Removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions by micellar compounds

The recovery of toxic metal compounds is a deep concern in all industries. Hexavalent chromium is particularly worrying because of its toxic influence on human health [1], [2] and [3]. Actually the wastewater norm (0.1 mg/l) is very strict and will become more severe in the near future. We present in this paper the experimental results of the metal ion which is bound on micellar compounds and then retained by ultrafiltration membrane. A well known surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) is used as an adsorbent to remove hexavalent chromium from wastewaters. The effects of various experimental parameters on equilibrium adsorption of Cr(VI) on the surfactant have been investigated using batch adsorption experiments. It was found that the capacity of chromium adsorption on CTABr increases with initial metal concentration and in a lesser extent with pH solution. Total chromium adsorption decreased slightly with a rise in temperature suggesting an exothermic adsorption of chromium, thermodynamic parameters are evaluated. It has also been observed that the capacity of chromium adsorption decreases with the mass of adsorbent and concentration of other ions present in the solution. The metal ion adsorption on surfactant is well represented by the Freundlich isotherm.     

Kinetic study of uranium removal from aqueous solutions by macaúba biochar

Abstract

Macaúba (Acronomia aculeata) is a palm tree native of the Brazilian savanna and a valuable renewable source of vegetable oil for human consumption and biodiesel production. In this study, the potentiality of the macaúba endocarp for biochar (BC) production was demonstrated. Moisture, density, elemental and molecular composition, along with TGA, FTIR, and XRD analyses were performed for the endocarp. Adsorption of uranyl ions, U(VI), from aqueous solutions was studied by batch technique using BC produced by slow pyrolysis of the endocarp at 350?°C (BC350). The effect of contact time on the removal of U(VI) by BC350 was evaluated. Linear and non-linear kinetics models were employed and the best fit for the experimental data was achieved for pseudo-first order non-linear model. The adsorption equilibrium was attained after 180?min of contact time and the equilibrium adsorption capacity achieved was of 400?mg g^?1. Finally, BC350 was characterized by SEM, FTIR, WDXRF, and XRD techniques.     

Sulfamic acid functionalized slag for effective removal of organic dye and toxic metal from the aqueous samples

Surface functionalization of blast furnace slag with sulfamic acid(a zwitterion) was performed for the removal of Cr~(3+) and methylene blue dye(MB) from water samples. The slag functionalization process was optimized using Response Surface Methodology Design. Statistical analysis of the parameters that include the sulfamic acid amount(A), reaction time(B), and temperature(C) revealed that(A) increase had a negative effect on the adsorption of both pollutants by the zwitterion slag, whereas(B) and(C)increase presented a positive impact. At the optimum condition of 2 g sulfamic acid amount, 50 min reaction time and 37 °C temperature, the prepared slag showed a removal efficiency of more than 90% for both Cr~(3+) and MB. Surface characterization by SEM/EDS, FTIR, XPS and surface area analyser, showed an improvement in surface properties and the incorporation of zwitterionic NH_2~+ and S@O groups of sulfamic acid. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic studies conducted with the zwitterion slag showed the adsorption process was suited to Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model.The thermodynamic study conducted revealed the spontaneity of the process based on the calculated negative DG(Gibb's free energy) values. The prepared zwitterion slag offered easy regeneration with dilute HCl solution and showed a considerable removal(Cr3+: 65% and MB: 80%) for both pollutants even after 3 cycles of usage.     

铬酸铬渣生产铬鞣剂过程除铁技术研究进展

铬鞣剂被认为是目前制造轻革的重要材料,以铬酸铬渣为原料生产铬鞣剂是低成本的生产方法之一,但是以含铁的铬酸铬渣作原料生产铬鞣剂会影响铬鞣剂产品的质量。详细介绍了有机络合法、萃取法等在铬鞣剂生产中除铁的应用,从反应原理、工艺流程和除铁效果等几个方面对各种方法进行了对比,评价使用不同生产方法的技术优劣,并对低含铁铬鞣剂的应用前景做了展望。     

Effective removal of Cr(VI) and methyl orange from the aqueous environment using two-dimensional (2D) Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets

Industrial use of heavy metals and dyes critically depends on the effective handling of industrial effluents. Effective remediation of industrial effluents using various adsorbent materials has thus become critical. In this paper, we study two-dimensional MXenes as an adsorbent for removing Cr(VI) and methyl orange (MO) in waters. The physico-chemical performance of MXenes was studied using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer?Emmett?Teller, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution-transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The adsorption system, including influence of contact time, pH of solutions, co-ions, and desorption experiments were performed for effective Cr(VI) and MO removal. The Cr(VI) and MO removal rate of the MXenes was very fast, and the kinetic system was driven by pseudo-second-order kinetics. The sorption isotherm closely well-tailored with the Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum removal efficiencies were 104 and 94.8 mg/g for Cr(VI) and MO, respectively. The MXenes was successfully regenerated by 0.1 M NaOH aqueous solution and can be repeatedly recycled. The uptake of Cr(VI) and MO by the MXenes was mainly due to chemical adsorption, namely electrostatic adsorption, complexation, surface interactions, and ion exchange mechanisms. This investigation demonstrates the selectivity and feasibility of the MXenes as a real adsorbent for eliminating Cr(VI) and MO from the aqueous environment.     

