R模型计算结果可以推断,次氯酸钠改性后的磁性碳纳米管对水溶液中亚甲基蓝的吸附机理以化学吸附为主.     

Adsorption of cationic and anionic surfactants onto organic polymer resin Lewatit VPOC 1064 MD PH

The adsorption of a cationic (CTAB, cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) and an anionic surfactant (SLES, sodium dodecylethersulfate) from aqueous solution onto organic polymer resin (Lewatit VPOC 1064 MD PH) was studied. A series of batch experiments were performed to determine the sorption isotherms of surfactants to organic polymer resin. The experimental studies were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Furthermore, the isotherm parameters, average percentage errors (ε) of model data, and separation factor (R _L) were calculated. Other factors influencing the adsorption capacity (contact time, adsorbent amount, and initial surfactant concentration) were also discussed. The experimental data fitted very well to the Langmuir equilibrium model in the studied concentration range. The calculated R _L values showed that the adsorption of both surfactants were favorable. Among the surfactants, CTAB showed higher adsorption capacity onto organic polymer resin compared to SLES (Q ⁰ = 250 and 34.36 mg g⁻¹, respectively).     

Different patterns of growth and nitrogen uptake in two clones of marineSynechococcus spp.

We grew marineSynechococcus Clones WH7803 and WH8018 at 150µE m^–2 s^–1 in dilute batch cultures with NH ₄ ⁺ as the limiting nutrient. The maximal uptake capacities for NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^- were measured in frequent experiments during log and stationary phases of growth. Clone WH7803, originally isolated from oceanic waters, had a specific uptake rate of NH ₄ ⁺ that approximated the maximum (log phase) specific growth rate (ca ~ 0.025 h^–1). NO ₃ ^- uptake was observed only after nitrogen in the media was depleted; the NO ₃ ^– uptake capacity was ca 12% the capacity for NH ₄ ⁺ uptake throughout the nitrogen depleted period. Growth was arrested upon nitrogen depletion, but resumed soon after reinoculation into fresh media, even after 5 d of starvation. Clone WH8018, originally isolated from coastal waters, revealed a five-fold enhancement in the NH ₄ ⁺ uptake rate relative to growth rate at the time of nitrogen depletion. As nitrogen starvation proceeded, this enhancement was reduced. This clone, too, was able to take up NO ₃ ^- once nitrogen in the media was depleted, but only after ca 20 h. Growth continued for a limited period during nitrogen depletion, but nitrogen-starved cells were slow to recover upon reinoculation into fresh media. We speculate that clonal differences may reflect differences in the molecular regulation of nitrogen assimilation.     

The use of chitosan of shrimp Penaeus sp. as cadmium adsorbent

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the heavy metals which contaminate the environment including water, air, and soil. At low concentrations, Cd produces adverse effects in aquatic organisms. An effort to reduce the level of Cd was conducted by removing the metal with chitosan. The aim of this study was to study the adsorption of Cd by using chitosan isolated from the shrimp Penaeus sp. as a function of stirring duration and chitosan concentration in aqueous solution. In this study, chitin was isolated by using NaOH 3% and HCl 1.25 N, adding NaOH 50% for the transformation of chitin to chitosan. For the adsorption test, chitosan was added to Cd solutions at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 g per 10 ml Cd(NO₃)², stirring the solution for 5, 10, or 15 min, respectively. The results showed that the yield of isolated chitosan was 56% of crude prawn shell. The optimum concentration of chitosan was 0.6 g/10 ml with a stirring duration 10 min reducing Cd concentration by 91.7%.     

