Adsorptive removal of a synthetic textile dye using cocoa pod husks

The adsorption of a synthetic textile dye (Remazol Brilliant Black Reactive) on cocoa pod husk-based activated carbon was investigated in batch process. The adsorbent prepared was characterized by gas adsorption surface analysis (Brunauer Emmett Teller, BET), scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effects of initial dye concentration, contact time, solution temperature, and solution pH were evaluated. Equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models, the first being the best with maximum monolayer coverage of 111?mg?g^?1. Kinetic data were fitted into pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich models; the pseudo second-order model provided the best correlation. Maximum adsorption was observed at pH 7. Standard free energy, standard enthalpy, and standard entropy were also calculated. The adsorption interaction was found to be endothermic and spontaneous. Both the mean free energy of adsorption and the activation energy show that the mechanism is by physisorption.     

Kinetics study of photocatalytic process for treatment of phenolic wastewater by TiO2 nano powder immobilized on concrete surfaces

In this study, kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of phenolic wastewater in immobilized photocatalytic reactor was investigated. Immobilization of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nano powders on concrete surfaces were accomplished with epoxy concrete sealer. Kinetics of photocatalytic reactions has been proposed to follow the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model in different initial phenol concentration, pH, and UV lamp intensity. First-order reaction kinetics with respect to the pollutant concentration was obtained for the reaction. Effect of UV lamp intensity showed that kinetic constants were proportional to the power of 0.73–1 of the photonic flow. In all cases kinetic constant increases as pH of the system reached up to 12 units. Several reaction intermediates were identified using the GC/Mass analysis. Products at the initial stage of the reaction were aromatic compounds, contained hydroquinone, benzoquinone, and catechol. These intermediates underwent further photocatalytic oxidation to aliphatic compounds and finally into CO₂ and H₂O after 4?h. Kinetic constants of intermediate compounds were determined using mathematical–chemical equations and nonlinear regression. Data showed that the differences between the mathematical model and Langmuir–Hinshelwood model for the kinetic constant was less than 5%.     

Uptake and elimination kinetics of triphenyltin hydroxide by two fish species

The uptake from water and the elimination of carbon‐14 radiolabelled triphenyltin hydroxide ([¹⁴C]TPTH) was studied in two fish species: guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and rainbow trout larvae (Salmo gairdneri). During all the experiments no steady state in fish was found. TPTH was rapidly taken up, while elimination was very slow. Uptake and elimination rate constants (k ₁ and k ₂, respectively), and a bioconcentration factor were estimated, assuming first order kinetics.

During eight days of exposure of guppy to TPTH an uptake rate constant k ₁ of 70±7L/kg.d and an elimination rate constant k ₂ of 0.005 ±0.029d ^‐1 was found. This resulted in a biconcentration factor of at least 2.1 × 10³L/kg (wet weight). Comparable results were obtained during a 30 days exposure experiment with guppy: k ₁ was 41±2L/kg.d, k ₂ 0.014 + 0.002d^‐1, and the bioconcentration factor was estimated to be 2.9 × 10³ L/kg (wet weight).

Four days exposure of rainbow trout larvae resulted in a it, of 22+ 2 L/kg.d, and a k ₂ of 0.031 ±0.007d^‐1. Using these k, and k ₂ values it was estimated that the biconcentration factor exceeds 650 L/kg (wet weight).     

Photodegradation of pesticides .1. Photolysis rates and half‐life of acylanilides and their major metabolites in water

The photolysis in water solution of three fungicides (Metalaxyl, Benalaxyl, and Furalaxyl) was studied under artificial light. At λ = 254 Benalaxyl and Furalaxyl underwent fast degradation with rearrangement reactions less complex than those of Metalaxyl. Under A = 254–290 the photolysis was very fast and Benalaxyl and Furalaxyl show a common behaviour. This was found to be a kinetic consecutive process leading, at first, to N‐2,6‐xylyl‐D,L‐alaninate (II), which was degraded to 2,6‐dimethylaniline (IV). This amine gives unknown products. Metalaxyl underwent a parallel/consecutive photodegradtion to give (II) and N‐(methoxyacetyl)‐2,6‐dimethylaniline (VI). While (II) was easily converted to (IV) as earlier, (VI) was more stable to photolysis. Under λ > 290 all the fungicides shown very slow degradation with pseudo first order rate constants. The photoproducts were degraded faster than the parent compounds by factors from 13 to 1800. The presence of photosensitizer in water (humic acids or acetone) resulted in total decomposition of fungicides and of their photoproducts.     

