Identifying potential uses for green roof discharge based on its physical-chemical-microbiological quality.

Green roofs are promising tools in sustainable urban planning, offering benefits such as stormwater management, energy savings, aesthetic appeal, and recreational spaces. They play a crucial role in creating sustainable and resilient cities, providing both environmental and economic advantages. Despite these benefits, concerns persist about their impact on water quality, especially for non-potable use, as conflicting results are found in the literature. This study presents a comparative analysis of the quantity and quality of water drained from an extensive green roof against an adjacent conventional rooftop made of fiber-cement tiles in subtropical Brazil. Over a 14-month period, the water drained from both roofs was evaluated based on physical (turbidity, apparent color, true color, electrical conductivity, total solids, total dissolved solids, suspended solids), chemical (pH, phosphate, total nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite, chlorides, sulfates, and BOD), microbiological (total coliforms and E. coli), and metal (copper, iron, zinc, lead, and chrome) concentration parameters. The discharge from the green roof was 40% lower than its counterpart measured at the control roof, while the water quality from both roofs was quite similar. However, the green roof acted as source of chlorides, electrical conductivity, color, BOD, total hardness, E. coli, phosphate, sulfate, and turbidity. On the other side, the green roof neutralized the slightly acidic character of rainwater, showcasing its potential to mitigate the effects of acid rain. The study's results underscored that the water discharged from the green roof generally aligned with non-potable standards mandated by both Brazilian and international regulations. However, the findings emphasized the imperative need for pre-treatment of the green roof discharge before its utilization, specifically adjusting parameters like turbidity, BOD, total coliforms, and E. coli, which were identified as crucial to ensure water safety and compliance with non-potable use standards.

A Statistical Physics Approach to Understanding the Adsorption of Methylene Blue onto Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles.

The production of cobalt oxide nanoparticles and their use in the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from solution is described in the paper. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the synthesized cobalt oxide nanoparticles have a crystalline cubic structure. The study of the adsorption of methylene blue onto the cobalt oxide nanoparticles involved determining the contact time and initial concentration of the adsorption of MB on the adsorbent. The kinetics of adsorption were analyzed using two kinetic models (pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order), and the pseudo-second-order model was found to be the most appropriate for describing the behavior of the adsorption. This study indicates that the MLTS (monolayer with the same number of molecules per site) model is the most suitable model for describing methylene blue/cobalt oxide systems, and the parameter values help to further understand the adsorption process with the steric parameters. Indicating that methylene blue is horizontally adsorbed onto the surface of the cobalt oxide, which is bonded to two different receptor sites. Regarding the temperature effect, it was found that the adsorption capacity increased, with the experimental value ranging from 313.7 to 405.3 mg g-1, while the MLTS predicted 313.32 and 408.16 mg g-1. From the thermodynamic functions, high entropy was found around 280 mg L-1 concentration. For all concentrations and temperatures examined, the Gibbs free energy and enthalpy of adsorption were found to be negative and positive, respectively, suggesting that the system is spontaneous and endothermic. According to this study's findings, methylene blue adsorption onto cobalt oxide nanoparticles happens via the creation of a monolayer, in which the same amount of molecules are adsorbed at two distinct locations. The findings shed light on the methylene blue adsorption process onto cobalt oxide nanoparticles, which have a variety of uses, including the remediation of wastewater.

Ivermectin adsorption by commercial charcoal in batch and fixed-bed operations.

