Annona glabra L. Seeds: An Agricultural Waste Biosorbent for the Eco-Friendly Removal of Methylene Blue.

The seeds of Annona glabra L., an invasive plant in Vietnam, were first employed as a new biosorbent for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous media. The characterizations of the material using FT-IR, SEM, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis, and point of zero charge reveals that it possesses a rough and irregular surface, various polar functional groups, and pHpzc of 5.5. Certain adsorption conditions including adsorbent dose, solution pH, contact time, and initial concentration of MB were found to affect adsorption efficiency. The kinetic data are well fitted with pseudo-second-order model with the adsorption rate of 0.002 g mg-1 min-1 and initial rate of 4.46 mg g-1 min-1. For the adsorption isotherm, three nonlinear models were used to analyze the experiment data, including Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin. The results indicate that the Langmuir model best describes the adsorption of Annona glabra L. seeds powder (AGSP) with a maximum adsorption capacity of 98.0 mg g-1. The investigation underpins the adsorption mechanism, whereby the electrostatic attraction between positively charged MB and negatively charged surface of AGSP is expected to be the predominant mechanism, together with hydrogen bonding and pi-pi interaction. These results make AGSP an interesting biosorbent concerning its environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and relatively high dye adsorption capacity.

Highly efficient activation of periodate by a manganese-modified biochar to rapidly degrade methylene blue.

In this study, the manganese oxide/biochar composites (Mn@BC) were synthesized from Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. The Mn@BC was analyzed via techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The results show that MnOx is successfully loaded on the surface of BC, and the load of MnOx can increase the number of surface functional groups of BC. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that MnOx loaded on BC mainly exists in three valence forms: Mn(Ⅱ), Mn(Ⅲ), and Mn(Ⅳ). The ability of Mn@BC to activate periodate (PI) was studied by simulating the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. The degradation experiment results showed that the MB removal rate by the Mn@BC/PI system reached 97.4% within 30 min. The quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirmed that Mn@BC can activate PI to produce iodate (IO3•), singlet oxygen (1O2), and hydroxyl radical (•OH), which can degrade MB during the reaction. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was used to determine the interaction between pH, Mn@BC and PI concentration in the Mn@BC/PI system, and the optimum technological parameters were determined. When pH = 5.4, Mn@BC concentration 0.56 mg/L, PI concentration 1.1 mmol/L, MB removal rate can reach 98.05%. The cyclic experiments show that Mn@BC can be reused. After four consecutive runs, the removal rate of MB by the Mn@BC/PI system is still 82%, and the Mn@BC/PI system also shows high performance in treating MB in actual water bodies and degrading other pollutants. This study provides a practical method for degrading dyes in natural sewage.

Optimization and mechanistic approach for removal of crystal violet and methylene blue dyes via activated carbon from pyrolyzed-ZnCl2 bamboo waste.

In this study, bamboo waste (BW) was subjected to pyrolysis-assisted ZnCl2 activation to produce mesoporous activated carbon (BW-AC), which was then evaluated for its ability to remove cationic dyes, specifically methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV), from aqueous environments. The properties of BW-AC were characterized using various techniques, including potentiometric-based point of zero charge (pHpzc), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-rays (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas adsorption with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, infrared (IR) spectroscopy. To optimize the adsorption characteristics (BW-AC dosage, pH, and contact time) of PBW, a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was employed. The BW-AC dose of 0.05 g, solution pH of 10, and time of 8 min are identified as optimal operational conditions for achieving maximum CV (89.8%) and MB (96.3%) adsorption according to the BBD model. The dye removal kinetics for CV and MB are described by the pseudo-second-order model. The dye adsorption isotherms revealed that adsorption of CV and MB onto BW-AC follow the Freundlich model. The maximum dye adsorption capacities (qmax) of BW-AC for CV (530 mg/g) and MB (520 mg/g) are favorable, along with the thermodynamics of the adsorption process, which is characterized as endothermic and spontaneous. The adsorption mechanism of CV and MB dyes by BW-AC was attributed to multiple contributions: hydrogen bonding, electrostatic forces, π-π attraction, and pore filling. The findings of this study highlight the potential of BW-AC as an effective adsorbent in wastewater treatment applications, contributing to the overall goal of mitigating the environmental impact of cationic dyes and ensuring the quality of water resources.

