Adsorption/photodegradation of methylene blue from synthetic wastewater on titanate nanotubes surfaces.

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) were hydrothermally synthesized from commercially available TiO2 powder and were characterized by XRD, SEM/EDX, and TEM. The as-prepared TNTs were used to remove organic dye, Methylene Blue (MB) from aqueous media by batch mode at 25 ± 2 °C, at pH 6.8 ± 0.2. The MB removal process followed two mechanisms of adsorption (absence of UV light) and photodegradation on precursor's surfaces. Photo-illumination study revealed the ∼98% MB removal with the dose of 3 g/L TNT with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Adsorptive capacity of TNT was evaluated from the Langmuir isotherm and found to be 151.51 mg/g. Dimensionless equilibrium parameter RL value suggested the favourable but the free energy changes (ΔG°) value (10.752 kJ/mol) suggested the non-spontaneity of the adsorption process. Adsorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetics model best. MB adsorption onto TNT surfaces followed neither pore diffusion nor film diffusion. Studies conducted in the presence of different foreign ions as well as varying pH of the media to understand their effects in the process if any. Turnover studies were also conducted. A probable photodegradation mechanism was proposed. Finally, TNT was used to remove MB from spiked pond water collecting from the KISS University, including pre- and post analysis of water quality.

Association of air quality with respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity rate in Delhi, India.

The present study reports short-term impact of poor air quality on cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity rate in Delhi. The data on monthly count of patients visiting Out Patient Department (OPD) and hospital admission due to respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses from hospitals along with daily air quality data from air quality monitoring stations of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Government of India, across Delhi were collected for the period 2008 to 2012. A semi-parametric Quasi-Poisson regression model was used to examine the association of high pollution episodes with relative risk of hospital OPD visit and hospital admission due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study has confirmed the substantial adverse health effects due to air pollution across criterion air pollutants. The study reports the short-term effects of air pollution on morbidity from a time-series study first time in India. The study findings illustrate the evidence of adverse health impact of air pollution from India to the global pool and can influence the policy makers to implement better air quality management system for Indian cities. ABBREVIATIONS: OPD: Out Patient Department; IPD: Inpatient Department; RD: Respiratory Disease; CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; CPCB: Central Pollution Control Board; NAAQMP: National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme; NAAQS: National Ambient Air Quality Standards; RR; Relative Risk; IMD: Indian Meteorological Department; PM10: Particulate Matter less than 10 µm in aerodynamic diameter; SO2: Sulphur dioxide; NO2: Nitrogen dioxide; CO: Carbon Monoxide; O3: Ozone; DCE: Delhi College of Engineering; GTB Hospital: Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital; VPCH: Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Hospital; RMLH: Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital; SJH: Safdarjung Hospital; LNJPH: Lok Narayan Jai Prakash Hospital; GTBH: Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital; AH: Ambedkar Hospital; HRH: Hindu Rao Hospital; ESIH: ESI Hospital; SGRH: Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Biogeochemical cycling of arsenic in coastal salinized aquifers: Evidence from sulfur isotope study.

Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater, accompanied by critical salinization, occurs in the southwestern coastal area of Taiwan. Statistical analyses and geochemical calculations indicate that a possible source of aqueous arsenic is the reductive dissolution of As-bearing iron oxyhydroxides. There are few reports of the influence of sulfate-sulfide redox cycling on arsenic mobility in brackish groundwater. We evaluated the contribution of sulfate reduction and sulfide re-oxidation on As enrichment using δ(34)S([SO(4)]) and δ(18)O([SO(4)]) sulfur isotopic analyses of groundwater. Fifty-three groundwater samples were divided into groups of high-As content and salinized (Type A), low-As and non-salinized (Type B), and high-As and non-salinized (Type C) groundwaters, based on hydro-geochemical analysis. The relatively high enrichment of (34)S([SO(4)]) and (18)O([SO(4)]) present in Type A, caused by microbial-mediated reduction of sulfate, and high (18)O enrichment factor (ε([SO(4)-H(2)O])), suggests that sulfur disproportionation is an important process during the reductive dissolution of As-containing iron oxyhydroxides. Limited co-precipitation of ion-sulfide increased the rate of As liberation under anaerobic conditions. In contrast to this, Type B and Type C groundwater samples showed high δ(18)O([SO(4)]) and low δ(34)S([SO(4)]) values under mildly reducing conditions. Base on (18)O mass balance calculations, the oxide sources of sulfate are from infiltrated atmospheric O(2), caused by additional recharge of dissolved oxygen and sulfide re-oxidation. The anthropogenic influence of extensive pumping also promotes atmospheric oxygen entry into aquifers, altering redox conditions, and increasing the rate of As release into groundwater.

