Removal of Mercury Ions from Mixed Aqueous Metal Solutions by Natural and Modified Zeolitic Minerals

Research works on the removal of mercury from water by zeolitic mineralshow that small quantities of this element are sorbed. In this work the mercury sorption from aqueous solutions in the presence and absence of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) onto a Mexican zeolitic mineral unmodified and modified with cysteamine hydrochloride or cystamine dihydrochloride was investigated in acidic pH. The zeolitic minerals were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and FTIR. The sorption kinetics behavior and the retention isotherms for mercury were determined in the natural and treated zeolitic mineral samples. It was found that the amounts of sulfur on the modified zeolitic minerals were 0.375 (cysteamine hydrochloride) and 0.475 (cystamine dihydrochloride) mmol g^-1, which were not saturated to their total capacities of adsorption for the maximum concentration used (0.310 mM). Under the experimental conditions, the retention of mercury was the highest for the zeolitic minerals treated with the organic compounds, with adsorption capacities ranging from 0.0107 to 0.0509 mmol Hg g^-1.The retention was not affected by the presence of others heavy metals studied in this work as expected.     

Zinc Removal from the Aqueous Solutions by the Chemically Modified Biosorbents

Biosorbents are the natural origin adsorbents, which popularity in environmental engineering is steadily increasing due to their low price, ease of acquisition, and lack of the toxic properties. Presented research aimed to analyze the possibility of chemical modification of the straw, which is a characteristic waste in the Polish agriculture, to improve its biosorption properties with respect to removal of selected metals from aquatic solutions. Biosorbents used during the tests was a barley straw that was shredded to a size in the range of 0.2–1.0 mm. The biosorption process was performed for aqueous solutions of zinc at a pH 5. Two different modifications of straw were analyzed: esterification with methanol and modification using the citric acid at elevated temperature. The results, obtained during the research, show a clear improvement in sorption capacity of the straw modified by the citric acid. In the case of straw modified with methanol, it has been shown that the effectiveness of zinc biosorption process was even a twice lower with respect to the unmodified straw. Moreover, it was concluded that the removal of analyzed metals was based mainly on the ion-exchange adsorption mechanism by releasing a calcium and magnesium ions from the straw surface to the solution.

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Preparation of High Surface Area Oxidized Activated Carbon from Peanut Shell and Application for the Removal of Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metal Ions

A peanut shell-derived oxidized activated carbon (OAC) with high surface area was prepared by zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) chemical activation and subsequent nitric acid oxidation. OAC was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and N₂ adsorption-desorption. The results showed that OAC had the surface area of 1807 m² g^?1, with the total pore volume of 0.725 cm³ g^?1 and average pore diameter of 3.8 nm. More importantly, when OAC acted as an adsorbent, it exhibited high efficiency to remove basic blue 41 (BB-41), congo red (CR), phenol, Cr(VI), and Pb(II) from aqueous solution due to its universality in adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to study the effect of various parameters such as pH, initial concentration, temperature, and contact time. Also, the isotherms, kinetic models, and thermodynamics of adsorption process were investigated. The equilibrium data for CR and Pb(II) were fitted to Langmuir isotherm model, while Freundlich model was suitable for the equilibrium isotherm of BB-41, phenol, and Cr(VI), respectively. As the result indicated, peanut shell was a suitable raw material to synthesize OAC which could be employed as an efficient and universal adsorbent for removing organic pollutants and heavy metal ions from wastewater.     

Evaluation of the 15Nitrogen Isotope Dilution Technique for Estimating Crop Nitrogen Uptake from Organic Residues

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to test the new approach for estimating crop nitrogen (N) uptake from organic inputs. The soil was prelabeled with ¹⁵N by applying ¹⁵N fertilizer to sunflower crop (Helianthus annuus L. var. Viki). The ¹⁴N plots, which received unlabelled fertilizer, were also set up. At harvest, ¹⁵N labeled residues were added to the unlabeled soils at a rate of 73 kg N ha^?1 (direct technique) and unlabeled residues were added to the ¹⁵N‐labeled soils at the same rate (indirect technique). Control plots without residues were also established. All plots were sown with the wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var merchouch)–fababean (Vicia faba L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var merchouch) cropping sequence.