The novelty of this research work comes from the conversion of the bamboo waste (BW) into mesoporous activated carbon (BW-AC) via pyrolysis-assisted ZnCl₂ activation for the removal of cationic dyes such as methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) from aqueous media. The effectiveness of the obtained activated carbon was tested toward removal of two structurally different cationic dyes (CV and MB), where a statistical optimization employing a response surface methodology with Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize dye removal. In addition to determination of the working parameters for dye removal, the adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process were determined to provide molecular-level insight.

High surface area activated carbon from a pineapple (ananas comosus) crown via microwave-ZnCl2 activation for crystal violet and methylene blue dye removal: adsorption optimization and mechanism.

In this investigation, microwave irradiation assisted by ZnCl2 was used to transform pineapple crown (PN) waste into mesoporous activated carbon (PNAC). Complementary techniques were employed to examine the physicochemical characteristics of PNAC, including BET, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and pH at the point-of-zero-charge (pHpzc). PNAC is mesoporous adsorbent with a surface area of 1070 m2/g. The statistical optimization for the adsorption process of two model cationic dyes (methylene blue: MB and, crystal violet: CV) was conducted using the response surface methodology-Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD). The parameters include solution pH (4-10), contact time (2-12) min, and PNAC dosage (0.02-0.1 g/100 mL). The Freundlich and Langmuir models adequately described the dye adsorption isotherm results for the MB and CV systems, whereas the pseudo-second order kinetic model accounted for the time dependent adsorption results. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for PNAC with the two tested dyes are listed: 263.9 mg/g for CV and 274.8 mg/g for MB. The unique adsorption mechanism of MB and CV dyes by PNAC implicates multiple contributions to the adsorption process such as pore filling, electrostatic forces, H-bonding, and π-π interactions. This study illustrates the possibility of transforming PN into activated carbon (PNAC) with the potential to remove two cationic dyes from aqueous media.

The novelty of this research work stems from the conversion of pineapple (Ananas comosus) crown wastes with no monetary value into an efficient activated carbon adsorbent with relatively high surface area. Furthermore, a fast and convenient microwave assisted ZnCl₂ activation method was applied for producing the activated carbon (AC). The effectiveness of the produced AC was tested for the removal of two different cationic dyes: crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB). A statistical optimization that employs a response surface methodology with the Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize the adsorption variables for the optimal dye removal. Moreover, the dye adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics, equilibrium isotherms, and the details of the adsorption process were reported herein.

Methylene Blue-Stained Single-Stranded DNA Aptamers as a Highly Efficient Electronic Switch for Quasi-Reagentless Exosomes Detection: An Old Dog with New Tricks.

Improving the convenience, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness of electrochemical biosensors is crucial for advancing their clinical diagnostic applications. Herein, we presented an elegant approach to construct electrochemical aptasensors for tumor-derived exosome detection by harnessing the alterable interaction between methylene blue (MB) and DNA aptamer. In detail, the anti-EpCAM aptamer, named SYL3C, was found to exhibit a strong affinity toward MB due to the specific interaction between MB and unbound guanine bases. Thereby, SYL3C could be stained with MB to arouse a strong electrochemical signal on a gold electrode (AuE). Upon binding to EpCAM-positive exosomes, SYL3C underwent a conformational transformation. The resulting conformation, or exosomes-SYL3C complex, not only reduced the accumulation of MB on SYL3C by obstructing the accessibility of guanines to MB but also impeded the transfer of electrons from the bound MB to AuE, leading to a notable decrease in the electrochemical signal. Using MB-stained SYL3C as an electronic switch, an electrochemical aptasensor was readily established for the detection of EpCAM-positive exosome detection. Without the need for signal amplification strategies, expensive auxiliary reagents, and complex operation, this unique signal transduction mechanism alone could endow the aptasensor with ultrahigh sensitivity. A limit of detection (LOD) of 234 particles mL-1 was achieved, surpassing the performance of most reported methods. As a proof of concept, the aptasensor was applied to analyze clinical serum samples and effectively distinguish non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from healthy individuals. As EpCAM exhibits broad expression in exosomes derived from different tumor sources, the developed aptasensor holds promise for diagnosing other tumor types.

Deep insights into kinetics, optimization and thermodynamic estimates of methylene blue adsorption from aqueous solution onto coffee husk (Coffee arabica) activated carbon.