Non-linear modeling of kinetic and equilibrium data for the adsorption of hexavalent chromium by carbon nanomaterials:Dimension and functionalization

The adsorption capacities for the removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions by six carbon nanomaterials have been evaluated. Single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes as received and after oxidation treatment, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide are the materials with different dimension and functionalization compared in this research. Carbon nanotubes have been modified using hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent under microwave radiation. The oxidation treatment on carbon nanotubes has a positive effect increasing the adsorbent–adsorbate interaction. Rate-controlling mechanisms and equilibrium data are analyzed using non-linear models. Non-linear method is proposed as the most suitable method for determining the kinetic and equilibrium parameters. The values of adsorption energy(E) obtained from the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm,have been found around 0.371 and 0.870 k J·mol~(-1), indicating physical adsorption. Therefore, the pseudo-second order model represents better the kinetic experimental data. The results show that the Langmuir isotherm provides a slightly better fit to the experimental data compared with the Freundlich isotherm, indicating homogeneous distribution of active sites on carbon nanomaterials and monolayer adsorption. The separation factors RLare found in the range of 0–1, suggesting that the adsorption process is suitable for all adsorbents. The mechanisms for hexavalent chromium removal have been proposed as electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding.     

Application of biochar derived from rice straw for the removal of Th(IV) from aqueous solution

Biochar is increasingly used as a low-cost and effective adsorbent for heavy metals in wastewater. Herein, biochar pyrolyzed from rice straw was employed as an adsorbent for the removal of Th(IV) from aqueous solutions. The sorption of Th(IV) on biochar was strongly dependent on pH, but independent on ionic strength at pH < 6.4. The inner-sphere complexation dominated the sorption mechanism of Th(IV) on biochar. The competition for Th(IV) between aqueous or surface-adsorbed cations/anions and functional groups of biochar was pivotal for Th(IV) sorption. The thermodynamic data suggested that Th(IV) sorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process.     

A high-performance biochar produced from bamboo pyrolysis with in-situ nitrogen doping and activation for adsorption of phenol and methylene blue

Nitrogen doping is a promising method for the preparation of functional carbon materials. In this study, a nitrogen-doped porous coral biochar was prepared by using bamboo as raw material, urea as nitrogen source, and KHCO₃ as green activator through in-situ pyrolysis. The structure of the obtained biochar was characterized by various techniques including nitrogen adsorption and desorption, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer, and etc. The adsorption properties of nitrogen-doped biochar were evaluated with phenol and methylene blue probes. The results showed that the nitrogen source ratio had a significant effect on the evolution of pore structure of biochar. Low urea addition ratio was beneficial to the development of pore structures. The optimum specific surface area of nitrogen-doped biochar could be up to 1693 m²·g⁻¹. Nitrogen doping can effectively improve the adsorption capacity of biochar to phenol and methylene blue. Biochar prepared at 973.15 K with low urea addition ratio exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for phenol and methylene blue, and the equilibrium adsorption capacity was 169.0 mg·g⁻¹ and 499.3 mg·g⁻¹, respectively. By comparing the adsorption capacity of various adsorbents in related fields, it is proved that the nitrogen-doped biochar prepared in this study has a good adsorption effect.     

含碱性表面基团活性炭去除Cr(Ⅵ)的研究

介绍了用氧化剂和高温处理制取含碱性表面基团活性炭的方法，测定了它们的离子交换空量。研究了溶液pH和Cr(Ⅵ）的初始浓度对Cr（Ⅵ）去除率的影响。讨论了含碱性表面基团活性炭对溶液中Cr(Ⅵ）的去除机理。     

Production of carbonaceous material from avocado peel for its application as alternative adsorbent for dyes removal