Adsorptive removal of mercury from acid mine drainage: a comparison of silica and maghemite nanoparticles

Mercury adsorption by silica and maghemite nanoparticles (NPs) was studied with the aim of comparing their performance in the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) contaminated water. Calculated distribution coefficients (K_d) showed that both NPs are exceptional adsorbents. However, adsorbate coverage per unit area was 30 times higher for maghemite than for silica NPs, despite the latter having a surface area ～15 times greater. Maghemite adsorbed 75% of available Hg compared to 56% by silica, making it a more efficient sorbent than silica under AMD conditions. Kinetics and isotherm data for both adsorbents were fitted by the pseudo-second-order (R² = 1) and the Freundlich (R² ≥ 0.98) models, implying that adsorption to both NP types was by chemisorption. Adsorption increased with NP concentrations and pH and was enhanced in the presence of manganese and sulfate ions although adsorption to silica was inhibited in 1:2 Hg-to-Mn systems. Importantly, trends in simulated wastewater were replicated in actual AMD-contaminated water samples. This study highlights the fact that properties besides surface area and charge of adsorbents determine adsorbent performance, and superior attributes may not always lead to higher adsorption efficiencies.     

Adsorption of arsenic (V) by iron (III)-modified natural zeolitic tuff

Adsorption of arsenic (V) by natural zeolitic tuff, modified with iron (III), was investigated. Also, the iron (III) adsorption characteristics by natural zeolitic tuff was evaluated. It was determined that iron (III) adsorption by starting zeolitic tuff was best represented by the Freundlich type of isotherm, having correlation coefficient (r ²) of 0.990. Arsenic (V) adsorption by iron (III)-modified zeolitic tuff followed a nonlinear type of isotherm. The best fit of the experimental data was obtained using the Langmuir–Freundlich model (r ² = 0.99), with the estimated maximum of arsenic (V) adsorption to iron (III)-modified zeolitic tuff of 1.55 mg/g.     

雄烯二酮在我国典型土壤中的吸附特性

采用批吸附室内模拟实验研究了雄烯二酮在我国红壤、潮土、黑土3种典型土壤中的吸附特征,以及牛粪溶解态有机质(DOM)对土壤吸附雄烯二酮的影响。结果表明,雄烯二酮在土壤中吸附动力学符合Elovch方程(R20.89),热力学特征可通过Freundlich等温吸附方程(R20.83)描述,土壤对雄烯二酮的吸附呈非线性吸附特征,其中潮土吸附等温线的非线性最强(n=0.37);吸附系数K f介于6.0~20.2,并与有机质含量呈显著正相关(p0.05)。雄烯二酮浓度较低时,共存牛粪DOM抑制其在土壤表面的吸附作用。研究认为,有机质是土壤吸附雄烯二酮的主要组分,共存牛粪DOM可促进雄烯二酮向地表水和地下水的迁移。     

Kinetic,equilibrium and thermodynamic studies for the sorption of metribuzin from aqueous solution using banana peels,an agro-based biomass

Banana peels were employed for the removal of metribuzin from aqueous solution. Sorption in the batch mode was optimized regarding pH, contact time, sorbent dose, initial pesticide concentrations, and temperature. The sorption data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, Elovich, and liquid film diffusion model, the pseudo-second-order exhibiting best fit (R² = 0.9803). Of the four most common sorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich), the data followed the Langmuir isotherm with highest correlation. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 167 mg g^?1. Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy showed that the sorption was exothermic and spontaneous.     

芬顿试剂法制备磁性碳纳米管及其对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能

采用芬顿试剂法在碳纳米管纯化样品表面负载纳米磁性氧化铁颗粒,制备磁性碳纳米管杂化材料(MWCNTs/Fe2O3),该杂化材料具有较高的纳米氧化铁负载率(>50%)和优异的磁性能,制备过程中无需额外添加阳离子,不会对环境造成不利影响.将磁性碳纳米管杂化材料应用于染料废水处理中,结果发现MWCNTs/Fe2O3对亚甲基蓝染料吸附性能较好,吸附后用磁铁易于达到固液分离的效果.吸附性能研究表明,磁性碳纳米管对水溶液中亚甲基蓝的吸附在40 min内吸附容量迅速上升,其值达到最大平衡吸附容量的88%以上,60 min基本达到平衡,吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型(R2>0.999).磁性碳纳米管吸附亚甲基蓝的平衡吸附量qe与亚甲基蓝溶液的平衡浓度Ce的关系满足Langmuir(R2>0.999)、Freundlich(R2>0.97)以及Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)(R2>0.96)等温吸附模型.通过Langmuir模型计算可知磁性碳纳米管对亚甲基蓝的最大吸附容量为69.98 mg.g-1,吸附过程为有利吸附,由D-R模型计算结果可以推断MWCNTs/Fe2O3对水溶液中亚甲基蓝的吸附机制以化学吸附为主.     