In the current study, an attempt was made to synthesize coffee husk (CH) activated carbon by chemical modification approach (sulphuric acid-activated CH (SACH) activated carbon) and was used as a valuable and economical sorbent for plausible remediation of Methylene blue (MB) dye. Batch mode trials were carried out by carefully varying the batch experimental variables: SACH activated carbon (SACH AC) dosage, pH, initial dye concentration, temperature, and contact time. The optimum equilibrium time for adsorption by SACH activated carbon was obtained as 60 min, and the maximum adsorption took place at 30 °C. Morphological and elemental composition, crystallinity behaviour, functional groups, and thermal stability were examined using SEM with EDX, XRD, FTIR, BET, TGA, and DTA and these tests showed successful production of activated carbon. The outcomes showed that chemical activation enhanced the number of pores and roughness which possibly maximized the adsorptive potential of coffee husk. The Box-Benken design (BBD) was used to optimize the MB dye adsorption studies and 99.48% MB dye removed at SACH AC dosage of 4.83 g/L at 30 °C for 60 min and pH 8.12, and the maximum adsorption was yielded for sulphuric acid-activated coffee husk carbon carbon with 88.1 mg/g maximum MB adsorption capacity. Langmuir- Freundlich model deliberately provided a better fit to the equilibrium data. The SACH AC-MB dye system kinetics showed a high goodness-of-fit with pseudo second order model, compared to other studied models. Change in Gibbs's free energy (ΔGo) of the system indicated spontaneity whereas low entropy value (ΔSo) suggested that the removal of MB dye on the SACH activated carbon was an enthalpy-driven process. The exothermic nature of the sorption cycle was affirmed by the negative enthalpy value (ΔHo). The adsorptive-desorptive studies reveal that SACH AC could be restored with the maximum adsorption efficiency being conserved after the fifth cycles. Overall, the outcomes revealed that sulphuric acid-activated coffee husk activated carbon (SACH AC) can be used as prompt alternative for low-cost sorbent for treating dye-laden synthetic wastewaters.

Degradation of methylene blue using a novel gas-liquid hybrid DDBD reactor: Performance and pathways.

A novel gas-liquid hybrid double dielectric barrier discharge (DDBD) reactor with coaxial cylinder configuration was developed for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in this study. In this DDBD reactor, the reactive species generation occurred in the gas-phase discharge, directly in the liquid, and in the mixture of the working gas bubbles and the liquid, which could effectively increase the contact area between the active substance and MB molecules/intermediates, resulting in an excellent MB degradation efficiency and mineralization (COD and TOC). The electrostatic field simulation analysis by Comsol was carried out to determine the appropriate structural parameters of the DDBD reactor. The effect of discharge voltage, air flow rate, pH, and initial concentration on MB degradation was evaluated. Besides, major oxide species, ·OH, the dissolved O3 and H2O2 generated in this DDBD reactor were determined. Moreover, major MB degradation intermediates were identified by LC-MS, based on which, possible degradation pathways of MB were proposed.

Directional regulation and mechanism analysis of the surface properties of hydrothermal carbon by circulating liquid in the hydrothermal carbonization procedure.

The complexity of the chemistry behind the hydrothermal conversion is enormous. Components interact with their own physical and chemical structure, making it harsh to understand the conversion as a whole. Herein, the six-water recirculation and loading nano SiO2 experiment in a one-pot hydrothermal carbonization procedure was designed to elucidate the mechanism of regulating the functional groups and microporous structure of the hydrochar surface. The hydrochar prepared by the second circulating liquid and loading nano-SiO2 (HBC-R2/Si) was equipped most enriched functional groups (carboxyl = 11.48 µmol/g, phenolic hydroxyl = 52.98 µmol/g, lactone groups = 46.52 µmol/g) and suitable pore size (1.90 nm-1.93 nm) as a sorbent riched in hemicellulose. The sorption kinetics (equilibrium reached ≈ 480 min) are approximately evenly fitted by the pseudo-second-order, Weber and Morris, and Elovich models, indicating that membranes and particles diffusion, pore diffusion, and surface sorption coexisted in the sorption of methylene blue (MB) on the hydrochar materials. Simultaneously, all hydrochar materials achieved over 25% MB removal within 90 min (liquid membrane diffusion) and over 40% for HBC-R2 and HBC-R2/Si, suggesting that liquid membrane diffusion is the predominant rate-limiting step. Pearson's correlation analysis and Mantel's analysis announced that the cation exchange capacity (CEC), pore size, and carboxyl groups on the hemicellulose affect the sorption capacity by limiting the pore diffusion procedure. However, the CEC and the phenolic hydroxyl groups on the cellulose and hemicellulose affect the sorption rate by limiting membrane diffusion. Three consecutive sorption/desorption cycles confirmed the high stability and reusability of HBC-R2/Si composites.