Emerging contaminants were used during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ivermectin. Studies that limit the optimal adsorption parameters of ivermectin are scarce in the literature. In this study, we analyzed the adsorption of ivermectin with a high surface area and porosity charcoal. Isotherms were better fitted to the Koble-Corrigan model. The maximum capacity was 203 µg g-1 at 328 K. Thermodynamics indicated a spontaneous and endothermic behavior. The equilibrium was quickly reached within the first few minutes regardless of the ivermectin concentration. The linear driving force (LDF) model fitted the kinetic data (qexp = 164.8 µg g-1; qpred = 148.1 µg g-1) at 100 µg L-1 of ivermectin. The model coefficient (KLDF) and diffusivity (Ds) increased with increasing drug concentration. Two sloped curves were obtained in the column experiments, with a breakthrough time of 415 min and 970 min. The capacity of the column (qeq) was 76 µg g-1. The length of the mass transfer zone was 9.04 and 14.13 cm. Therefore, it can be concluded that the adsorption of ivermectin is highly sensitive to changes in pH, being favored in conditions close to neutrality. Commercial activated charcoal was highly efficient in removing the studied compound showing high affinity with very fast kinetics and a good performance in continuous operation mode.

The production of activated biochar using Calophyllum inophyllum waste biomass and use as an adsorbent for removal of diuron from the water in batch and fixed bed column.

The Calophyllum inophyllum species annually produces a large volume of cylindrical fruits, which accumulate on the soil because they do not have nutritional value. This study sought to enable the use of this biomass by producing activated biochar with zinc chloride as an activating agent for further application as an adsorbent in batch and fixed bed columns. Different methodologies were used to characterize the precursor and the pyrolyzed material. Morphological changes were observed with the emergence of new spaces. The carbonaceous material had a surface area of 468 m2 g-1, Dp = 2.7 nm, and VT = 3.155 × 10-1 cm3 g-1. Scientific and isothermal studies of the adsorption of the diuron were conducted at the natural pH of the solution and adsorbent dosage of 0.75 g L-1. The kinetic curves showed a good fit to the Avrami fractional order model, with equilibrium reached after 150 min, regardless of the diuron concentration. The Liu heterogeneous surface model well represented the isothermal curves. By raising the temperature, adsorption was encouraged, and at 318 K, the Liu Qmax was reached at 250.1 mg g-1. Based on the Liu equilibrium constant, the nonlinear van't Hoff equation was employed, and the ΔG° were < 0 from 298 to 328 K; the process was exothermic nature (ΔH0 = -46.40 kJ mol-1). Finally, the carbonaceous adsorbent showed good removal performance (63.45%) compared to a mixture containing different herbicides used to control weeds. The stoichiometric column capacity (qeq) was 13.30 and 16.61 mg g-1 for concentrations of 100 and 200 mg L-1, respectively. The length of the mass transfer zone was 5.326 cm (100 mg L-1) and 4.946 cm (200 mg L-1). This makes employing the leftover fruits of the Calophyllum inophyllum species as biomass for creating highly porous adsorbents a very effective and promising option.

Preparation of alumina-supported Fe-Al-La composite for fluoride removal from an aqueous matrix.

Using groundwater for human consumption is an alternative for places with no nearby surface water resources. Fluoride is commonly found in groundwater, and the consumption of this water for a prolonged time in concentrations that exceed established limits by WHO and Brazilian legislation on water potability (1.5 mg L-1) can cause harmful problems to human health. For this reason, fluoride removal is an important step before water consumption. In this work, activated alumina was impregnated with Fe-Al-La composite and employed for the first time as an adsorbent for fluoride removal from an aqueous environment. XRD, SEM/EDS, FT-IR, and point of zero charge were used to characterize the prepared adsorbent. The adsorptive performance of adsorbent material was investigated by employing a 23-central composite design (CCD), and the obtained experimental conditions were pH = 6.5 and adsorbent dosage = 3.0 g L-1. A maximum adsorption capacity of 8.17 mg g-1 at 298 K and pH = 6.5 was achieved by Langmuir isotherm to describe the adsorption. The kinetic model that better described experimental data was Avrami, with the kav parameter increasing with the initial concentration from 0.076 to 0.231 (min-1)nav. The nature of adsorption was found to be homogeneous, and it occurs in a monolayer. The fluoride removal performance for the prepared adsorbent was higher than granular activated alumina, showing that supporting Fe-Al-La at the alumina surface increased its fluoride adsorption capacity from 16 to 42% at the same experimental conditions. Finally, the influence of co-existing ions Cl-, SO42-, and NO3- was evaluated in fluoride adsorption, and the material presented great selectivity to fluoride. Thus, Fe-Al-La/AA adsorbent is a promising material for fluoride removal from water.

