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Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation
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Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 October 2022) | Viewed by 18916

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yanju Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
Interests: environmental fate and behaviour of emerging contaminants and nanoparticles; remediation technologies for water and soil; utilisation of waste materials for environmental application
Dr. Bhaba Biswas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Interests: clay and nanoclay composite; biocompatible materials for environmental remediation; multifunctional adsorbents; mixed contamination; soil and water microbial health
Prof. Dr. Ravi Naidu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
crcCARE, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
Interests: risk-based contaminated land management; emerging contaminants; organic and inorganic contaminants; PFAS; radionuclides; nanomaterials; contaminant bioavailability; contaminant risk assessment and remediation; environmental regulatory policy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution, including soil, surface and groundwater, and air contamination, poses potential health risks to the biotic and abiotic ecosystem. To minimize potential risks, remediation of organic and inorganic contaminants including but not limited to PFAS and other fire retardants, antibiotics, carbon dioxide, volatile organic contaminants, agrochemicals, nano- and microplastics, dyes, heavy metal(loid)s, and many more is a subject of priority to ensure a sustainable ecosystem. Adsorption has emerged as a promising technology due to its biocompatibility and low operating cost. Many synthetic and natural adsorbents have been utilized in recent decades to remediate organic and inorganic contaminants. Naturals adsorbents including sand, clay, biomass, biochar, minerals, and composites have been widely investigated along with various waste materials, such as industrial wastes, agricultural wastes, organic waste, and plastic/foam wastes. Additionally, several synthetic adsorbents, including nanoparticles, biochar and biochar composites, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and polymer, have recently been synthesized and utilized as adsorbents.

Currently, the development of desirable adsorbents in terms of application varies due to differences in the in situ and ex situ environments. Thus, these natural and synthetic adsorbents are limited by selective and effective remediation of contaminants. Some studies have reported modification of these adsorbents to improve selectivity and removal efficiency of the parent adsorbents. The remediation of contaminants remains challenging due to the lack of selective and cost-efficient adsorbents to separate unnecessary elements and molecules.

This Special Issue will focus on novel adsorbents derived from various natural, waste or synthetic materials that have mechanical robustness, resistance to thermal and chemical transformation, higher selectivity toward target contaminants, and high reusability. Developing the desired novel adsorbents is a vital part of environmental remediation, which would be the primary goal of this Special Issue on “Novel Adsorbents for Environmental Remediation”.

This Special Issue aims to gather outstanding researchers and policymakers to contribute advanced research on these areas of research. This Special Issue will publish high-quality research articles on the different aspects of novel adsorbents and their applications. The present topic of the coverages includes but is not limited to:

  • Synthesis and application of novel adsorbents to remediate the environment;
  • Development in synthesis methods of novel adsorbents;
  • Theoretical and experimental investigation of properties and effectiveness of the novel adsorbents;
  • Promoting, commercializing, distribution, utilization, regeneration, and sustainable management of the novel adsorbents.

Dr. Yanju Liu
Dr. Bhaba Biswas
Prof. Dr. Ravi Naidu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • novel adsorbent
  • synthesis
  • composite
  • nanomaterials
  • waste materials
  • emerging contaminants
  • regeneration and recycle
  • selectivity
  • cost-effective
  • sustainable

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 178 KiB  
Editorial
Novel Adsorbents for Environmental Remediation
by Yanju Liu, Bhabananda Biswas and Ravi Naidu
Processes 2024, 12(4), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12040670 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 762
Abstract
Exposure to environmental pollution due to the contamination of soil, surface and groundwater, and air poses potential health risks to biotic and abiotic ecosystems [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)