Removal of cationic and anionic toxic pollutants from simulated solutions using Sterculia foetida pod (SFP): equilibrium isotherm, kinetics, and characterization.

The present work explores the sorption performance of Sterculia foetida pod (SFP) for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and chromium (Cr6+) from simulated solutions separately. The material characteristics namely textural analysis (specific surface area: 2.45 m2/g), morphological behavior (heterogeneous morphology containing pores and cavities), functional analysis (COO- stretching, C-O-C stretching vibrations, and -OH stretching) and thermal behavior (279.4 °C) were examined by various analytical techniques namely BET, SEM, FTIR, and TGA. Using non-linear Langmuir isotherm analysis, the maximal sorption capacity of SFP for the removal of MB and Cr6+ was predicted to be 74.1 mg/g and 27.3 mg/g, respectively. The optimized condition for sorption of MB and Cr6+ onto SFP was: dosage: 0.07 mg/L, initial pH: 7 (MB), and 2 (Cr6+). Thermodynamic data analysis confirmed the endothermic, favorable, spontaneous, and physisorption nature of sorption. The SFP has shown significant regeneration capacity in the consecutive runs (MB: 92.5% removal till 5th trial; Cr6+: 97.6% removal till 3rd trial). Based on these findings, SFP is a promising low-cost and eco-friendly candidate for the removal of anionic and cationic toxic pollutants in the absence of energy and chemical expenditure.NOVELTY STATEMENTSterculia foetida pod (SFP) explored for the removal of anionic and cationic toxic pollutants in the absence of energy and chemical expenditure.Mechanism for the interaction between toxic pollutants and SFP was predicted.Better sorption capacity (MB: 74.1 mg/g; Cr6+: 27.8 mg/g) and better regeneration capacity (MB: 92.5% for 5th trial; Cr6+: 97.6% for 3rd trial) was achieved.A feasible and spontaneous nature of sorption process toward the removal of MB and Cr6+ was demonstrated using thermodynamic relations.

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of methylene blue and its analogues in fish muscle using UPLC-MS/MS.

A new, simple and sensitive method for determining and confirming methylene blue and its analogues such as azure A, azure B, azure C, thionine, and new methylene blue in fish muscles have been developed. The method is based on acetonitrile extraction followed by extract purification using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) with basic aluminium oxide (ALN) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) using primary and secondary amines (PSA) sorbent in matrix adsorption mode. The separation and detection of the dyes in the fish extract are achieved within 5 min by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using an octadecyl analytical column with a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol and 0.1% formic acid as a mobile phase in gradient elution. The developed method has been in-house validated according to European law. The method recovery for fish muscle was 98.3-103.1%, whereas the decision limit (CCα) was from 0.45 to 0.49 µg kg-1.

Adsorption of lead ions and methylene blue on acrylate-modified hydrochars.

Hydrochars are promising sorbents for wastewater treatment. Herein, two acrylate-modified hydrochars (AMHC1 and AMHC2) were obtained by grafting acrylic acid on the surface of two hydrochars (MHC1 and MHC2 hydrothermally carbonized in water and acidic medium respectively) with free radical polymerization. Characterizations show that MHC2 is more prone to free radical polymerization than MHC1 does, and has higher carboxylate content after modification. The adsorption amounts of AMHC2 over methylene blue (MB) and Pb(II) are much higher than those of AMHC1. Pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm equations well fit the Pb(II) and MB sorption data of AMHC2. The Pb(II) adsorptive mechanism is mainly inner-surface complexation accompanied by ion exchange and cation-π interaction. MB adsorption involves ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, H-bonding and π-π interaction. Hence, the one-step modification method of free radical polymerization under alkaline condition has great potential for preparing carboxylate-modified hydrochars to adsorb cationic pollutants.

Green synthesis of AgNPs using Delonix regia bark for potential catalytic and antioxidant applications.

