Removal of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) from aqueous solutions using layered double hydroxide intercalated with EDTA

A sample of a layered double hydroxide intercalated by EDTA has been synthesized and its chemical formula [Zn₄Al₂(OH)₁₂](EDTA) · 8H₂O was determined. The possibility of applying such sorbent for the extraction of Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) from aqueous solutions was investigated. Comparative investigation of the sorption capacity of carbonate and chelate forms of layered double hydroxides was performed. It is shown that the degree of extraction of metals on sorbent [Zn₄Al₂(OH)₁₂](EDTA) · 8H₂O completely correlates with the stability of complex compounds of these metals in the solution.     

Removal of arsenic(III) from aqueous solutions using fresh and immobilized plant biomass

The ability of Garcinia cambogia, an indigenous plant found in many parts of India, to remove trivalent arsenic from solution was assessed. Batch experiments were carried out to characterize the As(III) removal capability of fresh and immobilized biomass of G. cambogia. It was found that the kinetic property and uptake capacity of fresh biomass were significantly enhanced by the immobilization procedure. The uptake of As(III) by fresh and immobilized biomass was not greatly affected by solution pH with optimal biosorption occurring at around pH 6--8. The presence of common ions such as Ca and Mg at concentrations up to 100mg/l had no effect on As(III) removal. However, the presence of Fe(III) at 100mg/l caused a noticeable drop in the extent of As(III) removal but the effect was minimal when Fe(III) was present at 10mg/l. The adsorption isotherms quantitatively predicted the extent of As(III) removal in groundwater samples collected from an arsenic-contaminated site in India. Immobilized biomass loaded with As(III) was amenable to efficient regeneration with NaOH solution. Column studies showed that immobilized biomass could be reused over five cycles of loading and elution. The excellent As(III) sequestering capability of fresh and immobilized G. cambogia biomass could lead to the development of a viable and cost-effective technology for arsenic removal in groundwater.     

Removal of oxovanadium(IV) from aqueous solutions by using commercial crystalline calcium hydroxyapatite

The interaction of oxovanadium(IV) (VO(2+)) in aqueous solution with commercial calcium hydroxyapatite (CAP) has been studied. VO(2+) ions are adsorbed on the surface of CAP by coordination to OH groups, without modification of the crystalline lattice. The extent of the adsorption is followed by chemical analysis, ESR and IR spectroscopy. Results are compared with those obtained for VO(2+)/synthetic calcium hydroxyapatite (HAP), reported by us in previous works. The uptake is better than the observed for HAP. The maximum adsorption is observed at pH 3.5 and 288 K. We conclude that VO(2+) is indeed adsorbed on CAP and the extent of adsorption depends on the pH and temperature.     

Removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solutions by adsorption process with anatase-type titanium dioxide

The experiment was performed in the reactor with suspended anatase-type titanium dioxide particles. The adsorption amount increased rapidly with an increasing pH value from pH 2 to 5 and remained constant over pH 5. The adsorption amount of Cu(2+) increased with temperature from 15 degrees C to 40 degrees C. The adsorption equilibrium constant (K(ads)) was 0.854 and adsorption isotherm of Cu(2+) adsorption on titanium dioxide was more suitable in Langmuir adsorption isotherm than in Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption rate was rapid with an increasing number of UV lamps of 254 nm.     

Removal of Co(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions by Zn/Al-layered double hydroxide intercalated with hexacyanoferrate (II)-ions

We have studied the possibility of using zinc–aluminum layered double hydroxide intercalated hexacyanoferrate (II)-ions for sorption removal of Cu(II), Co(II) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. The article showed high efficiency of a sorbent for removal from aqueous solutions of Cu(II) and P(II). It was found that a model of kinetics of the pseudosecond order the most precisely describes the sorption process of studied ions of heavy metals (R ² > 0.99).     