In the cropping sequence, the first, second and third crop derived respectively 12.01, 2.4, and 1.93 kg N ha^?1 from crop residues estimated by the direct method and 14.77, 3.3, and 1.85 kg N ha^?1 estimated by the indirect method. The results showed no significant difference between the two techniques, which suggests that the new soil prelabeling technique compares well with the direct technique.     

Assisted Washing for Heavy Metal and Metalloid Removal from Contaminated Dredged Materials

In the present study a chemical washing process was applied to dredged sea and river sediments. Five chelating agents (ethylenediaminetetraacetic, nitrilotriacetic, citric, [S,S]-ethylenediaminedisuccinic and oxalic acids), three surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulphate, cetylpyridinium chloride and saponin Q), as well as monobasic potassium phosphate were used as the extracting agents. The effect of sonication was also tested as a conditioning step to couple with chelant-based extraction. The extraction experiments were performed in both single and multiple washing stages. The results indicated that, for given experimental conditions, the remediation efficiency was strongly dependent on the specific contaminant under concern, with contaminant speciation and distribution in the solid matrix as well as affinity for the extracting agent playing a major role in the decontamination process. In this respect, the study also showed that in the presence of multiple contaminants the use of a single extraction agent is not sufficient to attain adequate quality levels for the treated sediment.     

Copper Ions Adsorption from Aqueous Medium Using the Biosorbent Sugarcane Bagasse In Natura and Chemically Modified

This study evaluated the copper ion adsorption capacity of sugarcane bagasse in natura and chemically modified with citric acid and sodium hydroxide. Adsorption analyses in batch system were carried out in function of contact time with the adsorbent and adsorbate concentration. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the copper concentrations. Adsorption experimental data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich linear models, and the maximum adsorption capacity was estimated for copper ions in function of modifications. The chemical modifications were confirmed at 1,730 cm^?1 peak in infrared spectra, referring to the carboxylate groups. The required time for the adsorption to reach equilibrium was 24 h and the kinetics follows the behavior described by the pseudo-second order equation. Besides, a significant improvement of the copper adsorption has been observed after the bagasse treatment, where the maximum adsorption capacity was 31.53 mg g^?1 for copper using modified bagasse with nitric acid according to Langmuir isotherm linear model. The high uptake of copper ions from aqueous medium verified by chemically modified sugarcane bagasse makes this material an attractive alternative for effluent treatment and avoids environmental contamination.     

Zirconium-Modified Activated Sludge as a Low-Cost Adsorbent for Phosphate Removal in Aqueous Solution

A highly effective zirconium-modified activated sludge (Zr(IV)-AS) adsorbent was prepared from activated sludge and applied to remove phosphate from aqueous solutions by batch and column experiments. Characterized results revealed that zirconium was successfully loaded onto the activated sludge (AS), and the specific surface area and pore volume were substantially improved after zirconium loading on the AS. Zr(IV)-AS exhibited a high adsorption affinity for phosphate and the maximum adsorption amount was 27.55 mg P·g^?1 at 25 °C. Adsorption isotherms of phosphate could be described by the Langmuir model, and the adsorption kinetics were well described by the pseudo-second-order model. Phosphate adsorption on Zr(IV)-AS increased monotonically with decreasing solution pH. The presence of SO₄^2? in water resulted in slightly decreased phosphate adsorption on the adsorbent even at a high concentration (25 mmol/L), and a greater influence of HCO₃^? on adsorption could be ascribed to the increased solution pH with the addition of the HCO₃^?. Column adsorption experimental results showed that the adsorbent has excellent phosphate adsorption properties and that the effluent can meet the requirement of phosphorus in the national wastewater discharge standard of China. Phosphate-saturated Zr(IV)-AS can be effectively desorbed in 0.1 mol L^?1 NaOH solution, and the regenerated adsorbent still possessed the high capacity. The adsorption between the adsorbent and the phosphate is due to the electrostatic interaction and anionic exchange at the surface of the Zr(IV)-AS. Furthermore, this approach provides a possibility of treating wastewater with waste and has the potential for industrial applications for the removal of phosphate from wastewater.     

