Removal of Remazol Brilliant Violet-5R dye using periwinkle shells

The purpose of this research is to obtain optimal processing conditions for the adsorption of Remazol Brilliant Violet-5R (RBV-5R) dye onto activated carbon prepared from periwinkle shells (PSAC) by chemical activation with KOH using response surface methodology. Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the effects of three preparation variables; CO₂ activation temperature, CO₂ activation time and KOH:char impregnation ratio (IR) on two responses; percentage RBV-5R dye removal and PSAC yield. Based on the CCD, two quadratic models were developed for percentage RBV-5R dye removal and PSAC yield, respectively. The most influential factor on each experimental design response was identified from the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum conditions for the adsorption of RBV-5R dye onto PSAC were CO₂ activation temperature of 811 °C, CO₂ activation time of 1.70 h and IR of 3.0, resulting in 81.28% RBV-5R dye removal and 28.18% PSAC yield. PSAC prepared under optimum conditions was mesoporous with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 1894 m²·g^?1, total pore volume of 1.107 cm³·g^?1 and average pore diameter of 2.32 nm. The surface morphology and functional groups of the activated carbon were respectively determined from the scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis.     

Heavy metals uptake from aqueous solutions using marine algae (Colpomenia sinuosa): kinetics and isotherms

The adsorption of copper, zinc, cobalt, lead and cadmium ions onto Colpomenia sinuosa was studied as a function of contact time, initial metal ion concentration and initial pH. In addition, desorption studies were performed. Characterisation of this adsorbent was also confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Batch adsorption experimental data were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Raduschkevich (D–R) adsorption isotherms. The results indicated that the biosorption equilibrium was well described by both the Freudlich and D–R isotherms. Moreover, sorption kinetics was performed and it was observed that equilibrium was reached in<60 min, which could be described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model for all heavy metals. The sorption of heavy metals onto the biomass was largely dependent on the initial solution pH. The elution efficiency for heavy metal ions desorption from C. sinuosa was determined for 0.1 M HCl, 1.0 M HCl and 1.0 M HNO₃. Desorption efficiency and also adsorption capacity were highest for Pb(II). The results indicate that C. sinuosa has great potential for the removal of heavy metals in an ecofriendly process.     

Physicochemical properties of non-living water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and lesser duckweed (Lemna minor) and their influence on the As(V) adsorption processes

Eichhornia crassipes (Ec) and Lemna minor (Lm) are aquatic plants. They are considered as weeds of the water and approach being a scourge in many parts of the world, choking waterways and hindering transport upon them. At the same time they are known to readily remove heavy metal ions from water. This paper considers the use of non-living plants as novel and inexpensive biosorbent for the removal of As(V) from watersheds. In the first place they were conditioned and characterised to determine their physicochemical and surface properties and in the second place their adsorption properties for As(V) from aqueous solution were evaluated considering the toxicity of this metalloid in the environment. It describes the methodology to prepare the non-living biomasses; the physicochemical characterisation by SEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA analyses and surface characterisation of Ec and Lm by specific surface, hydration kinetic, point of zero charge determination by mass titration, active site density and XPS analysis are described. Both studied biomasses were found to be potential bio-sorbents for arsenic ions from aqueous solution. According to their efficiency to remove arsenic, they can be used in a very low cost metalloid ions removal system.     

Assessing the relative impacts of the factors affecting MIS adoption process

Micro-irrigation systems (MIS) have been at the forefront of policy-making and social research in exploring determinants that could potentially impact the adoption of MIS technologies in the field to fulfil the basic aim of enhanced agricultural productivity and enriched nutritional quality of the produce with optimal adoption of natural resources. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine why MIS technologies have not been adopted to the extent anticipated, so that suitable policy schemes, promotional schemes and socio-technical frameworks could be formulated for their enhanced adoption to enhance the socio-economic status of the farming community in the Dahod district of Gujarat State, India. A study of 350 non-MIS (NMIS) and 350 MIS farmers was conducted to identify factors affecting the MIS adoption process. The logit model was fitted using XLSTAT software (XLSTAT 2014.1.04) to the explanatory variables (determinants) of the MIS adoption process. Type III analysis and ANOVA were conducted to test the relative significance of the explanatory variables adopted. It was found that total income had the highest weight (or beta coefficient, i.e. 0.625) followed by total land area (0.546), motor horsepower (0.499), dependency ratio (0.397), and education (0.295) and age of household head (0.207). Furthermore, to assess the efficacy of the logit model, the ROC curve was also developed and the AUC was found to be 0.881, and therefore the model was considered to discriminate well in identifying the factors affecting the MIS adoption process. The study found that higher total income and education level increase the likelihood of MIS adoption and agricultural water management, and therefore special training programmes on installation, as well as repair and maintenance, of MIS systems and agricultural water management can be planned at the institutional/organisation level. The total cultivable area is also one of the important determinants in MIS adoption, and therefore the adoption of MIS schemes should not be restricted to large farmers only, but rather should be extended to both small and marginal farmers.     