Removal of Pb(ii) from aqueous/acidic solutions by using bentonite as an adsorbent

The ability of bentonite clay to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solutions and from nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and perchloric acid solutions (1.0-1 x 10(-5)) has been studied at different optimized conditions of concentrations, amount of adsorbent, temperature, concentration of electrolyte and pH. Maximum adsorption of Pb(II), i.e. > 98% has been achieved in aqueous solutions, while 86% is achieved from 1.0 x 10(-5) M HCl using 0.5 g of bentonite. The adsorption decreases by increasing the concentration of electrolytes. Flame atomic absorption spectrometer was used for measuring lead concentration. Isotherm analysis of adsorption data obtained at 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C and 50 degrees C showed that the adsorption pattern of lead on bentonite followed the langmuir isotherm and freundlich isotherm, respectively. DeltaH(o) and deltaS(o) were calculated from the slope and intercept of ln K(D) vs. I/T plots.     

Removal of Co2+ from aqueous solutions by hydroxyapatite

A study on the removal of cobalt ions from aqueous solutions by synthetic hydroxyapatite was conducted in batch conditions. The influence of different sorption parameters, such as: initial metal concentration, equilibration time, solution pH and presence of EDTA on the amount of Co(2+) sorbed was studied and discussed. The sorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with necessary time of 24 h to reach equilibrium. Cobalt uptake was quantitatively evaluated using the Langmuir and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) model. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm constant corresponding to adsorption capacity, Xm, was found to be 20.92 mg/g. Sorption of Co(2+) is constant in the initial pH range 4-8, because HAP surface buffers these solutions to the constant final pH value of 5.1. In the presence of EDTA, sorption of Co(2+) decreases due to formation of complex with lower sorption affinities. Cobalt desorption depends on the composition of the extracting solution. The desorbed amount of cobalt decreased continuously with increasing pH, and increased with increasing Ca(2+) concentration in leaching solution.     

Removal of inorganic mercury from aqueous solutions by biomass of the marine macroalga Cystoseira baccata

The ability of Cystoseira baccata algal biomass to remove Hg(II) from aqueous solutions is investigated. The mercury biosorption process is studied through batch experiments at 25 degrees C with regard to the influence of contact time, initial mercury concentration, solution pH, salinity and presence of several divalent cations. The acid-base properties of the alga are also studied, since they are related to the affinity for heavy metals. The studies of the pH effect on the metal uptake evidence a sharp increasing sorption up to a pH value around 7.0, which can be ascribed to changes both in the inorganic Hg(II) speciation and in the dissociation state of the acid algal sites. The sorption isotherms at constant pH show uptake values as high as 178 mg g(-1) (at pH 4.5) and 329 mg g(-1) (at pH 6.0). The studies of the salinity influence on the Hg(II) sorption capacity of the alga exhibit two opposite effects depending on the electrolyte added; an increase in concentration of nitrate salts (NaNO3, KNO3) slightly enhances the metal uptake, on the contrary, the addition of NaCl salt leads to a drop in the sorption. The addition of different divalent cations to the mercury solution, namely Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Cu2+, reveals that their effect on the uptake process is negligible. Finally, the equilibrium sorption results are compared with predictions obtained from the application of a simple competitive chemical model, which involves a discrete proton binding constant and three additional constants for the binding of the main neutral inorganic Hg(II) complexes, Hg(Cl)2, HgOHCl and Hg(OH)2, to the algal surface sites.     

Removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions by polymer inclusion membranes

The transport through polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) was found as the effective and selective method of chromium(VI) anions removal from chloride acidic aqueous solutions. The optimal PIMs content was as follows: 41 wt% of cellulose triacetate as the support, 23 wt% of tri-n-octylamine as the ionic carrier, and 36 wt% of o-nitrophenyl pentyl ether as the plasticizer. The results obtained show a linear decrease of permeability coefficient and initial flux values with source phase pH increase. Also linear decrease of initial flux in log-log scale with chromium(VI) concentration increase was observed. Value of slope of this relationship was found to be 0.96 which indicates a first order of chromium(VI) reaction with tri-n-octylamine at membrane/aqueous source interface. Transport of chromium(VI) through PIMs reduces the concentration of chromium(VI) in source aqueous phase from 1.0 to 0.0028 ppm, which is below permissible limit in drinking water in Poland. Competitive transport of chromium(VI), cadmium(II), zinc(II), and iron(III) from acidic aqueous solution across PIMs was found to be efficient for chromium(VI) (99%), and cadmium(II) (99%).     

