Materials

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19 pages, 4026 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Activated Carbon Derived from Jordanian Olive Cake and Functionalized with Cu/Cu₂O/CuO for Adsorption of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill Wastewater

by Muna Abu-Dalo, Jehad Abdelnabi and Abeer Al Bawab

Materials 2021, 14(21), 6636; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216636 - 4 Nov 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3088

Abstract

Olive oil production generates solid and liquid wastes that cause various environmental problems due to their high phenols and polyphenols load. Although many treatment methods were investigated to manage these wastes, more research is still needed to identify simple and cost-effective approaches. In [...] Read more.

Olive oil production generates solid and liquid wastes that cause various environmental problems due to their high phenols and polyphenols load. Although many treatment methods were investigated to manage these wastes, more research is still needed to identify simple and cost-effective approaches. In this study, activated carbon (AC) was prepared from olive cake waste and functionalized with Cu/Cu₂O/CuO for efficient and selective removal of phenolic content from olive mill wastewater (OMW). AC media were characterized by scanning electron/dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The optimum adsorption parameters were investigated, and the adsorption isotherms, thermodynamics, and kinetics were determined. The adsorption of phenols onto copper oxide AC was best described by the Langmuir adsorption with maximum adsorption capacity of 13.9, 12.7, and 9.9 mg/g at 311, 302, and 293 K, respectively. The adsorption reaction was found to be spontaneous and endothermic where ∆H° and ∆G° were found to be 30.104 kJ/mol and −1.765, −2.839, and −3.723 (kJ/mol) at 311, 302, and 293 K, respectively. In addition, the kinetics data were perfectly fit by the pseudo-second-order model. The activated product derived from recyclable olive cake and enriched with inorganic functionality can offer a cost-effective treatment solution for OMW; thus, reducing both the liquid and solid waste generated from the olive mill industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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14 pages, 2458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spinosum) Powder—A New Natural Effective Adsorbent for Crystal Violet Dye Removal from Synthetic Wastewaters

by Giannin Mosoarca, Cosmin Vancea, Simona Popa and Sorina Boran

Materials 2021, 14(19), 5861; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14195861 - 7 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1581

Abstract

A new natural adsorbent material, Bathurst burr powder, was used to remove crystal violet dye from synthetic wastewaters. Particle size distribution and SEM and FTIR analyses were performed to characterize it. The effect of the operational adsorption process parameters (pH, ionic strength, initial [...] Read more.

A new natural adsorbent material, Bathurst burr powder, was used to remove crystal violet dye from synthetic wastewaters. Particle size distribution and SEM and FTIR analyses were performed to characterize it. The effect of the operational adsorption process parameters (pH, ionic strength, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, temperature) onto the adsorption process was evaluated in a batch system. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were performed in order to understand the adsorption process. Taguchi method and ANOVA test were used to optimize the dye adsorption conditions and to establish the percentage contribution of each factor, respectively. The accuracy of the Taguchi prediction method was analyzed by correlating the predicted dye removal efficiency with the experimentally determined one. The particle size distribution analysis showed that 82.15% of the adsorbent particles have an average size below 0.5 mm. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model. Maximum adsorption capacity value (164.10 mg·g⁻¹) was higher compared to many similar adsorbents. The process was endothermic, spontaneous, and favorably involving a physisorption mechanism. The Taguchi method showed that the most influential controllable factor was pH (65% contribution in adsorption efficiency) and the data analysis indicates a very good accuracy of the experimental design (R² = 0.994). The obtained results demonstrated that Bathurst burr powder can be used as a cheap and efficient adsorbent for crystal violet dye removal from aqueous solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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16 pages, 14559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Carbon Nanotube Pretreatments in the Adsorption of Benzoic Acid

by Pierantonio De Luca, Carlo Siciliano, Anastasia Macario and Jànos B. Nagy

Materials 2021, 14(9), 2118; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092118 - 22 Apr 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 1742

Abstract

Four different types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used and compared for the treatment of benzoic acid contaminated water. The types of nanotubes used were: (1) non-purified (CNTs^UP), as made; (2) purified (CNTs^P), not containing the catalyst; (3) [...] Read more.