Nanoparticle synthesis from plant resources has recently gained significant impact due to its low cost, simple equipment requirements, and ease of availability. In this work, DR-AgNPs were synthesized using bark extract of Delonix regia (D. regia) plant under microwave irradiation. The formation of DR-AgNPs has been confirmed with UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, DLS, and zeta potential analysis. Catalytic and antioxidant activities were tested on synthesized spherical nanoparticles with a size range of 10-48 nm. The effects of pH and catalyst dosage on the methylene blue (MB) dye degradation were carried out. It was observed from the treatment results that 95% MB dye degradation efficiency was achieved within 4 min with a degradation rate constant of 0.772 min-1 . The synthesized nanoparticles showed a strong antioxidant property when analyzed by a 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The calculated IC50 value for DR-AgNPs was 37.1 ± 0.12 µg mL-1 . Therefore, DR-AgNPs are excellent in both catalytic and antioxidant activities when compared to previously reported works. HIGHLIGHTS: Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (DR-AgNPs) using Delonix regia bark extract. The catalytic activity of DR-AgNPs is remarkable against Methylene Blue. DR-AgNPs also have a strong DPPH radical antioxidant effect. Short degradation time, high degradation rate constant, and a good scavenging activity are key features of this study compared to previously reported works.

Facile solvent-free radical polymerization to prepare itaconate-functionalized hydrochar for efficient sorption of methylene blue and Pb(II).

An itaconate-functionalized hydrochar (IFHC) was prepared from one-step solvent-free radical copolymerization of bamboo hydrochar, itaconic acid, ammonium persulphate and sodium hydroxide in solvent-free environment, and was employed to absorb methylene blue (MB) and Pb(II) from wastewater. Characterizations show IFHC has rich carboxylate and tends to adsorb cationic contaminants. The largest adsorbed quantities of MB and Pb(II) by IFHC are up to 1036 and 291.8 mg·g-1 at 298 K respectively as per the Langmuir isotherm. Sorption of MB and Pb(II) onto IFHC can be expressed well by Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-2nd-order kinetics equations. The high sorption performance depends on the rich carboxylate, which can adsorb MB/Pb(II) through an electrostatic interaction/inner-surface complexation mechanism. The sorptive capacity of regenerated IFHC decreased below 10% after 5 desorption-resorption cycles. Thus, the solvent-free free radical copolymerization is an environmentally-friendly strategy to synthesize novel efficient sorbents that can clean cationic contaminants from wastewater.

Tropical fruit wastes including durian seeds and rambutan peels as a precursor for producing activated carbon using H3PO4-assisted microwave method: RSM-BBD optimization and mechanism for methylene blue dye adsorption.

Herein, tropical fruit biomass wastes including durian seeds (DS) and rambutan peels (RP) were used as sustainable precursors for preparing activated carbon (DSRPAC) using microwave-induced H3PO4 activation. The textural and physicochemical characteristics of DSRPAC were investigated by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, point of zero charge, and scanning electron microscope analyses. These findings reveal that the DSRPAC has a mean pore diameter of 3.79 nm and a specific surface area of 104.2 m2/g. DSRPAC was applied as a green adsorbent to extensively investigate the removal of an organic dye (methylene blue, MB) from aqueous solutions. The response surface methodology Box-Behnken design (RSM-BBD) was used to evaluate the vital adsorption characteristics, which included (A) DSRPAC dosage (0.02-0.12 g/L), (B) pH (4-10), and (C) time (10-70 min). The BBD model specified that the DSRPAC dosage (0.12 g/L), pH (10), and time (40 min) parameters caused the largest removal of MB (82.1%). The adsorption isotherm findings reveal that MB adsorption pursues the Freundlich model, whereas the kinetic data can be well described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. DSRPAC exhibited good MB adsorption capability (118.5 mg/g). Several mechanisms control MB adsorption by the DSRPAC, including electrostatic forces, π-π stacking, and H-bonding. This work shows that DSRPAC derived from DS and RP could serve as a viable adsorbent for the treatment of industrial effluents containing organic dye.

The novelty of this research work comes from the conversion of the mixed biomass wastes from tropical fruit including durian seeds and rambutan peels as precursor for activated carbon (DSRPAC) using microwave assisted H₃PO₄ activation. The effectiveness of DSRPAC as promising adsorbent was tested for methylene blue (MB) dye adsorption. Furthermore, response surface methodology with Box Behnken design (RSM-BBD) was applied to optimize the adsorption key parameters. A tailored adsorption mechanism of MB on the surface of DSRPAC was proposed.