Surfactant-modified alumina: an efficient adsorbent for malachite green removal from water environment.

Surface of alumina was modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant. The surfactant-modified alumina (SMA) was characterized by FTIR and thermal analysis. The SMA was then used for the removal of malachite green (MG; Basic Green 4), a well-known toxic cationic dye from aqueous environment. The removal of MG takes place in the micellar structure formed on alumina surface, and the process is called adsolubilization. All the studies were carried out in batch mode. The kinetic studies showed that 1 h contact time was sufficient to attain equilibrium. SMA was very efficient to remove MG up to 99% under optimum conditions. The concentration range of MG was 20-100 mg/L. The isotherm studies showed that it follows Langmuir model better than the Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacity was 185 mg/g. The effects of various parameters such as pH, presence of interfering ions (Cl-, NO3-, H2PO4-, SO4(2-), Fe2+, Ca2+) and organics (pesticides such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, atrazine, endosulfan, and humic acid) are evaluated. It was observed that H2PO4-, Fe2+, endosulfan, and humic acid have maximum interference. Desorption of MG from exhausted SMA using acetone, and its reuse was studied. The regenerated adsorbent shows approximately 80% efficiency on the removal of MG. The usability of SMA for the removal of MG from real wastewater was also examined. The kinetic equilibrium was attained within 1 h and the removal could be achieved up to approximately 95% at a dose of 20 g/L. The adsorption followed Freundlich isotherm model better than the Langmuir model.

Behaviour of fixed-bed column for the adsorption of malachite green on surfactant-modified alumina.

Prepared surfactant-modified alumina (SMA) was used to remove malachite green (MG) from aqueous media. At a dose of 10 g/L, SMA removed approximately 99% MG (initial concentration 100 mg/L). The adsorption capacity (Qmax) of SMA was 185 mg/g as calculated from Langmuir isotherm. In a fixed-bed column study, using the MG-spiked distilled water, the column design parameters were evaluated by Logit model at a bed depth of 10 cm. The adsorption rate constant (K) and adsorption capacity (No) was obtained as 0.002636 L/(mg h) and 76283.16 mg/L for the minimum bed depth 3.33 cm in the 1st cycle. Acetone was used for desorption of MG from SMA. In batch regeneration study, regenerated SMA could remove only approximately 80% of MG under the same experimental conditions. In column regeneration study, the efficiency of the regenerated bed decreased and the values obtained as, K=0.007931 L/mg h and No=12341.08 mg/L for the minimum bed depth of 6.83 cm. Column study was conducted with the real MG bearing wastewater (MG concentration was 396.54 mg/L) under the same experimental condition. The value of adsorption rate constant (K) and adsorption capacity (No) was obtained as 0.0008786 L/(mg h) and 197939.02 mg/L, respectively for the minimum bed depth 5.92 cm.

Arsenic removal from real-life groundwater by adsorption on laterite soil.

