Synthesis and characterization of glutaraldehyde‐crosslinked calcium alginate for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions

A novel biosorbent was developed by the crosslinking of an anionic biopolymer, calcium alginate, with glutaraldehyde. The glutaraldehyde‐crosslinked calcium alginate (GCA) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and porosity and surface area analysis. The batch equilibrium and column flow adsorption characteristics of fluoride onto the biosorbent were studied. The effects of the pH, agitation time, concentration of adsorbate, and amount of adsorbent on the extent of adsorption were investigated. The experimental data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms. The data were analyzed on the basis of the Lagergren pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, and Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the GCA sorbent as obtained from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was found to be 73.5 mg/g for fluoride. The χ² and sum of squares of the error analysis were used to correlate the equilibrium isotherm models and kinetics. In addition, breakthrough curves were obtained from column flow experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the GCA beads could be used for the defluoridation of drinking water through adsorption. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

The defluoridation of water by acidic alumina

Fluoride is considered as a major inorganic pollutant present in drinking water. To remove this excess fluoride, defluoridation was done by alumina. In the present study, alumina used was acidic in nature and hence considered as a good fluoride removing adsorbent. Characterization of the adsorbent was done by XRD, SEM, BET and FTIR with BET surface area of 144.27 m²/g. Systematic adsorption experiments were carried out with different process parameters such as contact time, adsorbent mass, pH, temperature and stirring speed. Fluoride adsorption by alumina was highly pH dependent. Maximum fluoride was removed from water at pH 4.4. At very low and very high pH, fluoride removal efficiency was affected. The study of thermodynamic parameters inferred that physical adsorption was dominant with activation energy of 95.13 kJ/mol and endothermic behavior of the process. The kinetics study concluded that pseudo second order kinetics was followed by the adsorption process. Adsorption equilibrium was studied with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption process followed Langmuir isotherm with an adsorption capacity of 8.4 mg/g. A regeneration study was proposed in order to reuse the adsorbent for better economy of the process. Finally, a process design calculation was reported to know the amount of adsorbent required for efficient removal of fluoride from aqueous medium.     

Removal of Fluoride from Contaminated Drinking Water using Unmodified and Aluminium Hydroxide Impregnated Blue Lime Stone Waste

Abstract

The adsorption of fluoride on lime stone (LS) and aluminium hydroxide impregnated lime stone (AlLS) was investigated using a batch adsorption technique. A series of experiments were under taken in an agitated batch adsorber to assess the effect of the system variables such as solution pH, dye concentration and temperature. Removal of fluoride was observed to be the most effective at pH 8. The langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied to the equilibrium data. The results showed that the Freundlich equation fits better than the Langmuir equation. The maximum sorption capacities for the LS and AlLS adsorbents were found to be 43.10 mg/g and AlLS 84.03 mg/g respectively. The FTIR studies indicate that the adsorption of fluoride is physiorption. The adsorption of fluoride onto AlLS proceeds according to a pseudo-first-order model. The results reveal that the LS and AlLS can be economical for the removal of fluoride compared to many other expensive adsorbents.     

Adsorption of cadmium (II) and copper (II) ions from aqueous solution using chitosan composite

The binary chitosan/silk fibroin composite synthesized by reinforcement of silk fibroin fiber into the homogenous solution of chitosan in formic acid was used to investigate the adsorption of two metals of Cu(II) and Cd(II) ions in an aqueous solution. The binary composite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and scanning electron microscopy. The optimum conditions for adsorption by using a batch method were evaluated by changing various parameters such as contact time, adsorbent dose, and pH of the solution. The experimental isotherm data were analyzed using the Freundlich and Langmuir equations, indicated to be well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm equation under the concentration range studied, by comparing the correlation co‐efficient. Adsorption kinetics data were tested using pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order models. Kinetics studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo‐second‐order reaction. Due to good performance and low cost, this binary chitosan/silk fibroin composite can be used as an adsorbent for removal of Cu(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Defluoridation of Water Using Zirconium Impregnated Coconut Fiber Carbon