Removal of rhodamine B (a basic dye) and thoron (an acidic dye) from dilute aqueous solutions and wastewater simulants by ion flotation

The present work deals with removal, by ion flotation, of two dyes: a basic dye (rhodamine B (RB)) and an acidic one (thoron (TH)) from dilute aqueous solutions and simulated wastewaters. These dyes are widely used for analytical and biological staining purposes. Besides, RB is commonly used in dyeing of various industrial products. Therefore, wastewaters emanating from chemical and radiochemical laboratories, and biomedical and biological research laboratories may be contaminated with RB and TH. Ion flotation of these dyes has been investigated over a wide range of pH using the anionic surfactant, sodium lauryl sulfate (NaLS) and the cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as collectors. Successful removals could be achieved for RB and TH with the anionic collector, NaLS, and the cationic collector, CTAB, respectively. In addition to the effects of pH and type of collector on the efficiency of removal of each dye, the effects of collector and dye concentrations, frother dosage, ionic strength, bubbling time period and presence of foreign salts were investigated and the optimal removal conditions have been established. Removals exceeding 99.5 % and 99.9% could be achieved for RB and TH, respectively. The results obtained are discussed with respect to dissociation of dye, type of collector, ionic strength and sign and magnitude of charge of added foreign ions. Kinetics of flotation were also studied. Further studies demonstrate that under optimum conditions the developed flotation processes can be applied for the treatment of dye-contaminated wastewaters simulated to those generated at dyeing industries and radiochemical laboratories.     

Copper(II) removal from aqueous solutions by fly ash

The removal of Cu(II) by adsorption on fly ash has been found to be concentration, pH and temperature dependent. The kinetics of adsorption indicates the process to be diffusion controlled. The Langmuir constants have been calculated at different temperatures, and the adsorption has been found to be endothermic (ΔH = 15.652 kcal mol^?1). The maximum removal is observed at pH 8.0, and variation in adsorption with pH has been explained on the basis of surface ionisation and complexation.     

Removal of Cu(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution by seafood processing waste sludge

Dried waste slurry generated in seafood processing factories has been shown to be an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from dilute solutions. Characterization of the sludge surface with scanning electron microscope and X-ray microanalyzer were carried out to evaluate the components on the sludge surface that are related to the adsorption of metal ions. Aluminum and calcium, as well as organic carbon are distributed on the surface of sludge. Alkalimetric titration was used to characterize the surface acidity of the sludge sample. The surface acidity constants, pKa1s and pKa2s, were 5.80 and 9.55, respectively. Batch as well as dynamic adsorption studies were conducted with 10(-5) to 5 x 10(-3) M Cu(II) and Cd(II). A surface complexation model with the diffuse layer model successfully predicted Cu(II) and Cd(II) removals in single metal solutions. Predictions of sorption in binary-adsorbate systems based on single-adsorbate data fits represented competitive sorption data reasonably well over a wide range of conditions. The breakthrough capacity found from column studies was different for each metal ion and the data reflect the order of metal affinity for the adsorbent material very well.     

Removal of cadmium and nickel from wastewater using bagasse fly ash--a sugar industry waste

The bagasse fly ash, an industrial solid waste of sugar industry, was used for the removal of cadmium and nickel from wastewater. As much as 90% removal of cadmium and nickel is possible in about 60 and 80 min, respectively, under the batch test conditions. Effect of various operating variables, viz., solution pH, adsorbent dose, adsorbate concentration, temperature, particle size, etc., on the removal of cadmium and nickel has been studied. Maximum adsorption of cadmium and nickel occurred at a concentration of 14 and 12 mg x l(-1) and at a pH value of 6.0 and 6.5, respectively. A dose of 10 g x l(-1) of adsorbent was sufficient for the optimum removal of both the metal ions. The material exhibits good adsorption capacity and the adsorption data follow the Langmuir model better then the Freundlich model. The adsorption of both the metal ions increased with increasing temperature indicating endothermic nature of the adsorption process. Isotherms have been used to determine thermodynamic parameters of the process, viz., free energy change, enthalpy change and entropy change.     