Research

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17 pages, 1609 KiB  
Article
Improvement of As(V) Adsorption by Reduction of Granular to Micro-Sized Ferric Hydroxide
by Vicenç Martí, Irene Jubany, Lidia Fernández-Rojo, David Ribas, José Antonio Benito, Brian Diéguez and Ada Ginesta
Processes 2022, 10(5), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10051029 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
The remediation of groundwater containing arsenic is a problem that has been addressed using adsorption processes with granulated materials in columns, but the remediation itself could be improved by using micro-sized adsorbents in stirred systems. In this study, arsenate (As(V)) batch adsorption experiments [...] Read more.
The remediation of groundwater containing arsenic is a problem that has been addressed using adsorption processes with granulated materials in columns, but the remediation itself could be improved by using micro-sized adsorbents in stirred systems. In this study, arsenate (As(V)) batch adsorption experiments were performed using granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) and two derived micro-sized materials. Reduced-size adsorbents were produced by energetic ball milling, giving final sizes of 0.1–2 µm (OF-M samples) and ultra-sonication, producing final sizes of 2–50 µm (OF-U samples). Equilibrium isotherm studies showed that the Langmuir model was a good fit for the three sorbents, with the highest maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for OF-U and the lowest for OF-M. The adsorption of the two groundwater samples occurred according to the obtained equilibrium isotherms and indicated the absence of interfering agents for the three adsorbents. Batch kinetics tests in stirred beakers followed a pseudo second-order model and indicated that the kinetics of the OF-U sorbent was faster than the kinetics of the GFH sorbent. The tests also showed an increase in the qe values for the reduced-size sorbent. The application of ultrasonication to the GFH produced an increase of 23 % in the qmax and b term and an increase of 34-fold for the kinetic constant (k2) in the stirred batch systems tested. These results suggest that this new approach, based on ultra-sonication, has the potential for improving the adsorption of arsenic in groundwater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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16 pages, 3368 KiB  
Article
Highly Stable and Nontoxic Lanthanum-Treated Activated Palygorskite for the Removal of Lake Water Phosphorus
by Bhabananda Biswas and Ravi Naidu
Processes 2021, 9(11), 1960; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9111960 - 2 Nov 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1845
Abstract
Nutrient pollution of surface water, such as excess phosphate loading on lake surface water, is a significant issue that causes ecological and financial damage. Despite many technologies that can remove available phosphate, such as material-based adsorption of those available phosphate ions, the development [...] Read more.
Nutrient pollution of surface water, such as excess phosphate loading on lake surface water, is a significant issue that causes ecological and financial damage. Despite many technologies that can remove available phosphate, such as material-based adsorption of those available phosphate ions, the development of a material that can trap them from the surface water is worth doing, considering other aspects. These aspects are: (i) efficient adsorption by the material while it settles down to the water column, and (ii) the material itself is not toxic to the lake natural microorganism. Considering these aspects, we developed a trace lanthanum-grafted surface-modified palygorskite, a fibrous clay mineral. It adsorbed a realistic amount of phosphate from the lake water (typically 0.13–0.22 mg/L). The raw and modified palygorskite (Pal) includes unmodified Australian Pal, heated (at ~400 °C) Pal, and acid (with 3 M HCl)-treated Pal. Among them, while acid-treated Pal grafted a lower amount of La, it had a higher adsorption capacity (1.243 mg/g) and a quicker adsorption capacity in the time it took to travel to the bottom of the lake (97.6% in 2 h travel time), indicating the adsorption role of both La and clay mineral. The toxicity of these materials was recorded null, and in some period of the incubation of the lake microorganism with the material mixture, La-grafted modified clays increased microbial growth. As a total package, while a high amount of La on the already available material could adsorb a greater amount of phosphate, in this study a trace amount of La on modified clays showed adsorption effectiveness for the realistic amount of phosphate in lake water without posing added toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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21 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Extraction of Chlorobenzenes and PCBs from Water by ZnO Nanoparticles
by Yuntao Zhang, Ran Chen, Jim E. Riviere and Jeffrey Comer
Processes 2021, 9(10), 1764; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9101764 - 1 Oct 2021
Viewed by 2247
Abstract
Metal oxide nanoparticles have great potential for selective adsorption and catalytic degradation of contaminants from aqueous solutions. In this study, we employ mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations to better understand the chemical and physical mechanisms determining the affinity of chlorobenzenes and polychlorinated [...] Read more.
Metal oxide nanoparticles have great potential for selective adsorption and catalytic degradation of contaminants from aqueous solutions. In this study, we employ mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics simulations to better understand the chemical and physical mechanisms determining the affinity of chlorobenzenes and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The experiments and simulations both demonstrate that the adsorption coefficients for chlorobenzenes increase steadily with the number of chlorine atoms, while, for PCBs, the relation is more complex. The simulations link this complexity to chlorine atoms at ortho positions hindering coplanar conformations. For a given number of chlorine atoms, the simulations predict decreasing adsorption affinity with increasing numbers of ortho substitutions. Consequently, the simulations predict that some of the highest adsorption affinities for ZnO NPs are exhibited by dioxin-like PCBs, suggesting the possibility of selective sequestration of these most acutely toxic PCBs. Remarkably, the experiments show that the PCB adsorption coefficients of ZnO NPs with diameters ≤ 80 nm exceed those of a soil sample by 5–7 orders of magnitude, meaning that a single gram of ZnO NPs could sequester low levels of PCB contamination from as much as a ton of soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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19 pages, 5419 KiB  
Article
Development of Rubber Seed Shell–Activated Carbon Using Impregnated Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquid for Enhanced CO2 Adsorption
by Nawwarah Mokti, Azry Borhan, Siti Nur Azella Zaine and Hayyiratul Fatimah Mohd Zaid
Processes 2021, 9(7), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9071161 - 4 Jul 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3505
Abstract
In this study, rubber seed shell was used for the production of activated carbon by chemical activation using an ionic liquid, [C4Py][Tf2N] as an activating agent. Sample RSS-IL 800 shows the highest specific surface area of 393.99 m2 [...] Read more.
In this study, rubber seed shell was used for the production of activated carbon by chemical activation using an ionic liquid, [C4Py][Tf2N] as an activating agent. Sample RSS-IL 800 shows the highest specific surface area of 393.99 m2/g, a total pore volume of 0.206 cm3/g, and a micropore volume of 0.172 cm3/g. The performance of AC samples as an adsorbent for CO2 was also studied using a static volumetric technique evaluated at a temperature of 25 °C and 1 bar pressure. The CO2 adsorption capacity for sample RSS-IL 800 was 2.436 mmol/g, comparable with reported data from the previous study. Results also show that the CO2 adsorption capacity decreased at a higher temperature between 50 and 100 °C and increased at elevated pressure due to its exothermic behavior. The Langmuir model fits the adsorption data well, and the isosteric heat of adsorption proved that the physisorption process and exothermic behavior occur. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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14 pages, 2779 KiB  
Article
A Study of the Adsorption and Removal of Sb(III) from Aqueous Solution by Fe(III) Modified Proteus cibarius with Mechanistic Insights Using Response Surface Methodology
by Xiaojian Li, Renjian Deng, Zhie Tang, Saijun Zhou, Xing Zeng, Jianqun Wang and Andrew Hursthouse
Processes 2021, 9(6), 933; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9060933 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2291
Abstract
Environmental pollution caused by excessive Sb(III) in the water environment is a global issue. We investigated the effect of processing parameters, their interaction and mechanistic details for the removal of Sb(III) using an iron salt-modified biosorbent (Fe(III)-modified Proteus cibarius (FMPAs)). Our study evaluated [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution caused by excessive Sb(III) in the water environment is a global issue. We investigated the effect of processing parameters, their interaction and mechanistic details for the removal of Sb(III) using an iron salt-modified biosorbent (Fe(III)-modified Proteus cibarius (FMPAs)). Our study evaluated the optimisation of the adsorption time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature and the initial concentration of Sb(III). We use response surface methodology to optimize this process, determining optimal processing conditions and the adsorption mechanism evaluated based on isotherm model and adsorption kinetics. The results showed that—(1) the optimal conditions for the adsorption of Sb(III) by FMPAs were an adsorption time of 2.2 h, adsorbent dose of 3430 mg/L, at pH 6.0 and temperature 44.0 °C. For the optimum initial concentration of Sb(III) 27.70 mg/L, the removal efficiency of Sb(III) reached 97.60%. (2) The adsorption process for Sb(III) removal by FMPAs conforms to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, and its maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) is as high as 30.612 mg/g. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the best fit to the adsorption process, classified as single layer adsorption and chemisorption mechanism. (3) The adsorption of Sb(III) takes place via the hydroxyl group in Fe–O–OH and EPS–Polyose–O–Fe(OH)2, which forms a new complex Fe–O–Sb and X≡Fe–OH. The study showed that FMPAs have higher adsorption capacity for Sb(III) than other previously studied sorbents and with low environmental impact, it has a great potential as a green adsorbent for Sb(III) in water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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Review