Four different types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used and compared for the treatment of benzoic acid contaminated water. The types of nanotubes used were: (1) non-purified (CNTs^UP), as made; (2) purified (CNTs^P), not containing the catalyst; (3) oxidized (CNTs^OX), characterized by the presence of groups such as, –COOH; (4) calcined (CNTs⁹⁰⁰), with elimination of interactions between nanotubes. In addition, activated carbon was also used to allow for later comparison. The adsorption tests were conducted on an aqueous solution of benzoic acid at concentration of 20 mg/L, as a model of carboxylated aromatic compounds. After the adsorption tests, the residual benzoic acid concentrations were measured by UV-visible spectrometry, while the carbon nanotubes were characterized by TG and DTA thermal analyses and electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the type of nanotubes thermally treated at 900 °C has the best performances in terms of adsorption rate and amounts of collected acid, even if compared with the performance of activated carbons. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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21 pages, 2718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pertechnetate/Perrhenate Surface Complexation on Bamboo Engineered Biochar

by Martin Daňo, Eva Viglašová, Karel Štamberg, Michal Galamboš and Dušan Galanda

Materials 2021, 14(3), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14030486 - 20 Jan 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1607

Abstract

The work deals with the evaluation of biochar samples prepared from Phyllostachys Viridiglaucescens bamboo. This evaluation consists of the characterization of prepared materials’ structural properties, batch and dynamic sorption experiments, and potentiometric titrations. The batch technique was focused on obtaining basic sorption data [...] Read more.

The work deals with the evaluation of biochar samples prepared from Phyllostachys Viridiglaucescens bamboo. This evaluation consists of the characterization of prepared materials’ structural properties, batch and dynamic sorption experiments, and potentiometric titrations. The batch technique was focused on obtaining basic sorption data of ^99mTcO₄⁻ on biochar samples including influence of pH, contact time, and Freundlich isotherm. ReO₄⁻, which has very similar chemical properties to ^99mTcO₄⁻, was used as a carrier in the experiments. Theoretical modeling of titration curves of biochar samples was based on the application of surface complexation models, namely, so called Chemical Equilibrium Model (CEM) and Ion Exchange Model (IExM). In this case it is assumed that there are two types of surface groups, namely, the so-called layer and edge sites. The dynamic experimental data of sorption curves were fitted by a model based on complementary error function erfc(x). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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19 pages, 5340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Treatment of Water Contaminated with Reactive Black-5 Dye by Carbon Nanotubes

by Pierantonio De Luca and Jànos B. Nagy

Materials 2020, 13(23), 5508; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13235508 - 3 Dec 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2254

Abstract

Most of the dyes used today by the textile industry are of synthetic origin. These substances, many of which are highly toxic, are in many cases not adequately filtered during the processing stages, ending up in groundwater and water courses. The aim of [...] Read more.

Most of the dyes used today by the textile industry are of synthetic origin. These substances, many of which are highly toxic, are in many cases not adequately filtered during the processing stages, ending up in groundwater and water courses. The aim of this work was to optimize the adsorption process of carbon nanotubes to remove an azo-dye, called Reactive Black-5, from aqueous systems. Particular systems containing carbon nanotubes and dye solutions were analyzed. Furthermore, the reversibility of the process and the presence of possible degradation phenomena by the dye molecules were investigated. For this purpose, the influence of different parameters on the adsorption process, such as the nature of the carbon nanotubes (purified and nonpurified), initial concentration of the dye, stirring speed, and contact times, were studied. The solid and liquid phases after the tests were characterized by chemical-physical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TG, DTA), UV spectrophotometry, BET (Brunauer, Emmett, Teller), and TOC (total organic carbon) analysis. The data obtained showed a high adsorbing capacity of carbon nanotubes in the removal of the Reactive Black-5 dye from aqueous systems. Furthermore, the efficiency of the adsorption process was observed to be influenced by the stirring speed of the samples and the contact time, while purified and nonpurified nanotubes provided substantially the same results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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17 pages, 1411 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance of Graphite and Titanium as Cathode Electrode Materials on Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment

by Kulyash Meiramkulova, Davud Devrishov, Nurbiy Marzanov, Saida Marzanova, Aliya Kydyrbekova, Tatyana Uryumtseva, Lyazzat Tastanova and Timoth Mkilima

Materials 2020, 13(20), 4489; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13204489 - 10 Oct 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2225

Abstract

Despite the potential applicability of the combination between aluminium (anode) and graphite or titanium (cathode) for poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment, their technical and economic feasibilities have not been comprehensively captured. In this study, aluminium (anode) and graphite and titanium as cathode electrode materials [...] Read more.

