A Review of Study on Fe-C Interaction and Their Adsorption Properties to Soil Heavy Metal

Nowadays, the Fe-C coprecipitate mechanism is recognized by more and more scholars and becomes the hot topic in the environmental science. On the basis of discussing the interaction between iron oxide and organic matter, and the adsorption research progress of Fe-C complexes on heavy metals, the immobilization potential of Fe-C complexes on heavy metals in polluted soil were illustrated. The surface properties and physical characterizations of iron oxide are changed regularly with the interaction of organic matter, which lead to the higher adsorption capacity of Fe-C complexes in contrast to single iron oxide. Besides, the influences of pH values, organic matter types and surface properties of iron oxides on the adsorption capacity of Fe-C complexes on heavy metals were discussed. The excellent adsorption performance of Fe-C complexes in certain conditions will provide important theoretical basis for contaminated soil remediation.     

Characteristics of phosphate adsorption onto granulated coal ash in seawater

The deterioration of sediments is a serious environmental problem. Controlling nutrient release fluxes from sediments is important to alleviating eutrophication and to reducing terrigenous nutrient loads. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phosphate removal performance of granulated coal ash (GCA) from seawater, which is produced from coal thermal electric power generation. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the removal kinetics of phosphate from seawater under both oxic and anoxic conditions. Phosphate was removed well from seawater under both oxic and anoxic conditions. The adsorption isotherm for phosphate revealed that GCA could remove phosphate effectively from seawater above a concentration of 1.7 μmol L⁻¹. GCA can reduce the concentration of phosphate in seawater effectively under anoxic conditions where iron type adsorbents cannot be applied. Therefore, GCA could potentially be used to adsorb phosphate in the organically-enriched sediment, which generally occurs under highly reductive conditions.     

Association of metals with plastic production pellets in the marine environment

Plastic production pellets sampled from four beaches along a stretch of coastline (south Devon, SW England) and accompanying, loosely adhered and entrapped material removed ultrasonically have been analysed for major metals (Al, Fe, Mn) and trace metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Mo, Sb, Sn, U) following acid digestion. In most cases, metal concentrations in composite pellet samples from each site were less than but within an order of magnitude of corresponding concentrations in the pooled extraneous materials. However, normalisation of data with respect to Al revealed enrichment of Cd and Pb in plastic pellets at two sites. These observations are not wholly due to the association of pellets with fine material that is resistant to ultrasonication since new polyethylene pellets suspended in a harbour for 8 weeks accumulated metals from sea water through adsorption and precipitation. The environmental implications and potential applications of these findings are discussed.     

Kinetic Modelling of the Removal of Seven Common Pollutants in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

The main removal mechanisms for the degradations of seven pollutants in wastewater treatment wetlands were analysed, and a mathematical model was established to quantify the removal of each pollutant, based on its main removal mechanisms. Subsurface horizontal flow wetlands were treated as a series of continuous stirred - tank reactors (CSTRs). Kinetic models for the removal of biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, total nitrogen and faecal coliforms were established by combining Monod or first - order kinetics with CSTR assumptions. These tentative models account for a wide range of factors that affect wetland performance, but the models have not been proven by ex periment data. Depending on the derivation of various coefficients in the models and verification by actual performance data, this study may provide a starting point for an integrated pollutant removal model to be developed, and experimen tally verified, thereby making a step forward from the current greenbox' approach of wetland design.     

Modeling the Removal of Reactive Red 120 on Pistachio Husk

In this study, the adsorption of reactive red 120 (RR 120) on pistachio husk, and the modeling of the adsorption was investigated. Characterization of the pistachio husk was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The pH_zpc of pistachio husk was found to be pH 8.5. Increasing the initial pH value decreased (p < 0.01) the amount of dye adsorbed. However, increasing the initial dye concentration from 50 to 900 mg/L at pH 1 increased (p < 0.01) the equilibrium dye uptake from 20.83 to 182.10 mg/g. Results indicated that this adsorbent had great potential for the removal of RR 120 dye. The logistic model was found to be the most suitable of the kinetic and equilibrium models tested to describe the adsorption of the dye. The parameters determined from the logistic model were well correlated with the initial dye concentration, and were seen to increase with the increasing initial dye concentration, but this was not observed from pseudo‐second order kinetics.     

Treatment of Arsenic Contaminated Groundwater Using Calcium Impregnated Granular Activated Carbon in a Batch Reactor: Optimization of Process Parameters

This paper is an experimental investigation into the removal of arsenic species from simulated groundwater by adsorption onto Ca²⁺ impregnated granular activated carbon (GAC‐Ca) in the presence of impurities like Fe and Mn. The effects of adsorbent concentration, pH and temperature on the percentage removal of total arsenic (As(T)), As(III) and As(V) have been discussed. Under the experimental conditions, the optimum adsorbent concentration of GAC‐Ca was found to be 8 g/L with an agitation time of 24 h, which reduced As(T) concentration from 188 to 10 μg/L. Maximum removal of As(V) and As(III) was observed in a pH range of 7–11 and 9–11, respectively. Removal of all the above arsenic species decreased slightly with increasing temperature. The presence of Fe and Mn increased the adsorption of arsenic species. Under the experimental conditions at 30°C, the maximum percentage removals of As(T), As(III), As(V), Fe, and Mn were found to be ca. 94.3, 90.6, 98.0, 100 and 63%, respectively. It was also observed that amongst the various regenerating liquids used, a 5 N H₂SO₄ solution exhibited maximum regeneration (ca. 91%) of the spent GAC‐Ca.