Adsorption processes have received special attention for contaminants removal thanks to their capability to generate effluents with high quality as well as their simple design. In the current work, the agro-waste residue avocado peel is proposed to be used as alternative to conventional activated carbons whose use is sometimes restricted to high costs, upgraded by their exhausting after long term operations. The carbonization procedure was optimized and analyzed through factorial design and response surface methodology by evaluating temperature(400–900 °C) and time(30–90 min) effects: optimal conditions were found at 900 °C and 65 min, generating an adsorbent with 87.52 m2·g-1of BET surface area, a mesopore volume of 74% and a zero point charge at 8.6. The feasibility of the carbonaceous material was proved for the removal of a variety of dyes by investigating substrate(10–50 mg·L-1) and solid(0.5–20 g·L-1) concentration effects and statistical significance: complete removal of Naphthol Blue Black and Reactive Black 5 was reached under optimal conditions(10 mg·L-1and20 g·L-1of dye and solid, respectively), while Basic Blue 41 was eliminated by using 13.4 g·L-1of the adsorbent.Overall, dyes removal by adsorption on carbonized avocado peel is presented as a promising technology due to the low cost and easy availability of the precursor, as well as the straightforward generation, the satisfactory characteristics and the proved adsorption capacity of the adsorbent.     

Hydrothermal synthesis of zeolitic material from circulating fluidized bed combustion fly ash for the highly efficient removal of lead from aqueous solution

The utilization of coal fly ash derived from circulating fluidized bed combustion(CFBFA) still faces great challenges because of its unique characteristics. In this study, a zeolitic material with Na-P1 zeolite as the main phase was successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method by using CFBFA as the raw material.The effects of hydrothermal temperature, time, and added CTAB amount on the characterizations of synthesized materials were investigated by XRD, SEM, and XPS. The properties of the ...     

Characteristics of unburned carbons and their application for humic acid removal from water

Two unburned carbons (UCs) were separated from coal fly ash and their physicochemical properties were characterised using N₂ adsorption, XRD, SEM, XPS, FT-IR and potentiometric mass titration. Chemical treatments using HNO₃ and KOH were also conducted on one of the unburned carbons. The adsorption of humic acid from aqueous solution was performed on these untreated and chemically treated UCs. It was found that the UCs showed different porous structure and surface chemical properties, which influenced their adsorption behaviour. UCs exhibited high adsorption capacity for humic acid. After chemical treatment, the textural structure and surface functional groups of the unburned carbon were changed and the adsorption behaviour showed significant difference. Acid treatment did not change the surface area but reduced the functional groups while basic treatment significantly enhanced the surface area in microporous section but still reduced the surface functional groups. Particle size and pH solution will also influence the adsorption capacity. The adsorption will increase with decreasing particle size for humic acid. Higher pH solution will reduce humic acid adsorption on unburned carbon. Ionic strength will also affect humic acid adsorption showing positive effect on adsorption capacity.     

Tannin-based adsorbents from green tea for removal of monoaromatic hydrocarbons in water: Preliminary investigations

In this study, we report the adsorption of benzene and toluene from water using rarely reported tannin adsorbents. Tannin gel and tannin powder were synthesized by adding formaldehyde to green tea extract, while iron nanoparticles were synthesized by the addition of FeSO₄?·?7H₂O. The surface morphology of the synthesized adsorbents was determined using SEM and FTIR prior to application to contaminated water. The results show up to 88% removal of benzene and toluene in a batch system after 30?min of reaction time, with a higher rate of removal of toluene compared to benzene. A low pH value of 2 had an adverse effect on the tannin gel, reducing the total adsorption of benzene to approx. 37.5%. On the other hand, iron nanoparticles were least affected by the pH with an adsorption of 62.9% for benzene and 83.3% for toluene.     

The use of fly ash from the combustion of poultry litter for the adsorption of chromium(III) from aqueous solution

Fly ash, from the combustion of poultry litter, was assessed as an adsorbent for chromium(III) from aqueous solution. The adsorption process was studied as a function of temperature and time. Adsorption was best described by the Langmuir model. The adsorption of chromium(III) on the fly ash was endothermic and kinetic studies suggest that the overall rate of adsorption was pseudo‐second order. At low initial concentrations film diffusion effects contribute to limiting the overall rate of adsorption while at higher initial chromium(III) concentrations pore diffusion becomes more important. An adsorption capacity of 53 mg dm^?3 was reached at 20 °C. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparing the efficacy of a novel waste-based adsorbent with PAC for the simultaneous removal of chromium (VI) and cyanide from electroplating wastewater