Removal of lindane and malathion from wastewater using bagasse fly ash--a sugar industry waste

The bagasse fly ash, obtained from the local sugar industry, has been used as inexpensive and effective adsorbent for the removal of lindane and malathion from wastewater. The optimum contact needed to reach equilibrium was found to be 60 min. Maximum removal takes place at pH 6.0. The removal of the pesticides increases with an increase in adsorbent dose and decreases with adsorbent particle size. The optimum adsorbent dose is 5 g/l of particle size 200-250 microm. Removal of the two pesticides was achieved up to 97-98% under optimum conditions. The material exhibits good adsorption capacity and follows both Langmuir and Freundlich models. Thermodynamic parameters also indicate the feasibility of the process. The adsorption was found to be exothermic in nature. At lower concentrations, adsorption is controlled by film diffusion, while at higher concentrations, it is controlled by particle diffusion mechanisms. The adsorbent is a very useful and economic product for the removal of lindane and malathion.     

The removal of mercury(II) from dilute aqueous solution by activated carbon

The results of preliminary screening tests comparing the total Hg(II) removal capacity of 11 different brands of commercial activated carbon indicated that a very high percent (99–100%) total Hg removal was attained by all types of activated carbon especially at pH 4–5; the percent total Hg(II) removal decreased with pH's 4–5 except activated carbons Nuchar SA and SN which maintained a relatively high percent (>90%) total Hg(II) removal capacity at all pH values. Experiments were then conducted to reveal the mechanisms of Hg(II) removal by Nuchar SA (a powdered carbon). The results show that total Hg(II) removal was brought by two mechanisms: the adsorption and reduction. In order to investigate the kinetics of these two reactions, volatilization by bubbling N₂ gas at high flow rate was used to remove the Hg(g) product of the reduction reaction. It was noted that both the adsorption and the reduction/volatilization reactions were highly pH-dependent; at pH approx. <3–4 or > approx. 9–10 the extent of reduction/volatilization reaction superceded the adsorption reaction; whereas in the mid-pH region adsorption reaction dominated the total Hg(II) removal. The rate of adsorption reaction is very fast, reaching equilibrium in a few minutes; the rate of reduction/volatilization follows a linear √t expression. The reduction reaction is more significant with Filtrasorb 400 (H-type carbon) than Nuchar SA (L-type carbon). In the presence of strong chelating agent, ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA), the total Hg(II) removal decreases due partly to the formation of less adsorbably mercuric(II)-EDTA complexes.     

Removal of chromium (VI) from wastewater using bentonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron

Bentonite-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (B-nZVI) was synthesized using liquid-phase reduction. The orthogonal method was used to evaluate the factors impacting Cr(VI) removal and this showed that the initial concentration of Cr(VI), pH, temperature, and B-nZVI loading were all importance factors. Characterization with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) validated the hypothesis that the presence of bentonite led to a decrease in aggregation of iron nanoparticles and a corresponding increase in the specific surface area (SSA) of the iron particles. B-nZVI with a 50% bentonite mass fraction had a SSA of 39.94 m²/g, while the SSA of nZVI and bentonite was 54.04 and 6.03 m²/g, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the existence of Fe⁰ before the reaction and the presence of Fe(II), Fe(III) and Cr(III) after the reaction. Batch experiments revealed that the removal of Cr (VI) using B-nZVI was consistent with pseudo first-order reaction kinetics. Finally, B-nZVI was used to remediate electroplating wastewater with removal efficiencies for Cr, Pb and Cu > 90%. Reuse of B-nZVI after washing with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution was possible but the capacity of B-nZVI for Cr(VI) removal decreased by approximately 70%.     

Impact of polyhexamethylene guanidine on filtering of Pb(II) and Cd(II) hydroxides from aqueous solutions

The paper presents results of investigations aimed at optimizing the process of Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal using polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) from aqueous solutions. The formation of compounds of chemisorption-type ions of the above metals with PHMG was established by using the methods of polarography, infrared spectroscopy, and pH-metry. The investigations revealed a positive impact of PHMG on the sedimentation and filtering of the precipitation of Pb(II) and Cd(II) hydroxides.     