Abstract

In this study the applicability of Zirconium ion impregnated coconut fiber carbon (ZICFC) as an adsorbent for fluoride removal from water was investigated. The dependence of fluoride adsorption on the physicochemical properties includes pH, agitation time, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and the initial concentration of the adsorbate. Maximum defluoridation was obtained at an original pH value of 4.0 with a rapid 93% adsorption being achieved within 10 min of contact with ZICFC. Adsorption data for fluoride onto ZICFC were better correlated to the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order chemical reaction provided the best fit for the experimental data as obtained from kinetic studies. A combination of chemisorption and physisorption processes in hand with intraparticle diffusion, account for the high defluoridation ability of ZICFC, with the thermodynamic parameters indicating an endothermic phenomenon. The fluoride adsorption capacity of ZICFC when compared with those of other commonly used fluoride adsorbents highlights the substantial improvement in fluoride adsorption capacity of coconut fiber carbon on zirconium impregnation.     

Removal of Cu(II), Fe(III), and Cr(III) from Aqueous Solution by Aniline Grafted Silica Gel

Abstract

The aniline moiety was covalently grafted onto silica gel surface. The modified silica gel with aniline groups (SiAn) was used for removal of Cu(II), Fe(III), and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solution and industrial effluents using a batch adsorption procedure. The maximum adsorption of the transition metal ions took place at pH 4.5. The adsorption kinetics for all the adsorbates fitted better the pseudo second‐order kinetic model, obtaining the following adsorption rate constants (k₂): 1.233 · 10^?2, 1.902 · 10^?2, and 8.320 · 10^?3 g · mg^?1 min^?1 for Cr(III), Cu(II), and Fe(III), respectively. The adsorption of these transition metal ions were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Sips, and Redlich‐Peterson isotherm models; however, the best isotherm model fitting which presented a lower difference of the q (amount adsorbed per gram of adsorbent) calculated by the model from the experimentally measured, was achieved by using the Sips model for all adsorbates chosen. The SiAn adsorbent was also employed for the removal of the transition metal ions Cr(III) (95%), Cu(II) (95%), and Fe(III) (94%) from industrial effluents, using the batch adsorption procedure.     

The use of Jatobá bark for removal of cationic dyes

In this work, the application of Jatobá bark (the waste product of medicinal plant processing) in removal of the cationic dyes Methylene Blue, Crystal Violet and Rhodamine B from aqueous solution was studied in a batch system. The effect of contact time, pH and temperature on dye removal was investigated. An increase in pH from 2 to 10 was accompanied by an increase in the amount of dye adsorbed. The equilibrium sorption data fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir–Freundlich equations were investigated. The Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm exhibited the best fit with the experimental data and the maximum adsorption capacities at room temperature being 211.5, 89.5 and 69.4 for Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet, respectively. The kinetic sorption was evaluated by the pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order and intraparticle diffusion models. It was observed that sorption follows the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters for the sorption process were also determined. The spontaneous and endothermic nature of adsorption was obtained based on the negative value of free energy (ΔG) and the positive value of enthalpy (ΔH). The results indicate that Jatobá bark could be used as a low‐cost material for the removal of cationic dyes from wastewater.     

Phenol Removal from Aqueous Solutions by Tamarind Nutshell Activated Carbon: Batch and Column Studies

Activated carbons prepared from tamarind nutshell, an agricultural waste by‐product, have been examined for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. The activated carbon was prepared by sulfuric acid activation. Both batch and column studies were performed for the sorption of phenol. The kinetic data were fitted to the models of Lagergren, pseudo‐second‐order and intraparticle diffusion, and closely followed the pseudo‐second‐order chemisorption model. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were well fitted. The solution pH greatly affects the sorption process. The column study results indicate that the sorption of phenol is dependent on the flow rate, the inlet phenol concentration as well as on the particle size of the adsorbent.     

Removal Of methylene blue dye from simulated wastewater by alginic acid fiber as adsorbent: Equilibrium,kinetic, and thermodynamic studies

Alginic acid fiber was used as a novel adsorbent to remove methylene blue from aqueous solution, and adsorption mechanisms were investigated. System variables, including contact time, pH, temperature, and initial concentration were examined to investigate the effect on adsorption in batch experiments. The results showed that equilibrium reached in less than 20 min and pH significantly influenced the equilibrium value. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were employed to analyse the isotherm behaviours. It was found the isotherm behaviours conform to Freundlich and Temkin models well, indicating a chemisorption process. Pseudo‐first‐order, pseudo‐second‐order, and intraparticle diffusion models were employed to investigate kinetic behaviours. The kinetic behaviour is best described by pseudo‐second‐order model. Thermodynamic parameters indicate that the process is spontaneous and exothermic.     