Explaining the adsorption mechanism of the herbicide 2,4-D and the drug ketoprofen onto wheat husks Fagopyrum esculentum treated with H2SO4.

In this paper, the adsorption of the herbicide 2,4-D and the drug ketoprofen on wheat husks Fagopyrum esculentum treated with H2SO4 is experimentally and analytically analyzed. The adsorbent is fully characterized through some techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, and XRD. Adsorption tests are carried out to optimize the performances in terms of adsorbent dosage and solution pH. Subsequently, the impact of temperature is determined through the realization of adsorption isotherms. A multilayer model is employed to microscopically interpret the adsorption mechanism of both the investigated compounds. The modelling analysis shows that the number of molecules bound per adsorption site varied from 0.68 to 2.77 and from 2.23 to 3.59 for ketoprofen and herbicide 2,4-D, respectively. These estimated values testify that an aggregation process occurs during adsorption. The global number of formed layers of each adsorbate is also determined, showing a significant reduction from 5.73 to 2.61 for ketoprofen and from 1.79 to 1.5 for herbicide 2,4-D with the temperature. For a complete understanding of the adsorption mechanism, the saturation adsorption capacity and adsorption energy were calculated and interpreted. Overall, it may be inferred that physical interactions govern how these contaminants adsorb on the tested adsorbent.

Adsorption of the First-Line Covid Treatment Analgesic onto Activated Carbon from Residual Pods of Erythrina Speciosa.

In this study, the residual pods of the forest species Erythrina speciosa were carbonized with ZnCl2 to obtain porous activated carbon and investigated for the adsorptive removal of the drug paracetamol (PCM) from water. The PCM adsorption onto activated carbon is favored at acidic solution pH. The isothermal studies confirmed that increasing the temperature from 298 to 328 K decreased the adsorption capacity from 65 mg g-1 to 50.4 mg g-1 (C0 = 175 mg L-1). The Freundlich model showed a better fit of the equilibrium isotherms. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the exothermic nature (ΔH0 = -39.1066 kJ mol-1). Kinetic data indicates that the external mass transfer occurs in the first minutes followed by the surface diffusion, considering that the linear driving force model described the experimental data. The application of the material in the treatment of a simulated effluent with natural conditions was promising, presenting a removal of 76.45%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the application of residual pods of the forest species Erythrina speciosa carbonized with ZnCl2 is highly efficient in the removal of the drug paracetamol and also in mixtures containing other pharmaceutical substances.

Conversion of foliar residues of Sansevieria trifasciata into adsorbents: dye adsorption in continuous and discontinuous systems.

The study analyzed the potential of leaf powder prepared from the residual leaves of the species Sansevieria trifasciata, as a potential adsorbent for methylene blue (MB) removal. The equilibrium was reached fast for almost all concentrations after 60 min, obtaining the maximum capacity of 139.98 mg g-1 for 200 mg L-1. The increase in temperature disfavored the dye adsorption, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 225.8 mg g-1, observed for 298 K. The thermodynamic parameters confirmed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic. A direct sloping curve was established for the fixed bed, with breakthrough time (tb), column stoichiometric capacities (qeq), and the mass transfer zone lengths (Zm) were 1430, 1130, and 525 min; 60.48, 187.01, and 322.65 mg g-1; and 8.81, 11.28, and 10.71 cm, for 100, 200, and 500 mg L-1, respectively. Furthermore, in a mixture of several dyes, the adsorbent obtained the removal of 51% of the color.