Effectiveness of Conventional and Low-Cost Wastewater Treatments in the Removal of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds

In the present work, the effectiveness of conventional wastewater treatments (activated sludge and oxidation ditches) and low-cost wastewater treatments (trickling filter beds, anaerobic lagooning and constructed wetlands) in the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds has been studied. To evaluate the efficiency of removal, 16 pharmaceutically active compounds belonging to seven therapeutic groups (anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs, ??-blockers, nervous stimulants, estrogens and lipid regulators) have been monitored during 1-year period in influent and effluent wastewater from 11 wastewater treatment plants of Spain. Mean removal rates of pharmaceutically active compounds achieved in conventional wastewater treatments were slightly higher than those achieved in low-cost treatments, being 64% and 55%, respectively. Ibuprofen, naproxen, salicylic acid and caffeine were the pharmaceutical compounds most efficiently removed, regardless the wastewater treatment applied, with removal rates up to 99%. Anaerobic lagooning was the less effective treatment for the removal of the most persistent compounds: carbamazepine and propranolol.     

Effective Removal of Toxic Heavy Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution by CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Microparticles

Heavy metals are a common contaminant in water supplies and pose a variety of serious health risks to nearby human populations. A promising approach to heavy metal decontamination is the sequestration of heavy metal ions in porous materials; however, current technologies involve materials which can be difficult to synthesize, are high-cost, or are themselves potentially toxic. Herein, we demonstrate that rapidly synthesized calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) microparticles can effectively remove high quantities of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions (1869, 1320, and 1293 mg per gram of CaCO₃ microparticles, respectively) from aqueous media. The CaCO₃ microparticles were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) N₂ sorption–desorption. It was found that the Ca²⁺ ions of the microparticles were replaced by the heavy metal ions, leading to partially recrystallized nanoparticles of new compositional phases such as cerussite (PbCO₃). The adsorption, surface dissolution/re-precipitation, and nucleation/crystal growth mechanisms were determined by investigating the Ca²⁺ released, along with the changes to particle morphology and crystal structure. Importantly, this study demonstrates that the porous CaCO₃ microparticles performed well in a system with multiple heavy metal ion species: 100% of Cu²⁺, 97.5% of Pb²⁺, and 37.0% Cd²⁺ were removed from an aqueous solution of all cations with initial individual metal concentrations of 50 mg/L and 1.5 g/L of CaCO₃ microparticles. At this concentration, the CaCO₃ microparticles significantly outperformed activated carbon. These results help to establish CaCO₃ microparticles as a promising low-cost and scalable technology for removing heavy metal ions from contaminated water.

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Colloidal Carbon-Based Nanoparticles as Heavy Metal Adsorbent in Aqueous Solution: Cadmium Removal as a Case Study

Hydrophilic carbonaceous nanoparticles (HNPs) of uniform sizes with a good degree of dispersion in water were produced from a commercial carbon black by nitric acid treatment. The surface treatment, performed at different reaction times, generates a variable number of oxygen functional groups, mainly carboxylic, which enhance the nanoparticles hydrophilicity and heavy metal adsorption capability. The HNPs were characterized by a number of analytical techniques, including FTIR spectroscopy, thermal and elemental analysis, N₂ adsorption, dynamic light scattering, and zeta-potential measurements. The acid–base properties of the functional groups on the HNPs surface were also investigated by coulometric–potentiometric titrations. Cadmium adsorption tests were carried out in stirred reactors containing colloidal aqueous suspensions of HNPs and HNPs supported over silica. The effects of several parameters, such as the cadmium concentration, the temperature, and the solution pH, were studied. Sorbents showed an appreciable cadmium adsorption capability at different temperatures and in a wide range of pH values comparable or superior to several carbon-based sorbents, indicating a feasible use in commercial units.     

A Model for Evaluating the Feasibility of an Extraction Procedure for Heavy Metal Removal from Contaminated Soils

A model was developed that allowed for the evaluation of a soil metal cleaning technique in a rapid and cost effective manner. Metal flow (Pb, Cu, Zn, and Cd) during a counter-current soil-acid extraction procedure, consisting of a decarbonation, solubilisation, and washing step, was determined. Required input data are total soil metal content and metal equilibrium distribution coefficients, derived from batch equilibration experiments. The model was calibrated and validated against experimentally obtained results. Model predictions adequately described metal behaviour and removal in each of the extraction steps. Based on the results, optimum operating conditions for the steps involved in the extraction procedure were determined and the feasibility of the counter-current extraction procedure for heavy metal removal from a contaminated soil evaluated.     

Potential of Water Hyacinth as a Removal Agent for Heavy Metals from Petroleum Refinery Effluents

Effluents from petroleum refineries contain a diverse range of pollutants including heavy metals. They also contain oil and grease, phenols, sulphides, dissolved solids, suspended solids and BOD-bearing materials. An overview of heavy metal removal from industrial effluents with emphasis on biological methods is given. Results of studies to remove heavy metals in effluents from a petroleum refinery by water hyacinth were presented. Limited success has been demonstrated for the case of iron and zinc, but further work needs to be done. There is a need to strike the right balance between the possible amount of uptake of heavy metal ions and the tendency to suffocate the ecosystem through the depletion and reduction of light and dissolved oxygen. Similarly there is a need for better understanding of the process of enhancement of the capability the water hyacinth to uptake heavy metal ions before the on-set of toxic accumulation.     

三种无机萃取剂去除土壤中PbCd的条件研究

通过对重金属污染土壤的萃取实验,比较了HCl、Na2S2O3、CaCl2 3种常用无机萃取剂对重金属Ph和cd的萃取效果,并通过改变萃取条件（萃取剂浓度、时间、固液比、萃取次数和温度）,以期找到各种萃取剂达到最大萃取效率时所需的萃取条件。结果表明,萃取剂浓度对于萃取效率的影响最大,随着浓度的提高,3种萃取剂对Ph、Cd的去除作用增强;固液比和萃取次数对Ph、Cd的去除率也有较大的影响;时间对两金属的去除率也有一定的影响,但在本实验条件下,达到萃取平衡所需时间很短;温度对萃取效率的影响很小。本实验中,HCl去除Pb、Cd的能力远远大于其他两种萃取剂。对Cd进行萃取时,需增加萃取次数才能达到较好的萃取效果。     

重金属在小麦作物体中残留特征的田间试验研究

研究表明经污水灌溉后重金属铅、砷和镉在小麦植物体中的残留量因部位不同而有差异,但清水和污水灌溉对其总体残留特征无明显影响。其总的分布趋势是小麦根部的重金属累积量最大，其次是小麦的茎叶部，再其次是小麦的穗部，即小麦植株体内重金属积累量由大到小依次为根＞茎叶＞穗。因此认为根可作为一种屏障使重金属铅、砷和镉难于向上部迁移，使地上部分免受其害。     

外加碳源对污水灌溉系统氮素去除和作物生长影响的实验研究

基于土柱实验，对有作物生长条件下的污水灌溉土地处理慢渗系统氮素去除和作物生长状况开展实验研究，探讨在灌溉原污水中添加有机碳对该系统去除氮素和作物生长状况产生的影响作用。实验研究结果表明，随着灌溉原污水中有机碳含量的逐渐增加，污水灌溉土地处理慢渗系统下排的水量有所增大，排水中的氮素（铵态氮、硝态氮、总氮）淋溶量和化学需氧量有所增加，而作物的干物质量和吸氮量则明显下降；增加灌溉原污水中的有机碳含量，会影响污水灌溉土地处理慢渗系统去除氮素的效果和作物生长条件，在增加基于硝化和反硝化作用的除氮量同时，造成作物生长水土环境的改变，导致作物产量显著下降。     

A Comparison Between a Low-Cost Sorbent and an Activated Carbon for the Adsorption of Heavy Metals from Water

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - Uptake, bioaccumulation, and assimilation of ferricyanide by three different species of willows was investigated. Intact prerooted weeping willows (Salix...     

Effectiveness of a Full-Scale Constructed Wetland for the Removal of Metals from Domestic Wastewater

The mobility of fluorescein and bromide used as tracers in packed soil columns was investigated. Five different soils were used in two application methods: soil surface application and soil incorporation, both of which simulate accepted methods of soil application of termiticides to prevent structural infestation. The breakthrough of bromide and fluorescein in column eluates were measured. The absorbance of fluorescein at 492 nm was pH dependent, and proper adjustments were made after measuring the eluate pH. Although high recoveries of bromide from the soil columns were observed, the breakthrough was different among the soil types, indicating that bromide behaves differently in different soils. Recovery of fluorescein, a weak acid, varied depending upon the pH of the soil used, and was only observed in the eluates of two of the five soils tested. Soil treated with bromide and fluorescein followed by soaking extraction showed high recovery of bromide but low recovery of fluorescein, except for in the most alkaline of the soils tested. If fluorescein is used as a conservative tracer in pesticide soil mobility studies, mobility can be underestimated in acidic soils because the active ingredient might travel more quickly than does the fluorescein.     

皂角苷增强洗脱复合污染土壤中多环芳烃和重金属的作用及机理

通过增溶实验和土壤洗脱实验,研究了一种生物表面活性剂——皂角苷（saponin）对多环芳烃-重金属复合污染土壤的洗脱作用及机理。结果表明,皂角苷对菲、芘等多环芳烃有极强的增溶作用,当皂角苷浓度为0.04%时,菲、芘在液相中的表观溶解度分别增大了约22倍和128倍,因而皂角苷能显著增强多环芳烃污染土壤中菲、芘的洗脱,洗脱效率最大分别可达84.1%和81.4%,增大了约2倍和17倍。皂角苷可与重金属离子形成水溶性的络合物,从而增强洗脱重金属污染土壤中的Zn^2＋和Cd^2＋,在皂角苷浓度为0.4%时,Zn^2＋、Cd^2＋的洗脱效率分别可达93.0%和79.4%,增大了约75倍和8倍。皂角苷可同时洗脱多环芳烃-重金属复合污染土壤中的菲、芘和Zn^2＋、Cd^2＋,洗脱效率分别达87.6%、83.5%和92.3%、78.6%,重金属的存在略增大了皂角苷对菲、芘等多环芳烃的洗脱效率,但多环芳烃对Zn^2＋、Cd^2＋的洗脱效率没有明显影响。皂角苷可同时增强洗脱复合污染土壤中的多环芳烃和重金属,从而为多环芳烃-重金属复合污染土壤的修复奠定基础。     

Polydopamine Nanoparticles as a New and Highly Selective Biosorbent for the Removal of Copper (II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions

The adsorption and desorption of copper (II) ions from aqueous solutions were investigated using polydopamine (PD) nanoparticles. The nanoscale PD nanoparticles with mean diameter of 75?nm as adsorbent were synthesized from alkaline solution of dopamine and confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The effects of pH (2?C6), adsorbent dosage (0.2?C0.8?g?L^?1), temperature (298?C323?K), initial concentration (20?C100?mg?L^?1), foreign ions (Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Ag⁺), and contact time (0?C360?min) on adsorption of copper ions were investigated through batch experiments. The isotherm adsorption data were well described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum uptake capacity of Cu²⁺ ions onto PD nanoparticles was found to 34.4?mg/g. The kinetic data were fitted well to pseudo-second-order model. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption (the Gibbs free energy, entropy, and enthalpy) were studied.