Adsorption Behavior of Organic Dyes in Biopolymers Impregnated with H3PO4: Thermodynamic and Equilibrium Studies

A lignocellulose‐based waste biopolymer was impregnated with phosphoric acid and used for the removal of two organic dyes, Direct Blue (DB) and Reactive Blue (RB), from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption kinetic studies were carried out at different initial concentrations of the dyes, at different temperatures and various initial pH values (2–10). The equilibrium data obeyed the Langmuir isotherm model with high regression coefficient. The kinetic data were also used to test three different kinetic models. The validity of the kinetic models was analyzed and the pseudo‐second‐order model may be the best fit to explain the rate‐determining step. Adsorption of both dyes follows chemisorption. The effective diffusion coefficient and the activation energy were also calculated at different temperatures to establish the mechanism. Thermodynamic studies suggest that the adsorption of DB and RB is highly endothermic in nature. Mass transfer analysis reveals that the adsorption of DB and RB occurs through a film diffusion mechanism. Based on the Langmuir isotherm equation, the single‐stage batch absorber design of the adsorption of DB and RB onto activated carbon was studied.     

Removal of Rhodamine B Dye Using Activated Carbon Prepared from Palm Kernel Shell and Coated with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

The efficacy of activated carbon prepared from Palm Kernel Shell (PKSAC) from agriculture biomass and coated with magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄) in the removal of Rhodamine B dye was investigated. Adsorption experiments were carried out at various initial pH, adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, particle size, and temperature. Kinetic analyses were conducted using pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intra particle diffusion models. However, the regression results showed that the adsorption kinetics was represented more accurately by the pseudo second order model. The pseudo second order kinetic constant obtained was 1.7 × 10^?4 min^?1 at 323 K when 200 mg L^?1 dye concentration was used. The equilibrium data were well described by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Langmuir adsorption capacity was 625 mgg^?1. The rate of adsorption improved with increasing temperature and the process was endothermic with ΔH value assessed at 80 kJmol^?1. Results obtained reveal that activated carbon prepared from Palm Kernel Shell coated with magnetic nanoparticle from agriculture biomass can be an attractive option for dye removal from industrial effluent.     

Studies on defluoridation of water by coal‐based sorbents

Drinking water containing fluoride above a level of 1 mg dm^?3 is considered to be unsafe for human consumption. Higher intake of fluoride can cause potential health hazards. The conventional processes of fluoride removal from water are ion exchange, reverse osmosis and electro‐dialysis. However, the utility of these processes has been limited due to their expensive operation and subsequent disposal problem of the waste brine generated. Defluoridation of water samples by coal‐based sorbents was studied at different adsorbent dosages. First‐order adsorption rate constants using the Lagergren equation, the Freundlich adsorption isotherm, the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, film diffusion and pore diffusion coefficients have been evaluated for each system. The effect of pH on fluoride removal and the mechanism has also been discussed. Copyright © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of nickel from aqueous solutions by citric acid modified Ceiba pentandra hulls: Equilibrium and kinetic studies

The removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions using biomass prepared from Ceiba pentandra hulls powder modified with citric acid treatment (CAMCPH) has been studied by batch method. The biosorbent was characterised before and after citric acid modification using SEM, FT‐IR and XRD. Experimental parameters that influence the biosorption of Ni(II), such as pH, biosorbent dose, contact time and initial concentration of metal ion have been investigated. The adsorption of Ni(II) increased with increase in contact time and reached equilibrium within 50 min. The maximum removal of Ni(II) was observed at pH 5.0. The kinetic data were analysed using three adsorption kinetic models: the pseudo‐first, second‐order kinetics and intra‐particle diffusion. The results showed that the pseudo‐second‐order model fits the experimental data very well. The equilibrium data were analysed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. Langmuir model provided the best correlation for the adsorption of Ni(II) by CAMCPH and the monolayer biosorption capacity for Ni(II) removal was 34.34 mg/g. Desorption experiments were carried out using HCl solution and the recovery of the metal ion from CAMCPH was found 98%. Desorption experiments showed the feasibility of regeneration of the biosorbent for further use after treating with dilute HCl. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Biosorption of Zinc from Aqueous Solutions by Rice Bran: Kinetics and Equilibrium Studies

Abstract

Rice bran, an agricultural by‐product, was used for the removal of zinc ions from aqueous solution. The work considered the determination of zinc‐biomass equilibrium data in batch system. These studies were carried out in order to determine some operational parameters of zinc sorption such as the time required for the Zinc‐biosorbent equilibrium, the effects of biomass particle size, pH, and temperature. The results showed that pH has an importance effect on zinc biosorption capacity. The biosorbent size also affects the zinc biosorption capacity. The sorption process follows pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. The intraparticle diffusion may be the rate‐controlling step involved in the adsorption zinc ions onto the rice bran up to 30 min. The equilibrium data could be best fitted by the Langmuir sorption isotherm equation over the entire concentration range (40–160 mg/dm³). Thermodynamic parameters, such as ΔG°, ΔH°, ΔS°, have been calculated. The thermodynamics of zinc ion/rice bran system indicate spontaneous and endothermic nature of the process.     

Defluoridation of drinking water using chemically modified bentonite clay

Adsorption potential of metal oxide (lanthanum, magnesium and manganese) incorporated bentonite clay was investigated for defluoridation of drinking water using batch equilibrium experiments to gain insight of adsorption behavior, kinetics and mechanisms of adsorption of fluoride ion. The effect of various physico-chemical parameters such as pH, adsorbent dose, initial fluoride concentration and the presence of interfering co-ions on adsorption of fluoride has been investigated. The 10%La-bentonite shows higher fluoride uptake capacity for defluoridation of drinking water as compared to Mg-bentonite, Mn-bentonite and bare bentonite clay. The uptake of fluoride in acidic pH was higher as compared to alkaline pH. The equilibrium adsorption data fitted reasonably well in both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. It was also observed that in the presence of certain co-existing ions can have positive effect on removal of fluoride, while carbonate and bicarbonate anions show deleterious effect. The rate of adsorption was reasonably rapid and maximum fluoride uptake was attained within 30 min. The modified adsorbent material shows better fluoride removal properties for actual field water, which could be due to the positive effect of other co-ions present in the field water.     

Removal of Nitrate from Water by Adsorption onto Zinc Chloride Treated Activated Carbon

Abstract

Adsorption study with untreated and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) treated coconut granular activated carbon (GAC) for nitrate removal from water has been carried out. Untreated coconut GAC was treated with ZnCl₂ and carbonized. The optimal conditions were selected by studying the influence of process variables such as chemical ratio and activation temperature. Experimental results reveal that chemical weight ratio of 200% and temperature of 500°C was found to be optimum for the maximum removal of nitrate from water. Both untreated and ZnCl₂ treated coconut GACs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) N₂‐gas adsorption, surface area and Energy Dispersive X‐Ray (EDX) analysis. The comparison between untreated and ZnCl₂ treated GAC indicates that treatment with ZnCl₂ has significantly improved the adsorption efficacy of untreated GAC. The adsorption capacity of untreated and ZnCl₂ treated coconut GACs were found 1.7 and 10.2 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption of nitrate on ZnCl₂ treated coconut GAC was studied as a function of contact time, initial concentration of nitrate anion, temperature, and pH by batch mode adsorption experiments. The kinetic study reveals that equilibrium was achieved within one hour. The adsorption data conform best fit to the Langmuir isotherm. Kinetic study results reveal that present adsorption system followed a pseudo‐second‐order kinetics with pore‐diffusion‐controlled. Results of the present study recommend that the adsorption process using ZnCl₂ treated coconut GAC might be a promising innovative technology in future for nitrates removal from drinking water.     