Chemically activated carbon preparation from natural rubber biosludge for the study of characterization, kinetics and isotherms, thermodynamics, reusability during Cr(VI) and methylene blue adsorption.

Alkaline leachate, dust generation, and foul smell during the stacking process of natural rubber biosludge (NRBS) can pollute surrounding water, soil, and air. In this study, natural rubber chemically activated carbon (NRCAC) has been synthesized for the first time from NRBS by pyrolysis using ZnCl2 at 700 °C for adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. Both NRBS and NRCAC were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). FTIR and SEM-EDS suggested significant functional and morphological transformations in NRCAC. Experimental investigations of different process parameters, such as pH, concentration, contact time, salt concentration, etc., were conducted to study their influences on adsorption. Adsorption and desorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, while adsorption equilibrium followed Liu isotherm. Maximum uptake calculated from the Liu model was 81.28 and 211.90 mg/g for Cr(VI) and MB, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis established spontaneous and endothermic adsorption. Up to five adsorption/desorption cycles were conducted using eluents such as 1 M NaOH and water for Cr(VI) and MB, respectively. Electrostatic attraction and ion-exchange favored Cr(VI)/MB adsorption, while hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking were significant in MB uptake. Overall findings suggest that NRBS (a renewable agro-industrial, abundant, and freely available) could be employed to synthesize biochar for adsorptive removal of wastewater containing Cr(VI)/MB.

Vitex doniana seed activated carbon for methylene blue adsorption: equilibrium and kinetics.

This study evaluated the characteristics of zinc chloride modified vitex doniana seed activated carbon (VDZnCl2) for the removal of methylene blue. VDZnCl2 was characterized for textural properties, surface morphology and surface chemistry. Batch adsorption of methylene blue by VDZnCl2 was evaluated for the effects of concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and solution pH. The surface area increased from 14 to 933 m2/g with porous texture to facilitate adsorption. The SEM micrograph showed varieties of pores with widened cavities. The FTIR spectra showed the characteristics of O-H and C=C groups commonly found in carbonaceous materials. The maximum methylene blue adsorption was recorded as 238 mg/g at concentration range of 1-800 mg/L and VDZnCl2 dosage of 50 mg. Sips isotherm fitted well with the equilibrium data, suggesting that the adsorption by VDZnCl2 was a physical process onto its heterogeneous surface, while the applicability of pseudo-first-order kinetics implies that external diffusion was the rate controlling mechanism. The performance put up by VDZnCl2 suggested that it is a potential adsorbent substitute for dye wastewater treatment.

Vitex doniana commonly known as black plum is a deciduous flowering tree that grows around West Africa. Over 80% of the fruit is seed, and often discarded. To date, this seed has received marginal recognition as activated carbon feedstock for the removal of dyes and organic pollutants. However, there is no known study on the synthesis of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) modified activated carbon from vitex doniana seed and its adsorption of methylene blue from wastewater. Therefore, this study was a first-time attempt of the synthesis of ZnCl₂ modified activated carbon adsorbent from vitex doniana and its removal of methylene blue from wastewater. This work systematically encouraged indigenous adsorbent synthesis for wastewater treatment and contribution to sustainable development goals.

Sugar molasses as a sustainable precursor for the synthesis of graphene sand composite adsorbent for tetracycline and methylene blue removal.

Sugar molasses from agricultural waste could be a sustainable carbon source for the synthesis of graphene adsorbent introduced in this work. The sugar molasses was successfully converted to graphene-like material and subsequently coated on the sand as graphene sand composite (GSC), as proven by XRD, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM with EDX mapping analyses. The adsorption performance of GSC was evaluated against the removal of Tetracycline (TC) and methylene blue (MB) pollutants from an aqueous solution in a fixed bed column continuous-flow adsorption setup. The effect of different process conditions: bed height (4-12 cm), influent flow rate (3-7 mL/min), and contaminants' concentration (50-150 ppm) was investigated. The results revealed that column performance was improved by increasing the bed depth and lowering the flow rate and concentration of the pollutants. The best removal efficiency was obtained when the bed height was 12 cm, the influent flow rate of 3 mL/min, and the pollutants' initial concentration was 50 mg/L. Thomas, Adams-Bohart, and Yoon-Nelson models were attempted to fit the breakthrough curves. Regeneration of the GSC indicated the decline of breakthrough time from 240-280 to 180 min, reflecting the decrease in adsorptive sites due to the incomplete regeneration process. Overall, sugar molasses was shown to be a low-cost precursor for synthesizing valuable graphene material in the form of GSC, which can reduce the problem for industrial waste management of sugar molasses, and the GSC could be used as an adsorbent for environmental application.

