Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solution by activated carbon prepared from cashew nut shell as a new low-cost adsorbent

Methylene blue dye was adsorbed on an adsorbent prepared from cashew nut shell. A batch adsorption study was carried out with variable adsorbent amount, initial dye concentration, contact time and pH. Studies showed that the pH of aqueous solutions affected dye removal as a result of removal efficiency increased with increasing solution pH. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, Koble-Corrigan, Toth, Temkin, Sips and Dubinin-Radushkevich models of adsorption using MATLAB 7.1. The experimental data yielded excellent fits within the following isotherm order: Redlich-Peterson>Toth>Sips>Koble-Corrigan>Langmuir>Temkin>Dubinin-Radushkevich>Freundlich, based on its correlation coefficient values. Three simplified kinetic models including a pseudofirst-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion equations were selected to follow the adsorption process. It was shown that the adsorption of methylene blue could be described by the pseudo-second-order equation. The results indicate that cashew nut shell activated carbon could be employed as a low cost alternative to commercial activated carbon in the removal of dyes from wastewater.     

Correlations for evaporation heat transfer coefficient and two-phase friction factor for R-134a flowing through horizontal corrugated tubes

Correlations for the evaporation heat transfer coefficient and two-phase friction factor of R-134a flowing through horizontal corrugated tubes are proposed. In the present study, the test section is a horizontal counter-flow concentric tube-in-tube heat exchanger with R-134a flowing in the inner tube and hot water flowing in the annulus. Smooth tube and corrugated tubes with inner diameters of 8.7 mm and lengths of 2000 mm are used as the inner tube. The corrugation pitches are 5.08, 6.35, and 8.46 mm and the corrugation depths are 1, 1.25, and 1.5 mm, respectively. The outer tube is made from smooth copper tube with an inner diameter of 21.2 mm. The correlations presented are formed by using approximately 200 data points for five different corrugated tube geometries and are then proposed in terms of Nusselt number, equivalent Reynolds number, Prandtl number, corrugation pitch and depth, and inside diameter.     

Kinetic and equilibrium studies on the biosorption of textile dyes onto Plantago ovata seeds

The powdered seeds of Plantago ovata (PSPO) were utilized for the removal of Malachite Green (MG) and Rose Bengal (RB) dyes from aqueous media by batch adsorption. The Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) results showed that both the dyes were adsorbed between the cellulose matrices, and this has been verified from the intensifying and narrowing aromatic C-H bending vibration. The morphology of the dye laden adsorbent was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that the dyes were adsorbed between the cellulose matrices of the adsorbent. The PSPO was found to be very effective for the removal of MG and RB at pH 7, and equilibrium was attained within 200 min. The kinetic study indicated that the rate limiting step for MG and RB adsorption may be chemisorption and intraparticle diffusion. Adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson and Temkin adsorption isotherms. It is inferred from the equilibrium studies that the adsorption of MG follows the Freundlich isotherm and the adsorption of RB follows the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the PSPO was found to be 86.23 mg/g for MG and 81.23 mg/g for RB, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of SnS/ZnO nanocomposite by chemical method

SnS nanorods and SnS/ZnO nanocomposite have been synthesized by chemical method. Structure and phase purity of the samples were confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscope image of SnS nanorods showed the average diameter of nanorods was about 85 nm and length was several micrometers. Transmission electron microscope image of SnS/ZnO nanocomposite showed the average particle size of ZnO nanoparticle was about 12 nm. The formation of SnS/ZnO nanocomposite was confirmed by elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. From the microRaman spectrum of SnS/ZnO nanocomposite, it was observed that the intensity of B_2g mode of SnS nanorods decreased dramatically compared to that of pure SnS nanorods, since the surface of the SnS nanorods were coated with ZnO nanoparticles. Both direct and indirect band gap transitions were observed for SnS nanorods from the optical absorption spectrum and the optical absorption spectrum of SnS/ZnO nanocomposite showed absorption in the visible region.     

Epitaxial growth of NiTiO3 with a distorted ilmenite structure

MTiO₃ (M = Fe, Mn, Ni) compounds have received recent attention as possible candidates for multiferroic materials capable of magnetization switching by application of an electric field. In an attempt to stabilize NiTiO₃ in the rhombohedral R3 structure, epitaxial Ni_1 − xTi_1 − yO₃ films of different thickness and composition were deposited on Al₂O₃(0001) by pulsed laser deposition, and characterized using several techniques. Structural parameters for ilmenite-type NiTiO₃ and the metastable LiNbO₃-type NiTiO₃ structure with the space group R3c were predicted using density functional theory calculations, and compared with the experimental results. Our structural data from X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicate that epitaxial ilmenite-type NiTiO₃ films were grown. Furthermore, lattice strain exerted by the sapphire substrate results in a distorted ilmenite structure similar to the LiNbO₃-type one. While R3c NiTiO₃, the desired structure based on recent theory, cannot be claimed at this point, our results demonstrate the potential of oxide heteroepitaxy to stabilize metastable multiferroic phases that may be difficult to prepare or are inaccessible in the bulk.     