Preparation and characterization of higher degree‐deacetylated chitosan‐coated magnetic adsorbent for the removal of chromium(VI) from its aqueous mixture

Chitosan (90% deacetylated) coated magnetic adsorbent prepared by coprecipitation method to remove Cr(VI) from its aqueous solution. The experimental studies depicts that the predominant option for removal of Chromium by adsorption from its aqueous phase using Magnetic‐Chitosan (MC). The subsequent physical, chemical, and magnetic properties of MC were characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, vibrating sample magnetometer. The influence of batch process parameters such as contact time, initial concentration, pH, and coexisting anions were investigated. The Box‐Behnken experimental design in response surface methodology was performed to design the experiment optimal operating conditions. The maximum percentage reduction of Cr(VI) is 96.3 that was obtained by magnetic chitosan with the optimal operating conditions of 149.53 mg/L at pH of 5.32 at the contact time of 80 min and at the temperature of 303 K. The average diameter of the magnetic chitosan was calculated from X‐ray diffractometer analysis as 24.5 nm. The equilibrium adsorption isotherm models such as Langmuir and Freundlich and the adsorption kinetics such as pseudo first order, pseudo second order and intra‐particle diffusion kinetic model were analyzed. The experimental data's suited for the best fit with the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo first order kinetic model. It also revealed that Cr(VI) adsorption on MC is intrinsically exothermic and spontaneous. The magnetic chitosan was also used to investigate for the removal of Cr(VI) from the real water sources such as surface, underground, and tannery wastewater. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45878.     

Investigation of adsorption of lead,mercury and nickel from aqueous solutions onto carbon aerogel

Recently a new form of activated carbon has appeared: carbon aerogel (CA). Its use for the removal of inorganic (and especially metal ions) has not been studied. In the present study, the adsorption of three metal ions, Hg(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II), onto carbon aerogel has been investigated. Batch experiments were carried out to assess adsorption equilibria and kinetic behaviour of heavy metal ions by varying parameters such as agitation time, metal ions' concentration, adsorbent dose and pH. They facilitated the computation of kinetic parameters and maximum metal ion adsorption capacities. Increasing the initial solution pH (2–10) and carbon concentration (50–500 mg per 50 cm³) increases the removal of all three metal ions. A decrease of equilibrium pH with an increase of metal ion concentration led us to propose an adsorption mechanism by ion exchange between metal cations and H⁺ at the carbon aerogel surface. Carboxylic groups are especially involved in this adsorption mechanism. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to analyse the experimental data of carbon aerogel. The thermodynamics of the metal adsorption was also investigated for the practical implementation of the adsorbent. The sorption showed significant increase with increase of temperature. Kinetics models describing the adsorption of Hg(II), Pb(II) and Ni(II) ions onto carbon aerogel have been compared. Kinetics models evaluated include the pseudo‐first order and second order model. The parameters of the adsorption rate constants have been determined and the effectiveness of each model assessed. The result obtained showed that the pseudo‐second order kinetic model correlated well with the experimental data and better than the pseudo‐first order model examined in the study. Mass transfer coefficients obtained can be useful in designing wastewater treatment systems or in the development of environmental technologies. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Removal of Humic Acid Using PEI‐Modified Fungal Biomass

Abstract

A modified fungal biomass was prepared through the adsorption of polyethylenimine (PEI) and subsequent crosslinking with glutaraldehyde on the biomass surface. FTIR result verified that the amine groups were introduced on the biomass surface. As a large number of amine groups are present on the biomass surface and can be protonated in solution, the modified biomass was positively charged at pH<10.3. The modified biomass was used as an adsorbent to remove humic acid in a series of batch adsorption experiments. The amount of humic acid adsorbed on the biosorbent decreased with increasing solution pH, and the electrostatic interaction between the positive protonated amine groups on the biomass surface and the negative carboxyl groups in the humic acid molecules played an important role in humic acid adsorption. The time‐dependent sorption of humic acid on the biomass can be described well by the Fickian diffusion model at the initial stage and the pseudo‐second‐order equation over 10 h. Using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the maximum sorption capacity of the modified biomass for humic acid at pH 5 was 96.5 mg/g. The desorption experiments showed that the humic acid loaded biomass could be easily regenerated in a 0.1 M NaOH solution, and the regenerated biomass possessed good adsorption capacity up to the fifth cycle. The PEI‐modified biomass with polyamine chains shows the potential for application in water treatment for the removal of humic substances.