Copolymer-MnO2 nanocomposites for the adsorptive removal of organic pollutants from water.

The copolymer beads prepared by suspension polymerisation were decorated with MnO2 nanoparticles and successfully implemented for the efficient removal of toxic organic contaminants from water. Copolymer-MnO2 nanocomposite was further analysed using XRD, SEM and optical microscope. The SEM images showed the surface characteristics of MnO2 nanoparticles on copolymer beads. The efficiency of the copolymer-MnO2 nanocomposite for the removal of model pollutant methylene blue and rhodamine B is then analysed by changing the concentration of pollutant. The results obtained exhibited 18.45 mg/g for methylene blue adsorption and 3.125 mg/g for rhodamine B. The adsorption equilibrium results were fitted to Langmuir adsorption isotherm for both methylene blue and rhodamine B adsorption. The desorption studies were performed for five consecutive cycles, and material was showing good regenerating capacity towards both organic pollutants. The obtained results show that copolymer-MnO2 nanocomposite is an efficient material for the removal of organic contaminants from wastewater.

Characterization and application of ligno-cellulosic fibers derived from Robinia Pseudoacacia for the bio-sorption of methylene blue from water.

Ligno-cellulosic biomasses had been recognized for their potential use to produce chemicals and biomaterials. The current study focused on the use of a new cellulosic Robinia Pseudoacacia fiber and extracted lignin as adsorbents for methylene blue (a cationic dye). The biomaterials were analyzed using FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, XRD, and TGA-DTA techniques. The surface of Robinia fibers was rough and porous. The crystallinity index (CrI) value for Robinia fibers was found to be 32%. The ability of the studied samples to remove methylene blue from water was assessed under the variation of time, pH, dye concentration, temperature, and NaCl concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue reached 191 mg/g for Robinia fibers and it achieved 22 mg/g for the extracted lignin (T = 20 °C, pH = 6, and time = 90 min). The adsorption data complied with the pseudo second-order kinetic model and both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Based on these findings, the process suggested the occurrence of many physicochemical interactions between methylene blue molecules and the studied biomaterials. The adsorption mechanism was exothermic, non-spontaneous, and it was described by the decrease of the disorder. Adsorption results proved that Robinia fiber was an attractive candidate for the removal of cationic dyes from water.

A low-cost and abundant Robinia Pseudoacacia fiber and its extracted lignin are characterized and further studied as adsorbents for cationic dyes under the change of the experimental conditions.

High-Surface-Area-Activated Carbon Derived from Mango Peels and Seeds Wastes via Microwave-Induced ZnCl2 Activation for Adsorption of Methylene Blue Dye Molecules: Statistical Optimization and Mechanism.

In this study, Mango (Mangifera indica) seeds (MS) and peels (MP) seeds mixed fruit wastes were employed as a renewable precursor to synthesize high-surface-area-activated carbon (MSMPAC) by using microwave-induced ZnCl2 activation. Thus, the applicability of MSMPAC was evaluated towards the removal of cationic dye (methylene blue, MB) from an aqueous environment. The key adsorption factors, namely A: MSMPAC dose (0.02-0.1 g), B: pH (4-10), and C: time (5-15 min), were inspected using the desirability function of the Box-Behnken design (BBD). Thus, the adsorption isotherm data were found to correspond well with the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of (232.8 mg/g). Moreover, the adsorption kinetics were consistent with both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The spontaneous and endothermic nature of MB adsorption on the MSMPAC surface could be inferred from the negative ∆G° values and positive value of ∆H°, respectively. Various mechanisms namely electrostatic forces, pore filling, π-π stacking, and H-bonding govern MB adsorption by the MSMPAC. This study demonstrates the utility of MS and MP as renewable precursors to produce high-surface area MSMPAC with a potential application towards the removal of cationic organic dyes such as MB.