Bioaccumulation of cadmium in the ascidian Styela clava (Herdman 1881)

The processes of bioaccumulation and elimination of cadmium by tissues of Styela clava (Herdman 1881) were investigated based on a semi-static two-compartment model. The kinetic parameters (accumulation rate constant k ₁, elimination rate constant k ₂, bioconcentration factor BCF, biological half-life t _1/2 and maximum equilibrium concentration C _Amax) were obtained by non-linear regression. The results showed that S. clava accumulates cadmium from its aquatic environment. BCF decreased with increasing metal concentration in the water, and when the accumulation achieved balance, C _Amax correlated positively with metal concentrations in the water. Concentrations of cadmium in different tissues of S. clava were: gonad > digestive gland ≈ other parts > tunic. The t _1/2 values for cadmium were 15.54-50.40 days in the accumulation process and 11.53-24.55 days in the elimination phase. The high rate of accumulation and elimination of cadmium from the body reveals the potential of the organism to be used as a biomonitor of short-term cadmium fluctuation in marine systems.     

Mechanisms and factors affecting the adsorption of sodium alginate onto modified clays

Algal organic materials (AOMs) are one critical factor affecting the efficiency of modified clays used for the mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs). This study was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and factors affecting the adsorption of AOMs onto modified clays. Sodium alginate (polysaccharide) and kaolinite modified with polyaluminium chloride (PACl) were used as AOMs and modified clay model substances, respectively, and the effects of modifier dosage, contact time, solution pH and ionic strength were investigated through batch adsorption experiments. Kinetics revealed that the alginate adsorption rate was described well by a pseudo-second order model. PACl effectively enhanced the adsorption capacity of kaolinite and increased the adsorption rate, and the optimum additive amount of PACl was 5%. The experimental data fitted both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption equations well. The adsorption thermodynamics for alginate onto modified clays suggests that alginate adsorption is a spontaneous process. The adsorption of alginate onto modified clays was highly dependent on pH, with a decrease in adsorption observed with increased pH to 9.48, but the opposite was true above pH 9.48. Finally, adsorption increased with increasing ionic strength.     

The Seashell Wastes as Biosorbent for Reactive Dye Removal from Textile Effluents

This study investigates structural and adsorption properties of the powdered waste shells of Rapana gastropod and their use as a new cheap adsorbent to remove reactive dye Brilliant Red HE‐3B from aqueous solutions under batch conditions. For the powder shells characterization, solubility tests in acidic solutions and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform IR spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and thermogravimetric analyses were performed. The results revealed that the adsorbent surface is heterogeneous consisting mainly from calcium carbonate layers (either calcite or aragonite) and a small amount of organic macromolecules (proteins and polysaccharides). The dye adsorptive potential of gastropod shells powder was evaluated as function of initial solution pH (1–5), adsorbent dose (6–40 g L^?1), dye concentration (50–300 mg L^?1), temperature (5–60°C), and contact time (0–24 h). It was observed that the maximum values of dye percentage removal were obtained at the initial pH of solution 1.2, shells dose of 40 g L^?1, dye initial concentration of 50–50 mg L^?1 and higher temperatures; the equilibrium time decreases with increasing of dye concentration. It is proved that the waste seashell powder can be used as low cost bioinorganic adsorbent for dyes removal from textile wastewaters.     

Removal of Pyridine from Aqueous Solution by Adsorption on an Activated Carbon Cloth

Pyridine is a very toxic pollutant that has to be removed from wastewater. In this work, adsorption of pyridine on activated carbon cloth (ACC) is studied as a possible alternative for eliminating pyridine from aqueous solution. The ACC was produced from polyacrylonitrile. The adsorption equilibrium data of pyridine on ACC was obtained in a batch adsorber. The experimental data was interpreted with the isotherms of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Prausnitz‐Radke (PR), and the PR isotherm better represented the experimental data. The capacity of ACC for adsorbing pyridine was favored increasing the solution pH from 3 to 6, and this effect was due to the π–π dispersive and electrostatic interactions between the pyridine species in solution and the surface complexes of ACC. The modified Langmuir model fitted reasonably well the influence of pH on the adsorption capacity. In this model was assumed that both neutral pyridine and pyridinium were simultaneously adsorbed on ACC accordingly to the experimental results. The adsorption capacity was almost independent of temperature. The reversibility study revealed that 75% of the pyridine can be desorbed from ACC indicating that part of the pyridine was irreversibly adsorbed, and possibly chemisorbed.     

Photocatalytic Decolorization Kinetics and Mineralization of Reactive Black 5 Aqueous Solution by UV/TiO2 Nanoparticles

The photocatalytic decolorization and mineralization of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye in presence of TiO₂ Degussa P25 has been studied using artificial light radiation in a shallow pond slurry reactor. The equilibrium adsorption of dye, influence of pH (3–11), catalyst load (0.5–3.0 g/L), and dye concentration (20–100 mg/L) on decolorization kinetics were studied. The effect of area to volume ratio of photoreactor on decolorization kinetics has been also studied. Mineralization studies were performed at optimized conditions of pH (3) and catalyst load (1.5 g/L). The maximum adsorption (26.5 mg/g) of dye was found to occur at pH 3. The apparent pseudo first order decolorization rate constant (k_app) value followed the order pH 3 > pH 11 > pH 9 > pH 7. As compared to available literature reduction in total organic carbon (TOC) was minimal by the time there was complete decolorization. Initial reduction in TOC was followed by subsequent increasing trend till complete decolorization. Final decreasing trend in TOC was observed only after complete decolorization. Twelve hours of treatment under experimental conditions reduced TOC content by 70% only. Discussion of results suggest that photocatalytic treatment of colored effluent under low UV intensity, and low A/V ratio may result in completely decolorized effluent but still having high COD.     

Lentil Straw: A Novel Adsorbent for Removing of Hazardous Dye – Sorption Behavior Studies

Sorption behavior of Lanaset Red (LR) G on lentil straw (LS) was studied as a function of particle size, adsorbent dose, initial pH value, initial dye concentration, and contact time. Sorption kinetics data was well described by logistic model. Modified logistic equation can be used to explain effects of initial dye concentrations and contact time on the sorption of LR G with high R² value. Freundlich model was found to be excellent in representing the equilibrium data. Thermodynamic parameters like free energy (ΔG⁰), enthalpy (ΔH⁰), and entropy (ΔS⁰) were calculated by the use of Langmuir constant. Thermodynamic data showed that the sorption processes were spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Desorption process suggested that strong binding and weak interactions could be formed between adsorbent surface and dye molecules. Results revealed that LS has a remarkable potential for the sorption of LR G.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐hydroxyapatite) a Novel Composite for the Removal of Lead(II) from Aqueous Solutions

In the present study, a novel adsorbent, poly (2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate‐hydroxyapatite) [P(HEMA‐Hap)], was prepared and characterized. The synthesis was achieved by means of free‐radical polymerization and a number of structural characterization methods, including FT‐IR, XRD, TGA, SEM, BET‐porosity, and swelling tests. Pb²⁺ adsorption was performed using a series of pH, time, and temperature ranges. The reusability of the composite was also tested. The results obtained indicated that the novel adsorbent is able to bind Pb²⁺ ions with strong chemical affinity. The adsorption results were fitted to the classic Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) sorption models. Thermodynamic parameters obtained demonstrated that the sorption process was spontaneous (ΔG < 0), endothermic (ΔH > 0), as expected. The process was also consistent with the pseudo‐second‐order model, and chemical adsorption was determined to be the rate‐controlling step. It was also shown that the composite could be used for five consecutive adsorption processes.     

光助Fenton氧化法去除水中两种氯乙酸及其动力学研究

以二氯乙酸和三氯乙酸为目标污染物,研究了光助Fenton氧化去除水中卤乙酸的可行性及影响因素,并对其动力学进行了初步研究.结果表明,影响光助Fenton氧化的因素很多,氙灯功率500 W、H2O2和Fe2+投加量分别为5.0和1.0 mmol·L-1、pH=4.0反应60 min是所考察范围内的最佳降解条件,浓度为100 μg·L-1的二氯乙酸和三氯乙酸的降解率分别为90.32％、87.77％;在实际水质pH=7.0时,相同浓度的二氯乙酸和三氯乙酸的降解率分别为75.34％、68.80％.紫外辐射与Fenton氧化对二氯乙酸和三氯乙酸的降解具有协同效应.光助Fenton氧化对二氯乙酸和三氯乙酸的降解符合一级反应动力学,表观活化能分别为30.11、31.09 kJ·mo1-1,受温度影响不大.