Transformation of Residual Açai Fruit (Euterpe oleracea) Seeds into Porous Adsorbent for Efficient Removal of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicide from Waters.

Brazil's production and consumption of açai pulp (Euterpe oleracea) occur on a large scale. Most of the fruit is formed by the pit, which generates countless tons of residual biomass. A new purpose for this biomass, making its consumption highly sustainable, was presented in this study, where activated carbon (AC) was produced with zinc chloride for later use as an adsorbent. AC carbon formed by carbon and with a yield of 28 % was satisfactorily used as an adsorbent in removing the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Removal efficiency was due to the highly porous surface (Vp = 0.467 cm3 g-1; Dp = 1.126 nm) and good surface área (SBET = 920.56 m2 g-1). The equilibrium data fit the Sips heterogeneous and homogeneous surface model better. It was observed that the increase in temperature favored adsorption, reaching a maximum experimental capacity of 218 mg g-1 at 328 K. The thermodynamic behavior indicated a spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic behavior. The magnitude of the enthalpy of adsorption was in agreement with the physical adsorption. Regardless of the herbicide concentration, the adsorbent displayed fast kinetics, reaching equilibrium within 120 min. The linear driving force (LDF) model provided a strong statistical match to the kinetic curves. AC with zinc chloride (ZnCl2), created from leftover açai biomass, is a potential alternative as an adsorbent for treating effluents containing 2,4-D.

Improved Adsorption of the Toxic Herbicide Diuron Using Activated Carbon Obtained from Residual Cassava Biomass (Manihot esculenta).

The production and consumption of cassava (Manihot esculenta) occur in several places worldwide, producing large volumes of waste, mostly in the form of bark. This study sought to bring a new purpose to this biomass through producing activated carbon to use as an adsorbent to remove the herbicide Diuron from water. It was observed that the carbon contains the functional groups of methyl, carbonyl, and hydroxyl in a strongly amorphous structure. The activated carbon had a surface area of 613.7 m2 g-1, a pore volume of 0.337 cm3 g-1, and a pore diameter of 1.18 nm. The Freundlich model was found to best describe the experimental data. It was observed that an increase in temperature favored adsorption, reaching a maximum experimental capacity of 222 mg g-1 at 328 K. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. The enthalpy of adsorption magnitude was consistent with physical adsorption. Equilibrium was attained within 120 min. The linear driving force (LDF) model provided a strong statistical match to the kinetic curves. Diffusivity (Ds) and the model coefficient (KLDF) both increased with a rise in herbicide concentration. The adsorbent removed up to 68% of pollutants in a simulated effluent containing different herbicides. Activated carbon with zinc chloride (ZnCl2), produced from leftover cassava husks, was shown to be a viable alternative as an adsorbent for the treatment of effluents containing not only the herbicide Diuron but also a mixture of other herbicides.

Adsorption of basic fuchsin using soybean straw hydrolyzed by subcritical water.

The valorization of agro-industrial residues can be improved through their full use, making the production of second-generation ethanol viable. In this scenario, hydrolyzed soybean straw generated from a subcritical water process was applied to the basic fuchsin adsorption. At pH eight, a high adsorption capacity was obtained. The mass test results showed that basic fuchsin's removal and adsorption capacity could be maximized with an adsorbent dosage of 0.9 g L-1. The linear driving force model was suitable for predicting the kinetic profile, and the kinetic curves showed that equilibrium was reached with only 30 min of contact time. Besides, the Langmuir model was the best to predict the adsorption isotherms. The thermodynamic parameters revealed a spontaneous and endothermic process. At 328 K, there is maximum adsorption capacity (72.9 mg g-1). Therefore, it can be stated that this material could be competitive in terms of adsorption capacity coupled with the idea of full use of waste.

Application of biowaste generated by the production chain of pitaya fruit (Hylocereus undatus) as an efficient adsorbent for removal of naproxen in water.

Pharmaceutical compounds are a serious problem in the environment. They cause damage to the aquatic, animal, and human organisms and soon became considered emerging pollutants where their removal is extremely urgent. Among the techniques used, adsorption has been used with success, where several adsorbent materials, including those from residual biomass, have been used to remove these pollutants. In this study, the skins of the pitaya fruit (Hylocereus undatus) productive chain were carbonized with ZnCl2 to obtain activated carbon and later used in the adsorption of the drug naproxen (NPX) in a batch system. The Freundlich model demonstrated a better adjustment for the equilibrium isotherms. A high adsorption capacity for NPX (158.81 mg g-1) was obtained at 328 K, which can be attributed to the remarkable textural properties of the adsorbent, besides certain functional groups present on its surface. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the endothermic nature of the adsorption process (∆H0 = 0.2898 kJ mol-1). The linear driving force model (LDF) presented a good statistical adjustment to the experimental kinetic data. The application of the material in the treatment of simulated wastewater composed of various pharmaceutical drugs and salts was very promising, reaching 75.7% removal. Therefore, it can be inferred that the application of activated carbon derived from pitaya bark is highly promising in removing the NPX drug and treating synthetic mixtures containing other pharmaceutical substances.

Effective removal of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug from wastewater by adsorption process using acid-treated Fagopyrum esculentum husk.

In this work, buckwheat husks (Fagopyrum esculentum) were modified by acid treatment and posteriorly employed to remove the ketoprofen in batch adsorption. The characterization results indicated that a more irregular surface with new empty spaces was generated after acid treatment. The adsorptive process was favored at acidic pH = 3. The dosage of 0.85 g L-1 was fixed for the kinetic and isothermal tests, obtaining good removal and capacity indications. The kinetic studies were better represented by pseudo-second-order, obtaining an experimental capacity of 74.3 mg g-1 for 200 mg L-1 of ketoprofen. An increase in temperature negatively affected the adsorption isotherm curves, resulting in a maximum capacity of 194.1 mg g-1. Thermodynamic results confirmed the exothermic nature of the process with physical forces acting. The adsorbent presented high efficiency in treating a synthetic effluent containing different drugs and salts, 71.2%. Therefore, adsorbent development from buckwheat husks treated with a strong acid is an excellent alternative, given the good removal results and the low cost for its preparation.

Development of activated carbon from Schizolobium parahyba (guapuruvu) residues employed for the removal of ketoprofen.

Schizolobium parahyba species can be found in all of South America, producing several residues that can be a major opportunity to develop activated carbon. This work presents the investigation regarding the development of a high specific surface activated carbon (981.55 m2 g-1) and its application in the adsorption of ketoprofen from the aqueous media. The ketoprofen molecules were better adhered to the adsorbent surface under acidic conditions (pH = 2), being the ideal adsorbent dosage determined as 0.7 g L-1, resulting in satisfactory values. It was found that the system reached equilibrium in 200 to 250 min depending on the initial concentration studied, achieving an adsorption capacity of 229 mg g-1. The general order was the most suitable model for describing the experimental data, with an R2 ≥ 0.9985 and MSR ≤ 63.40 (mg g-1)2. The equilibrium adsorption found that the temperature increases the adsorption capacity, achieving 447.35 mg g-1 at 328 K. Besides that, the Tóth model was the most suitable for describing the isotherms R2 ≥ 0.9990 and MSR ≤ 25.67 (mg g-1)2, indicating a heterogeneous adsorbent. The thermodynamic values found that the adsorption of ketoprofen is spontaneous (average ΔG0 of - 32.79 kJ mol-1) and endothermic (ΔH0 10.44 kJ mol-1). The treatment of simulated effluent with the developed adsorbent was efficient, removing 90% of ketoprofen, ibuprofen, and salts. It was found that the adsorbent is reaming its adsorption capacity up to the 5th cycle, progressively decreasing the adsorption capacity until the adsorption does not occur past the 12th cycle. Overall, the results demonstrated that the activated carbon from residual biomass of the Schizolobium parahyba species could be an excellent alternative in obtaining an effective adsorbent to treat wastewater-containing drugs.

Woody residues of the grape production chain as an alternative precursor of high porous activated carbon with remarkable performance for naproxen uptake from water.

Activated carbon prepared from grape branches was used as a remarkable adsorbent to uptake naproxen and treat a synthetic mixture from aqueous solutions. The material presented a highly porous texture, a surface area of 938 m2 g-1, and certain functional groups, which were key factors to uptake naproxen from effluents. The maximum adsorption capacity predicted by the Langmuir model for naproxen was 176 mg g-1. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The linear driving force (LDF) model presented a good statistical adjustment to the experimental decay data. A suitable interaction pathway of naproxen adsorption onto activated carbon was proposed. The adsorbent material was highly efficient to treat a synthetic mixture containing several drugs and salts, reaching 95.63% removal. Last, it was found that the adsorbent can be regenerated up to 7 times using an HCl solution. Overall, the results proved that the activated carbon derived from grape branches could be an effective and sustainable adsorbent to treat wastewaters containing drugs.

Optimization of ketoprofen adsorption from aqueous solutions and simulated effluents using H2SO4 activated Campomanesia guazumifolia bark.

This study used the bark of the forest species Campomanesia guazumifolia modified with H2SO4 to absorb the anti-inflammatory ketoprofen from aqueous solutions. FTIR spectra confirmed that the main bands remained after the chemical treatment, with the appearance of two new bands related to the elongation of the carbonyl group present in hemicellulose. Micrographs confirmed that the surface started to contain a new textural shape after acid activation, having new pores and cavities. The drug adsorption's optimum conditions were obtained by response surface methodology (RSM). The adsorption was favored at acidic pH (2). The dosage of 1 g L-1 was considered ideal, obtaining good indications of removal and capacity. The Elovich model very well represented the kinetic curves. The isotherm studies indicated that the increase in temperature negatively affected the adsorption of ketoprofen. A maximum adsorption capacity of 158.3 mg g-1 was obtained at the lower temperature of 298 K. Langmuir was the best-fit isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed the exothermic nature of the system (ΔH0 = -8.78 kJ mol-1). In treating a simulated effluent containing different drugs and salts, the removal values were 35, 50, and 80% at 15, 30, and 180 min, respectively. Therefore, the development of adsorbent from the bark of Campomanesia guazumifolia treated with H2SO4 represents a remarkable alternative for use in effluent treatment containing ketoprofen.

Effective adsorptive removal of atrazine herbicide in river waters by a novel hydrochar derived from Prunus serrulata bark.

In this work, a novel and effective hydrochar was prepared by hydrothermal treatment of Prunus serrulata bark to remove the pesticide atrazine in river waters. The hydrothermal treatment has generated hydrochar with a rough surface and small cavities, favoring the atrazine adsorption. The adsorption equilibrium time was not influenced by different atrazine concentrations used, being reached after 240 min. The Elovich adsorption kinetic model presented the best adjustment to the kinetic data. The Langmuir model presented the greatest compliance to the isotherm data and indicated a higher affinity between atrazine and hydrochar, reaching a maximum adsorption capacity of 63.35 mg g-1. Thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process was highly spontaneous, endothermic, and favorable, with a predominance of physical attraction forces. In treating three real river samples containing atrazine, the adsorbent showed high removal efficiency, being above 70 %. The hydrochar from Prunus serrulata bark waste proved highly viable to remove atrazine from river waters due to its high efficiency and low precursor material cost.

Effective adsorptive removal of textile pollutant using coal bottom ash with high surface area obtained by alkaline fusion route.