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23 pages, 1515 KiB  
Review
Recycled Smelter Slags for In Situ and Ex Situ Water and Wastewater Treatment—Current Knowledge and Opportunities
by Saidur Rahman Chowdhury
Processes 2023, 11(3), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11030783 - 6 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4129
Abstract
Slags from the ferrous and nonferrous metallurgical industries have been used to treat toxic contaminants in water and wastewater. Using slag as a recycling or renewable resource rather than a waste product has environmental and economic benefits. Recycled smelter slags can be used [...] Read more.
Slags from the ferrous and nonferrous metallurgical industries have been used to treat toxic contaminants in water and wastewater. Using slag as a recycling or renewable resource rather than a waste product has environmental and economic benefits. Recycled smelter slags can be used in both in situ and ex situ treatment. However, their application has some limitations. One of the challenges is how to handle spent slag adsorbents, as they contain the accumulation of solid waste loaded with high concentrations of toxic contaminants. These challenges can be overcome by regeneration, recycling, reuse, and immobilization treatment of spent slag adsorbents. The present paper explored the scientific and technical information about the composition, reaction mechanisms, adsorption capacity, and opportunities of recycled slags while adsorbing toxic compounds from contaminated water. It comprehensively reviewed the current state of the art for using smelting slags as sustainable adsorbents for water and wastewater. The study revealed that ferrous slags are more effective in removing a wide range of toxic chemicals than nonferrous smelter slags. It investigated the necessary improved approach through the 5Rs (i.e., reduce, reuse, recycle, remove, and recover) using smelter slags as reactive materials in ex situ and in situ treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Adsorbent for Environmental Remediation)
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