Adsorption of phosphate ions from water using a novel cellulose-based adsorbent

A novel cellulose-based adsorbent, iron(III)-coordinated amino-functionalised poly(glycidylmethacrylate)-grafted cellulose [Fe(III)–AM-PGMACell] was developed for the removal of phosphate from water and wastewater. The scanning electron micrograph showed that AM-PGMACell has a rougher surface than cellulose and the adsorption of Fe(III) on AM-PGMACell made the surface even rougher. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that amino groups on the surface of AM-PGMACell complexed with Fe(III) played an important role in the removal of phosphate from solutions. X-Ray diffraction patterns showed a decrease in crystallinity after graft copolymerisation onto cellulose. The effects of contact time, initial sorbate concentration, pH, agitation speed, dose of adsorbent and temperature on the removal process were investigated. Maximum removal of 99.1% was observed for an initial concentration of 25 mg·L ^?1 at pH 6.0 and an adsorbent dose of 2.0 g·L ^?1. A two-step pseudo-first-order kinetic model and Sips isotherm model represented the measured data very well. Complete removal of 11.6 mg·L ^?1 phosphate from fertiliser industry wastewater was achieved by 1.6 g·L ^?1 Fe(III)–AM-PGMACell. The adsorbent exhibited very high reusability for several cycles. Overall, the study demonstrated that Fe(III)–AM-PGMACell can be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal and recovery of phosphate from water and wastewater.     

Isolation and characterisation of a carbofuran degrading Burkholderia sp. PCL3 from carbofuran-phytoremediated rhizosphere soil

A bacterial strain capable of degrading carbofuran as the sole carbon source was isolated from carbofuran-phytoremediated rhizosphere soil of rice. A 16S rRNA study identified the strain as Burkholderia sp. (isolate PCL3). Free cells of isolate PCL3 possessed inhibitory-type degradation kinetics with a q _max of 0.087 day^?1 and S _m of 248.76 mg·L^?1. Immobilised PCL3 on corncob and sugarcane bagasse possessed Monod-type degradation kinetics with a q _max of 0.124 and 0.098 day^?1, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature with the highest degradation rate coefficient of carbofuran were pH 7.5 and 35 °C, respectively.     

Heavy-metal adsorption by non-living biomass

The adsorption of some heavy metals onto the walls of harvested, washed, and dried non-living biomass cells of different Pseudomonas strains was studied at optimum experimental conditions using a simplified single component system. The Langmuir adsorption model was found to be a suitable approach to describe the system via multi-step processes. Isotherms measured at 30.0°C and pH 5.5 with [M]_total?=?10–100 mM for tight, reversible Cr⁶⁺(aq), Ni²⁺(aq), Cu²⁺(aq) and Cd²⁺(aq) binding by the cell walls of the investigated biomass fit the Langmuir model and give the pH-independent stoichiometric site capacities ν _i and equilibrium constants K _i for metal binding at specific biomass sites i?=?A, B, C, and D. Tight binding sites A, B, and D of the non-living biomass are occupied by Cr^VI, sites A and C by Ni^II, sites A and D by Cd^II, and only site B by Cu^II. It is concluded that ν _i is a stoichiometric parameter that is independent of the magnitude of K _i for binding site i and that the studied heavy metals selectively and tightly bind at different biomass sites.     

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.     

Uptake and transformation of perchlorate by vascular plants

Phytoremediation is a promising new method that uses green plants to cleanse soil and water contaminated with organic or inorganic pollutants. In this study, the uptake and transformation of sodium perchlorate (NaClO₄) using four vascular plant species were examined in batch experiments. The species include two trees, cabbage gum (Eucalyptus amplifolia) and eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), a herbaceous wetland plant, perennial glasswort (Salicornia virginica), and a herbaceous aquatic plant, waterweed (Elodea canadensis). Perchlorate was depleted from solution in the presence of all but one species (waterweed). Depletion was calculated as a first‐order kinetics reaction with k values in the range of 0–0.013 per day and accumulation of perchlorate was between 3.2 and 3138 mg/kg. Perchlorate and transformation metabolites (chlorate, chlorite, chloride) were observed in all plant tissues (e.g., roots, stems, leaves) analyzed. Results suggest that significant influences on perchlorate uptake include: (1) plant species present, (2) concentration of perchlorate, (3) sand versus hydroponic treatments, (4) the presence or absence of plant nutrients or competing ions, (5) stage of plant maturity.     

Degradation kinetics of terephthalic acid wastewater with the hybrid strains constructed with Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The degradation kinetic parameters in terephthalic acid (TPA) wastewater for the hybrid strains of Fhh and Fhhh obtained through the protoplast fusion of the fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium (PC) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y99, and the native bacteria YZ1 were measured in this research. The highest level of the specific degradation rate for Fhhh and Fhh during 20h reaction were 0.2238 and 0.2163 h^‐1, which were higher than that of their three parental strains and that of the anaerobic bacteria reported. It suggested that the abilities of growth and degradation for Fhh and Fhhh in TPA wastewater were better than their three parental strains. They could create potentials for the purification of TPA wastewater with higher efficiency.