In this work, coal bottom ash was modified by alkaline fusion route in order to improve its pore properties and make it a potential adsorbent to remove crystal violet dye from aqueous medium. The solids were characterized and posteriorly subjected to kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies, as well as regenerated and reused for five adsorption tests. The alkaline fusion step resulted in the amorphization of material and generation of high surface area (102 m 2 g -1) and pore volume (0.180 cm 3 g-1), resulting in superior performance compared to the raw material. Kinetic and equilibrium studies showed that the adsorption process was better adjusted by the pseudo-second order and Langmuir models, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity at equilibrium was 177. 37 mg g-1, with the adsorptive step occurring spontaneously and endothermically. The adsorbent maintained notable levels of dye removal after five consecutive cycles of thermal regeneration and reuse. Besides, the adsorbent was able to remove 64% of the colour of simulated industrial wastewater. Therefore, the alkaline fusion step proved to be a route capable of transforming the coal bottom ash into an adsorbent with improved textural and adsorptive properties.

Adsorption of atrazine and 2,4-D pesticides on alternative biochars from cedar bark sawdust (Cedrella fissilis).

Bark residues of the forest species Cedrela fissilis were physically and chemically modified with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) as an activating agent. The two modified materials were analyzed as adsorbents in removing atrazine and 2,4-D herbicides from effluents. Firstly, the precursor material and the modified ones were characterized by different techniques to identify the structural changes that occurred in the surfaces. Through TGA, it was observed that both modified materials have thermal stability close to each other and are highly superior to the precursor. X-ray diffractions proved that the amorphous structure was not altered, the three materials being highly heterogeneous and irregular. The micrographs showed that the treatments brought new spaces and cavities on the surface, especially for the material carbonized with ZnCl2. The pHPZC of the modified materials was close to 7.5. The physically modified material had a surface area of 47.31 m2 g-1 and pore volume of 0.0095 cm3 g-1, whereas the carbonized material had a surface area of 98.12 m2 g-1 and pore volume of 0.0099 cm3 g-1. Initial tests indicated that none of the adsorbents were efficient in removing 2,4-D. However, they showed good potential for removing atrazine. The Koble-Corrigan isothermal model best fits the experimental data, with a maximum capacity of 3.44 mg g-1 and 2.70 mg g-1 for physically modified and with ZnCl2, respectively. The kinetic studies showed that the system tends to enter into equilibrium after 120 min, presenting good statistical indicators to the linear driving force model (LDF). The surface diffusion coefficients were 2.18×10-9 and 2.37×10-9 cm2 s-1 for atrazine adsorption on the physically and chemically modified materials. These results showed that the application of residues from the processing of cedar bark is promising. However, new future studies must be carried out to improve the porous development of the material and obtain greater adsorption capacities.

One step acid modification of the residual bark from Campomanesia guazumifolia using H2SO4 and application in the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic from aqueous solution.

The residual bark of the tree species Campomanesia guazumifolia was successfully modified with H2SO4 and applied to remove the toxic herbicide 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2.4-D) from aqueous solutions. The characterization techniques made it possible to observe that the material maintained its amorphous structure; however, a new FTIR band emerged, indicating the interaction of the lignocellulosic matrix with sulfuric acid. Micrographs showed that the material maintained its irregular shape; however, new spaces and cavities appeared after the acidic modification. Regardless of the herbicide concentration, the system tended to equilibrium after 120 min. Using the best statistical coefficients, the Elovich model was the one that best fitted the kinetic data. The temperature increase in the system negatively influenced the adsorption of 2.4-D, reaching a maximum capacity of 312.81 mg g-1 at 298 K. The equilibrium curves showed a better fit to the Tóth model. Thermodynamic parameters confirmed the exothermic nature of the system (ΔH0 = -59.86 kJ mol-1). As a residue obtained from urban pruning, the bark of Campomanesia guazumifolia treated with sulfuric acid is a promising and highly efficient alternative for removing the widely used and toxic 2.4-D herbicide from aqueous solutions.