The potential of powdered pistachio hull (PHP) for the co-adsorption of Cr(VI) and cyanide from electroplating wastewater was compared to that of powdered activated carbon (PAC). The results of dynamic adsorption experiments indicated that the complete and simultaneous removal of Cr(VI) and cyanide from wastewater was achieved with 2 g/L of PHP after 60 min of contact. Alternatively, with PAC, 69.2 and 77.8% of Cr(VI) and cyanide, respectively, were removed under the same conditions. Adsorption of Cr(VI) and cyanide by PHP and PAC followed pseudo-second order kinetics, and the equilibrium adsorption data best fit the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum capacity of PHP for the co-adsorption of Cr(VI) and cyanide was 117.6 and 151.5 mg/g, respectively, and the maximum capacity of PAC for the adsorption of Cr(VI) and cyanide was 47.6 and 39.4 mg/g, respectively. It was found that which intraparticle diffusion controlled the adsorption of Cr(VI) and cyanide onto PHP and PAC under the selected conditions. Overall, PHP efficiently adsorbed Cr(VI) and cyanide from industrial effluents; thus, PHP is an affordable and cost-effective system for the treatment of wastewater.     

Tailoring activated carbons for enhanced removal of natural organic matter from natural waters

Several pathways have been employed to systematically modify two granular activated carbons (GACs), F400 (coal-based) and Macro (wood-based), for examining adsorption of dissolved natural organic matter (DOM) from natural waters. A total of 24 activated carbons with different physical and chemical characteristics was produced. The impact of carbon treatment on the DOM adsorption was examined by conducting isotherm experiments at a neutral pH using the modified carbons and a DOM isolated from the influent to Myrtle Beach drinking water treatment plant in South Carolina (USA). Adsorption of the DOM by two activated carbon fibers, with relatively uniform pore size distributions, showed that only pores with widths larger than 1 nm were accessible to the DOM macromolecules. Increases in the carbon supermicropore and mesopore volume (i.e., >1 nm) increased the DOM uptake, if the surface chemistry was favorable. The isotherms normalized on a surface area basis showed the significance of carbon surface chemistry on the DOM uptake. At neutral pH, adsorption of negatively charged DOM molecules was favored by basic and positively charged surfaces, while the DOM uptake was minimized when the surface had acidic characteristics. High temperature ammonia treatment of oxidized carbons considerably enhanced the DOM uptake, mainly due to the increase in accessible surface area and surface basicity. Iron-impregnated carbons indicated an enhanced affinity of iron-laden carbon surface toward the DOM species, if the surface was not negatively charged.     

Application of Chattim tree (devil tree,Alstonia scholaris) saw dust as a biosorbent for removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water

“Devil tree saw dust”; a novel biosorbent has been utilised successfully for the removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water. Batch adsorption procedure is utilised to test the ability of saw dust as an adsorbent for hexavalent chromium (reduction coupled adsorption). The contribution of various parameters on sorption, such as contact time, sorbate concentration, pH of the medium and temperature were estimated and maximum uptake of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water was 333.33 mg g^?1 at pH 2.0 and temperature of 35°C. Hexavalent chromium uptake from contaminated water followed the pseudo‐first‐order rate expression. The standard free energy change (ΔG⁰), standard enthalpy change (ΔH⁰) and standard entropy change (ΔS⁰) have also been evaluated and it has been concluded that the sorption was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The process follows well Langmuir isotherm. Fourier Transform Infra‐Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of hexavalent chromium loaded and unloaded saw dust were performed, SEM clearly indicates chromium adsorption. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the involvement of carbonyl, hydroxyl and amide groups on the cell surfaces in chromium binding. Very good adsorption capacity and low cost or cost free of devil tree saw dust makes this biosorbent as one of the best adsorbents for removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Montmorillonite-perlite-iron ceramic membranes for the adsorption/removal of As(III) and other constituents from surface water

In this study, ceramic membranes made of montmorillonite, perlite and iron were used to remove As(III) from water. Membranes prepared with 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt% of iron content were used to filtrate As(III) synthetic water and surface water solutions. As(III) adsorption capacity and removal efficiency, and other parameters such as cations and anions content, turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity were used to evaluate the membranes' performance. Results show that the As(III) adsorption/removal capacity of membranes was improved by the addition of iron. Adsorption capacity of 7.5 μg As(III)/g and removal efficiency of 97% can be achieved in membranes with 1.0 wt% of iron filings content for surface water; however, a greater amount of iron in the membrane structure limits the adsorption capacity of As(III). Besides the capacity of ceramic membranes to adsorb/remove As(III), membranes were also effective to remove other ions, turbidity, and electrical conductivity from the surface water. The addition of iron to the ceramic membranes enhanced their capacity to remove such surface water constituents. These results are important from the practical viewpoint showing the potential of ceramic membranes for the removal of metalloids and other water constituents. Langmuir isotherm model best described the adsorption process in ceramic membranes, suggesting that adsorption of As(III) happened on a monolayered surface of the ceramic membrane.