Effects of organic acids on Cd adsorption and desorption by two anthropic soils

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of malic, tartaric, oxalic, and citric acid on the adsorption and desorption characteristics of Cd by two typical anthropic soils (lou soil and irrigation-silted soil) in North-west China. Cadmium adsorption and desorption were studied under a range of temperatures (25°C, 30°C, 35°C, 40°C), organic acid concentrations (0.5–5.0 mmol·L^-1), and pH values (2–8). The results showed that the Cd adsorption capacity of the lou soil was significantly greater than that of the irrigation-silted soil. Generally, Cd adsorption increased as the temperature increased. In the presence of NaNO₃, the adsorption of Cd was endothermic with ΔH values of 31.365 kJ·mol^-1 for lou soil and 28.278?kJ·mol^-1 for irrigation-silted soil. The endothermic reaction indicated that H bonds were the main driving force for Cd adsorption in both soils. However, different concentrations of organic acids showed various influences on the two soils. In the presence of citric acid, chemical adsorption and van der Waals interactions were the main driving forces for Cd adsorption rather than H bonds. Although the types of organic acids and soil properties were different, the effects of the organic acids on the adsorption and desorption of Cd were similar in the two soils. The adsorption percentage of Cd generally decreased as organic acid concentrations increased. In contrast, the adsorption percentage increased as the pH of the initial solution increased. The exception was that adsorption percentage of Cd increased slightly as oxalic acid concentrations increased. In contrast, the desorption percentage of Cd increased with increasing concentrations of organic acids but decreased as the initial solution pH increased.     

One-pot preparation of graphene oxide magnetic nanocomposites for the removal of tetrabromobisphenol A

A simple solvothermal method was used to prepare monodisperse magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles attached onto graphene oxide (GO) sheets as adsorbents to remove tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) from an aqueous solution. These Fe₃O₄/GO (MGO) nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The adsorption capacity at different initial pH, contact duration, and temperature were evaluated. The kinetics of adsorption was found to fit the pseudo-second-order model perfectly. The adsorption isotherm well fitted the Langmuir model, and the theoretical maximum of adsorption capacity calculated by the Langmuir model was 27.26 mg?g^-1. The adsorption thermodynamics of TBBPA on the MGO nanocomposites was determined at 303 K, 313 K, and 323 K, respectively. The results indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. The MGO nanocomposites were conveniently separated from the media by an external magnetic field within several seconds, and then regenerated in 0.2 M NaOH solution. Thus, the MGO nanocomposites are a promising candidate for TBBPA removal from wastewater.     

Removal of sulfadiazine from aqueous solution on kaolinite

The adsorption of sulfadiazine onto kaolinite clay as an alternative adsorbent was examined in aqueous solution, hnpacts of the contact time, pH, temperature, ionic strength and coexistent surfactants on the adsorption process were evaluated. The pH significantly influenced the adsorption process, with adsorption being promoted at lower pH due to the cation exchange mechanism. Decreasing ionic strength in the solution was favorable for adsorption, and the addition of cationic and anionic surfactants had negative effects on the adsorption capacity of sulfadiazine on kaolinite. Kinetic experiments showed that the adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order model. The equilibrium adsorption was well described by both Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich （DR） models. According to the DR model, the adsorption mechanism was determined by cationic exchange and weak physical forces. The thermodynamic study showed that sulfadiazine adsorption onto kaolinite was a sponta- neous and endothermic reaction.     