Removal of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions using sulfuric acid-modified cinder: kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Removal of Mo(VI) from aqueous solutions was investigated using cinder modified by sulfuric acid. Various parameters such as pH, agitation time, Mo(VI) concentration, and temperature have been studied. The maximum adsorption of Mo(VI) occurred at pH between 4.0 and 6.0. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption generally obeyed a pseudo second-order model. The activation energy was 31.4?kJ?mol^?1, indicating that the adsorption process was governed mainly by interactions of physical nature. Furthermore, application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to the adsorption equilibrium data showed that the adsorption behavior obeyed the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity was found to be 10.8?g Mo(VI)?kg^?1 adsorbent. Finally, thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH ⁰, ΔS ⁰, and ΔG ⁰ were also evaluated, which showed that the adsorption of Mo(VI) on the treated cinder was endothermic, entropy increasing, and spontaneous. In conclusion, the sulfuric acid-modified cinder was shown to be an inexpensive, effective, and simple adsorbent for the removal of Mo(VI) from water.     

Trichoderma atroviride as a bioremediator of Cu pollution: An in vitro study

Isolated Trichoderma atroviride from Cu-polluted river sediment at the Serdang Industrial Area was studied under in vitro conditions to understand the mechanisms that allowed the fungi to thrive in the Cu-polluted freshwater ecosystem. From this study, adsorption was recognized as the main mechanism of Cu tolerance with 50–85% adsorption during the in vitro experiment. The uptake capacity of the isolate in liquid medium ranged from 0.8 to 11.2 mg g^?1 in the potato dextrose broth medium with increasing Cu concentrations from 25 to 300 mg L^?1. It was found that 2.7–5.0% of Cu was lost due to washing. The high percentage of Cu adsorption and the high uptake capacity of Cu by T. atroviride suggest that it is a potential bioremediator of Cu. However, further studies are needed to confirm its practical use as a bioremediating agent for Cu under field conditions.     

Photosynthetic characteristics of phycoerythrin-containing marine Synechococcus spp.

Marine Synechococcus spp. are sufficiently abundant to make a significant contribution to primary productivity in the ocean. They are characterized by containing high cellular levels of phycoerythrin which is highly fluorescent in vivo. We sought (Jan.–Apr., 1984) to determine the adaptive photosynthetic features of two clonal types of Synechococcus spp., and to provide a reliable physiological basis for interpreting remote sensing data in terms of the biomass and productivity of this group in natural assemblages. It was found that the two major clonal types optimize growth and photosynthesis at low photon flux densities by increasing the numbers of photosynthetic units per cell and by decreasing photosynthetic unit size. The cells of clone WH 7803 exhibited dramatic photoinhibition of photosynthesis and reduction in growth rate at high photon flux densities, accompanied by a large and significant increase in phycoerythrin fluorescence. Maximal photosynthesis of cells grown under 10–50 E m^-2 s^-1 was reduced by 20 to 30% when the cells were exposed to photon flux densities greater than 150 E m^-2 s^-1. However, steady-state levels of photosynthesis maintained for brief periods under these conditions were higher than those of cells grown continuously at high photon flux densities. No photoinhibition occurred in clone WH 8018 and rates of photosynthesis were greater than in WH 7803. Yields of in-vivo phycoerythrin fluorescence under all growth photon flux densities were lower in clone WH 8018 compared to clone WH 7803. Since significant inverse correlations were obtained between phycoerythrin fluorescence and P_max and for both clones grown in laboratory culture, it may be possible to provide a reliable means of assessing the physiological state, photosynthetic capacity and growth rate of Synechococcus spp. in natural assemblages by remote sensing of phycoerythrin fluorescence. Poor correlations between phycoerythrin fluorescene and pigment content indicate that phycoerythrin fluorescence may not accurately estimate Synechococcus spp. biomass based on pigment content alone.