Removal of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions Using Amino-Functionalized Carbon Nanospheres Adsorbents.

Carbon nanospheres were prepared and functionalized with carboxyl acid groups (CNS-CA), then reacted with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to introduce amino groups onto the surface (CNS-NH2) by post-synthesis grafting. CNS-NH2 was acidified in order to convert the amino groups (-NH2) into ammonium moieties (). Various techniques such as N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the nanospheres. The removal of chromium ions from aqueous solution using was investigated. Factors influencing the uptake of Cr(VI) ions such as solution pH, adsorbent dose, and initial Cr(VI) ion concentration were investigated. Equilibrium adsorption data fitted the Langmuir model very well. The adsorption maximum capacity of Cr(VI) was found to be 52.38 mg/g. The reusability of results indicated that it can be reused five times successfully without loss of adsorption capacity.

A novel use of Moringa oleifera seed powder in enhancing the primary treatment of paper mill effluent.

In this study, Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) performance as an eco-friendly coagulant in the enhanced primary treatment of paper mill effluent was investigated. Its performance in terms of turbidity removal and COD abatement was examined. Local M. oleifera seed powder from ADRAR-city, South of Algeria, was used. Conventional jar tests were conducted for enhancing the primary treatment of paper mill effluent from paper factory. For this reason, comparative coagulation tests were performed using aluminum sulfate (alum). Indeed, in terms of turbidity abatement, 96.02% and 97.1% were obtained for Moringa and alum, respectively. However, in the case of COD abatement, the abatement rate of M. oleifera seeds was slightly higher than that of alum, 97.28% and 92.67%, respectively. Because M. oleifera is a natural resource that is locally available, an eco-friendly coagulant, non-toxic, and biodegradable and does not affect the pH of water; thus, its use allows to avoid numerous disadvantages of conventional coagulants like alum.

Optimization of a novel biocomposite synthesis (Ammi Visnaga extraction waste/alginate) for Cd(2+) biosorption.

A novel environmentally friendly biocomposite namely calcium alginate immobilized Ammi Visnaga (Khella) extraction waste was prepared by electrostatic extrusion method. A full factorial design 2(3) was used to optimize the beads preparation conditions. The effect of sodium alginate concentration (X1), biomass concentration (X2) and cross-linker concentration (X3) on the Cd(2+) removal efficiency was examined in a batch system with a fixed biocomposite dose of 1g/L. Using the experimental results, a linear mathematical model representing the influence of different variables and their interactions was obtained. The optimized values of X1, X2 and X3 were found to be 4.35%, 2.5% and 1.99% respectively. The biocomposite beads were characterized by ATR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy for the surface morphology and optical microscopic for the particles size measurements.