Removal of trace levels of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) from wastewater.

An adsorption system is described for the removal of part per billion levels of the chemical carcinogen, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), from industrial wastewater. The system consists primarily of filters and activated carbon and non-ionic polymeric adsorbents arranged in tandem. It is highly efficient, operates at low cost, and requires minimal attention. The chemical monitoring of the raw and/or cleaned-up wastewater is based on a highly sensitive and specific spectrophotofluorometric method that allows acceptance or rejection of samples at the 0.2 part per billion level. The system is presented as a model for evaluating the removal of traces of organic chemicals from wastewater prior to recycling or discharging it into the environment. Results of laboratory evaluations of several other approaches to the purification of 2-AAF-containing wastewater are also presented.     

Removal of arsenic (III) and arsenic (V) from aqueous medium using chitosan-coated biosorbent

A biosorbent was prepared by coating ceramic alumina with the natural biopolymer, chitosan, using a dip-coating process. Removal of arsenic (III) (As(III)) and arsenic (V) (As(V)) was studied through adsorption on the biosorbent at pH 4.0 under equilibrium and dynamic conditions. The equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson adsorption models, and the model parameters were evaluated. All three models represented the experimental data well. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the sorbent, as obtained from the Langmuir isotherm, is 56.50 and 96.46 mg/g of chitosan for As(III) and As(V), respectively. The difference in adsorption capacity for As(III) and As(V) was explained on the basis of speciation of arsenic at pH 4.0. Column adsorption results indicated that no arsenic was found in the effluent solution up to about 40 and 120 bed volumes of As(III) and As(V), respectively. Sodium hydroxide solution (0.1M) was found to be capable of regenerating the column bed.     

Removal of boron from ceramic industry wastewater by adsorption-flocculation mechanism using palm oil mill boiler (POMB) bottom ash and polymer

Boron is extensively used in the ceramic industry for enhancing mechanical strength of the tiles. The discharge of boron containing wastewater to the environment causes severe pollution problems. Boron is also dangerous for human consumption and causes organisms' reproductive impediments if the safe intake level is exceeded. Current methods to remove boron include ion-exchange, membrane filtration, precipitation-coagulation, biological and chemical treatment. These methods are costly to remove boron from the wastewater and hence infeasible for industrial wastewater treatment. In the present research, adsorption-flocculation mechanism is proposed for boron removal from ceramic wastewater by using Palm Oil Mill Boiler (POMB) bottom ash and long chain polymer or flocculant. Ceramic wastewater is turbid and milky in color which contains 15 mg/L of boron and 2000 mg/L of suspended solids. The optimum operating conditions for boron adsorption on POMB bottom ash and flocculation using polymer were investigated in the present research. Adsorption isotherm of boron on bottom ash was also investigated to evaluate the adsorption capacity. Adsorption isotherm modeling was conducted based on Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The results show that coarse POMB bottom ash with particle size larger than 2 mm is a suitable adsorbent where boron is removed up to 80% under the optimum conditions (pH = 8.0, dosage = 40 g bottom ash/300 ml wastewater, residence time = 1 h). The results also show that KP 1200 B cationic polymer is effective in flocculating the suspended solids while AP 120 C anionic polymer is effective in flocculating the bottom ash. The combined cationic and anionic polymers are able to clarify the ceramic wastewater under the optimum conditions (dosage of KP 1200 B cationic polymer = 100 mg/L, dosage of AP 120 C anionic polymer = 50 mg/L, mixing speed = 200 rpm). Under the optimum operating conditions, the boron and suspended solids concentration of the treated wastewater were reduced to 3 mg/L and 5 mg/L respectively, satisfying the discharge requirement by Malaysia Department of Environment (DOE). The modeling study shows that the adsorption isotherm of boron onto POMB bottom ash conformed to the Freundlich Isotherm. The proposed method is suitable for boron removal in ceramic wastewater especially in regions where POMB bottom ash is abundant.