Despite the potential applicability of the combination between aluminium (anode) and graphite or titanium (cathode) for poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment, their technical and economic feasibilities have not been comprehensively captured. In this study, aluminium (anode) and graphite and titanium as cathode electrode materials were investigated and compared in terms of their performance on poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. The wastewater samples collected from the Izhevsk Production Corporative (PC) poultry farm in Kazakhstan were treated using a lab-based electrochemical treatment plant and then analyzed after every 20 and 40 min of the treatment processes. Cost analysis for both electrode combinations was also performed. From the analysis results, the aluminium–graphite electrode combination achieved high removal efficiency from turbidity, color, nitrite, phosphates, and chemical oxygen demand, with removal efficiency ranging from 72% to 98% after 20 min, as well as 88% to 100% after 40 min. A similar phenomenon was also observed from the aluminium–titanium electrode combination, with high removal efficiency achieved from turbidity, color, total suspended solids, nitrite, phosphates, and chemical oxygen demand, ranging from 81% to 100% after 20 min as well as from 91% to 100% after 40 min. This means the treatment performances for both aluminium–graphite and aluminium–titanium electrode combinations were highly affected by the contact time. The general performance in terms of removal efficiency indicates that the aluminium–titanium electrode combination outperformed the aluminium–graphite electrode combination. However, the inert character of the graphite electrode led to a positive impact on the total operating cost. Therefore, the aluminium–graphite electrode combination was observed to be cheaper than the aluminium–titanium electrode combination in terms of the operating cost. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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14 pages, 3081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption of Reactive Blue 116 Dye and Reactive Yellow 81 Dye from Aqueous Solutions by Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

by Christian De Benedetto, Anastasia Macario, Carlo Siciliano, Janos B. Nagy and Pierantonio De Luca

Materials 2020, 13(12), 2757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13122757 - 18 Jun 2020

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 2786

Abstract

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes obtained by catalytic chemical vapour deposition synthesis are used as a solid matrix for the adsorption of the Reactive Blue 116 dye and the Reactive Yellow 81 dye from aqueous solutions at different pH values. The batch tests carried [...] Read more.

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes obtained by catalytic chemical vapour deposition synthesis are used as a solid matrix for the adsorption of the Reactive Blue 116 dye and the Reactive Yellow 81 dye from aqueous solutions at different pH values. The batch tests carried out allowed us to investigate the different effects of pH (2, 4, 7, 9 and 12) and of the contact time (2.5 ÷ 240 min) used. The liquid phase was analysed using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry in order to characterise the adsorption kinetics, the transport mechanisms and the adsorption isotherms. The adsorption of the optimal dye was observed at pH 2 and 12. The pseudo-first order kinetic model provided the best approximation of experimental data compared to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The predominant transport mechanism investigated with the Weber and Morris method was molecular diffusion for both Reactive Yellow 81 and Reactive Blue 116, and the equilibrium data were better adapted to the Langmuir isothermal model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Reactive Yellow 81 and Reactive Blue 116 occurred with values of 33.859 mg g⁻¹ and 32.968 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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16 pages, 2709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Waste Materials as Low-Cost Adsorbents for the Removal of Volatile Organic Compounds from Wastewater

by Maria Agostina Frezzini, Lorenzo Massimi, Maria Luisa Astolfi, Silvia Canepari and Antonella Giuliano

Materials 2019, 12(24), 4242; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12244242 - 17 Dec 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3683

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the potential of food waste materials (banana peel, potato peel, apple peel, lemon peel, coffee waste, decaf coffee waste, grape waste, and carob peel) as low-cost adsorbents for the removal of aliphatic and aromatic volatile [...] Read more.

The aim of this work was to study the potential of food waste materials (banana peel, potato peel, apple peel, lemon peel, coffee waste, decaf coffee waste, grape waste, and carob peel) as low-cost adsorbents for the removal of aliphatic and aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from wastewater. The ability of examined food waste materials to adsorb VOCs from synthetic multi-component standard solutions was evaluated and the examined food waste materials showed high removal efficiency. Performances of coffee waste, grape waste, and lemon peel were detailed by using Trichloroethylene and p-Xylene in mono-component standard solutions. The adsorption capacity of the three selected food wastes was determined by using linear Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Two errors functions, average percentage error (APE) and the chi-square test (χ²), were used for isotherm optimization prediction. Freundlich isotherm well described the adsorption of VOCs on the considered materials. According to the obtained results, a multilayer, physical, and cooperative adsorption process was hypothesized, particularly evident when the VOCs’ concentrations are high. This was confirmed by the high adsorption efficiency percentages (E% > 80%) of VOCs from a real polluted matrix (urban solid waste leachate), containing high concentrations of total organic content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Materials for Waste Water Treatment)

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