Effects of citric acid on Cu（Ⅱ） and Cd（ Ⅱ ） adsorption ＆ desorption in calcareous cinnamon soil

通过室内培养和吸附-解吸实验,研究了不同柠檬酸含量土壤对Cu2＋、Cd2＋吸附-解吸的影响.结果表明,土壤对Cu2＋的吸附量随加入柠檬酸量的增加而明显增加,达到峰值后（柠檬酸含量为0.5 mmol.kg-1）,吸附量随柠檬酸含量的增加而下降,即Cu2＋的吸附曲线呈峰型.在低柠檬酸含量时,土壤对Cu2＋的吸附量受Cd2＋浓度影响较小,但随柠檬酸含量的增加,在低铜浓度处理（Cu2＋浓度为600 mg·L-1,Cu600）下,土壤对Cu2＋的吸附量随Cd2＋浓度的增大而增大,但在高浓度铜处理（Cu2＋浓度为1000 mg·L-1,Cu1000）下,土壤对Cu2＋的吸附量随Cd2＋浓度的增加而减少.Cu2＋的解吸量随柠檬酸含量的增加而总体上降低;相同柠檬酸含量下,Cu600处理下,Cd2＋浓度为10 mg·L-1（Cd10）条件下Cu2＋解吸量明显低于无Cd2＋（Cd0）和Cd2＋浓度为1 mg·L-1（Cd1）条件下.而Cu1000处理下,Cd2＋的浓度对Cu2＋解吸量的影响较小.Cd2＋吸附量随柠檬酸含量的增加无明显变化,但随Cu2＋浓度的增加下降明显,其中无Cu2＋处理Cd2＋吸附量极显著地高于Cu600和Cu1000处理,而Cu600和Cu1000处理间差异不显著,且土壤对Cd2＋的吸附随镉添加量增加而增加;Cd2＋的解吸量随柠檬酸含量的增加先增大后保持稳定,在柠檬酸含量为0.5 mmol.kg-1时达到最大,Cu600处理的Cd2＋的解吸量显著地高于Cu1000处理.     

Fe3O4/C纳米粒子的制备及其对水中罗丹明B的去除

采用溶剂热-水热法合成了碳覆盖的Fe3O4纳米粒子Fe3O4/C,利用扫描电镜(SEM)与红外光谱(FT-IR)对其进行了表征,并研究了其对水中罗丹明B的吸附性能.系统考察了吸附动力学、吸附等温线、吸附剂用量对吸附性能的影响.Fe3O4/C对罗丹明B的吸附在3 h内即可达到平衡,最大吸附量可达13.23 mg.g-1.分别用Langmuir和Freundlich吸附模型解释了Fe3O4/C对罗丹明B的作用机理,吸附反应过程符合准二级动力学方程.结果表明,该吸附剂具有良好的磁效应和吸附性能,可快速去除罗丹明B,去除率高达90%以上;吸附剂可重复利用,成本低,具有环境友好的优势.     

二氧化钛改性油页岩渣对水溶液中亚甲基蓝和六价铬的吸附

以油页岩渣及其二氧化钛改性材料为吸附剂,探究它们去除水溶液中亚甲基蓝和六价铬的能力.通过实验,控制溶液的pH值、温度、初始浓度和接触时间,观察吸附效果变化特征,研究其动力学和热力学性能.实验表明,改性油页岩渣吸附亚甲基蓝和六价铬的吸附率是未改性的2—3倍,且改性油页岩渣对亚甲基蓝的吸附率可达97%,对六价铬的吸附率不到25%.吸附亚甲基蓝时,pH值越大,吸附效果越好;而吸附六价铬时,最适pH值为4.改性油页岩渣吸附亚甲基蓝实验符合准二阶动力学方程,计算得反应活化能为13.29 kJ.mol-1,表明此过程主要是物理吸附.在热力学方面,由范特霍夫方程计算得ΔG〈0、ΔH〉0,表明此过程自发吸热,可见此过程还伴有化学吸附.Langmuir和Freundlich等温模型拟合结果表明,Langmuir模型数据拟合甚佳,R2=0.9999,说明改性油页岩渣吸附亚甲基蓝是单分子层吸附.二氧化钛改性油页岩渣经7次回收利用后,对亚甲基蓝的吸附效果仅减少约1.5%.