The adsorption characteristics of arsenic on laterite soil, a low-cost natural adsorbent, were studied in the laboratory scale using real-life sample. The studies were conducted by both batch and continuous mode. Laterite soil was found to be an efficient adsorbent for arsenic removal from the groundwater collected from arsenic affected area. The initial concentration of arsenic in the sample was 0.33 ppm. Under optimized conditions the laterite soil could remove up to 98% of total arsenic. The optimum adsorbent dose was 20 g/l and the equilibrium time was 30 min. Isotherm studies showed that the process is favorable and spontaneous. The kinetics showed that the removal of arsenic by laterite soil is a pseudo-second-order reaction. In the column study the flow rate was maintained at 1.49 m3/(m2 h). Using 10 cm column depth, the breakthrough and exhaust time found were 6.75 h and 19.0 h, respectively. Height of adsorption zone was 9.85 cm, the rate at which the adsorption zone was moving through the bed was 0.80 cm/h, and the percentage of the total column saturated at breakthrough was 47.12%. The value of adsorption rate coefficient (K) and the adsorption capacity coefficient (N) were 1.21 l/(mgh) and 69.22 mg/l, respectively. Aqueous NaOH (1 M) could regenerate the adsorbent, and the regenerated adsorbent showed higher efficiency.

Modeling and fixed bed column adsorption of As(V) on laterite soil.

Laterite soil, an abundant locally available natural adsorbent, has been evaluated for As(V) removal from aqueous solutions in column mode operation. The column studies were conducted using columns of 10, 20, 30 cm bed depth with 2 cm internal diameter. Initial As(V) concentration was 0.5 mg/L and flow rate was 7.75 mL/min. Bohart and Adams sorption model was employed for the determination of different parameters like height of exchange zone, adsorption rate, time required for exchange zone to move, and the adsorption capacity. Effect of flow rate and initial concentration was studied. The adsorption capacity of the laterite soil for 0.5 mg/L of As(V) was found to be 62.32 mg/L, and the adsorption rate constant was 1.0911 L/mg h for the minimum bed depth of 8.47 cm. The column was designed by the BDST model. Freundlich isotherm model was used to compare the theoretical and experimental breakthrough profile in the dynamic process. The bed saturation obtained was 36-80%. Regeneration of the exhausted column was possible with 1M NaOH.

Sorption kinetics of arsenic on laterite soil in aqueous medium.

The efficiency of a locally available laterite soil in removing both arsenite and arsenate from aqueous medium by adsorption was evaluated. It was observed that in batch experiment conducted at 0.5 mg/L initial concentration of arsenic, laterite soil could remove up to 98% of arsenite and 95% of arsenate under optimized conditions. The kinetic profiles under various conditions were developed. Both arsenite and arsenate removal followed pseudo--second order reaction kinetic model. Pore and film diffusion coefficients were determined from the half-time equation and film diffusion appeared to be the rate-limiting. This was further supported by multiple interruption tests.

Arsenic removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption on laterite soil.

Laterite soil was used as an adsorbent for arsenic removal from contaminated groundwater. Effects of pH, adsorbent dose, adsorbent size, contact time, initial arsenic concentration and presence of interfering species on arsenic removal were found out. Laterite soil was found to be very effective for arsenic adsorption. It was found that 4 h contact time was sufficient for approximately 98% and approximately 95% removal from the contaminated water samples at an adsorbent dose of 10 g/L and 20 g/L for As(III) and As(V) respectively at an initial concentration level of 0.5 mg/L at a pH of 5.7 +/- 0.2. Although there was no significant interference from Cl(-), NO3(-), SO4(-2), Ca(2+) and Fe(2+/3+) on arsenite removal but its removal was little affected due to the presence of HPO4(-2) and SiO3(-2). Arsenate removal efficiency, however, was decreased to a large extent in presence of HPO4(-2) and SiO3(-2). The other ions Cl(-), NO3(-), SO4(-2), Ca(2+) and Fe(2+/3+) had no significant interference on arsenate removal. The common organic contaminants such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4- D), atrazine, endosulfan and humic acid had no effect on As(III) removal, but they (excepting 2,4-D) cause decrease in the removal efficiency for As(V). Both Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models fitted well and the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 1.384 mg/g and 0.04 mg/g for arsenite and arsenate respectively. The real arsenic contaminated groundwater was also tested and it was found that laterite soil is very effective for arsenic removal from real groundwater sample, and up to approximately 99% removal could be achieved under normal condition. The advantage of the material is that the pH of the raw water did not change after arsenic removal, and iron was not leached.