A new correlation for characteristic velocity in rotating disc contactors

On the basis of present experimental results along with those of available literature (1539 experimental results for 12 systems from 13 different sources) with a wide range of variables, a general correlation for the prediction of characteristic velocity, involving phase flow rates, rotor speed (in terms of Froude number), column geometry and also the physical properties, is presented. The present proposed correlations are more accurate than those previously reported.     

Influence of Heat-Treated Bovine Bone-Derived Hydroxyapatite on Physical Properties and in vitro Degradation Behavior of Poly (Lactic Acid) Composites

In this work, nano-size HA was produced from bovine bone. At various heat treatment temperatures, poorly crystalline, partially crystalline and crystalline forms of HA were obtained. PLA composites were prepared by incorporating various forms and contents of HA into PLA matrix. The characteristics of the obtained HA powders affected properties of PLA composites including mechanical properties, morphologies, PLA molecular weight, in vitro bioactivity and in vitro degradation behaviors of the composites. In the case of in vitro bioactivity study, all composites illustrated the induction of bone-like calcium phosphate compounds on their surfaces, especially the PLA/a-HA composites.     

A new electrode reactor with in-built recirculation mode for the enhancement of methylene blue dye removal from the aqueous solution: Comparison of adsorption,electrolysis and combined effect

The removal of basic dye such as methylene blue (MB) dye from the synthetic wastewater was experimentally investigated using an electrolytic cell (EC), adsorption and the combined effect of EC and adsorption technology called a three-phase three-dimensional electrode reactor (TPTDER). The performance of the each technology was checked on the basis of the efficiency of the systems. The experimental results are expressed in terms of the removal efficiency of the dye molecules. The results show that the TPTDER could efficiently remove the dye molecules from the aqueous solutions when compared with the EC and adsorption process. The removal efficiency reached as high as about 99% for an initial MB dye concentration in the range of 100–1,000 mg/L by TPTDER for 10 min at 12 V cell voltage and at specific airflow conditions. It was also observed that the removal of dye molecules depends upon the initial solution pH, applied cell voltage, contact time, and initial dye concentration. The recyclability of the particle electrodes in the TPTDER process was also checked. These findings suggest that TPTDER is a promising technology for the removal of dyes from the aqueous solution, and can be applied to the removal of dyes from the industrial effluents.     

Antioxidant activity of various extracts from an edible mushroom Pleurotus eous

Pleurotus eous is a pink edible oyster mushroom cultivated in Coimbatore. The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant potential of ethyl acetate, methanol, and hot water extracts from P. eous using various in vitro ROS/RNS generated chemical and biological models. Results demonstrated that the graded-dose (2–50 mg/mL) of various extracts markedly scavenged the DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals, and showed metal chelating ability, reducing capacity in Fe³⁺/ferricyanide complex, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays. In biological models, different extracts were found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in brain and liver homogenate. Total antioxidant activity was high in methanolic extract. Hot water extract showed higher amount of total phenol and methanolic extract showed higher amount of flavonoid as compared to other extracts. Based on EC₅₀ values it can be concluded that the various extracts from P. eous were good in antioxidant properties with methanol and ethyl acetate extracts being more effective. The results of this study showed that various extracts could serve as natural antioxidants owing to their significant antioxidant activity.     

Two step biodiesel production from Calophyllum inophyllum oil: Studies on thermodynamic and kinetic modelling of modified β‐zeolite catalysed pre‐treatment

Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels that can help in reducing oil dependence. β‐Zeolite was modified with phosphoric acid and the modified β‐zeolite was used as catalyst for the esterification of free fatty acids (FFA) present in pinnai oil and its effect on esterification reaction was studied. Influence of catalyst amount, methanol to oil ratio and temperature on specific reaction rate was modelled using Langmuir–Hinshelwood (LH) kinetics, pseudo first order kinetics and Arrhenius equation, respectively. The kinetic constant values obtained in LH kinetics show that the adsorption capacity of FFA on catalyst surface was approximately 23 times higher than that of methanol. From pseudo first order kinetic modelling it is found that methanol to oil molar ratio of 9 gives the optimum k value. Thermodynamic studies were also performed to prove the endothermic nature of Pβ catalysed esterification reaction. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering