Selective Separation and Preconcentration of Caffeine from Natural and Pharmaceutical Products using New Polyurethane Foams

Abstract Two polyurethane foam-based sorbents (PUF) were synthesized by imprinting and grafting techniques and examined for selective separation and preconcentration of caffeine (CAF) in some pharmaceutical products and in black tea. Molecularly imprinted PUF was synthesized based on hydrogen-bonding interactions between CAF and alizarin yellow G (AYG) and subsequent polymerization into PUF. The static experiments indicated optimum sorption conditions at pH=6.5 and 5.5 for imprinted PUF (AY-IPUF) and grafted PUF (AY-GPUF), respectively. In the online experiments, the suitable preconcentration time was found to be 40 and 20s for (AY-IPUF) and (AY-GPUF), respectively, at a flow rate of 1.75 mL.min-1. Desorption of CAF has been affected by passing 500 µL of 0.05, 0.01 mol.L−1 HCl eluent onto (AY-IPUF) and (AY-GPUF), respectively. The online methods have provided satisfactory enrichment factors of 8.4 and 10.5 for (AY-IPUF) and (AY-GPUF), respectively. The time consumed for preconcentartion, elution and determination steps was 1.48 and 1.05 min, thus, the throughput was 42 and 57 h-1, for (AY-IPUF) and (AY-GPUF), respectively. The developed sorbents were studied for the determination of CAF in pharmaceutical samples which will be helpful to minimize caffeinism. Finally, in silico bioactivity, ADMET and drug-likeness predictive computational studies of caffeine were also carried out

Emprego do carvão ativado para remoção de atrazina em água de abastecimento público / Using activated carbon for atrazine removal from public water supply

A atrazina é um dos herbicidas mais utilizados no mundo, sendo encontrada em águas superficiais e subterrâneas. Pertence à classe das s-triazinas, possui potencial carcinogênico e apresenta toxicidade como disruptor endócrino. A reconhecida limitação dos processos de tratamento de água, os quais empregam a coagulação química na remoção da atrazina e os efeitos na saúde, motivou este trabalho, considerando a adsorção em carvão ativado como tecnologia alternativa. O estudo experimental consistiu na caracterização física do carvão ativado e nos ensaios de adsorção em águas de diferentes conteúdos orgânicos. Foi possível verificar a capacidade do carvão ativado em remover atrazina, e o mecanismo de adsorção foi influenciado pela variação da qualidade das matrizes de água gerando isotermas com características distintas.

Atrazine is one of the most widely herbicides used in the world, being found in surface water and groundwater. It belongs to the s-triazines class classified as possible carcinogenic potential and toxicity presents as an endocrine disruptor. The acknowledged limitation of the water treatment processes, which employ chemical coagulation in atrazine removal and the risks to health, has motivated this work taking into regards the adsorption of activated carbon as an alternative technology. The experimental study consisted of physical characterization of activated carbon and of adsorption tests in waters of different organic content. It was possible to verify the capacity of activated carbon to remove atrazine, and the adsorption mechanism was influenced by the quality variation of water matrices generating isotherms with different characteristics.

Batch Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Simultaneous Adsorption and Biodegradation of Phenol by Pineapple Peels Immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIB 950.

This study was aimed to investigate the use of pineapple as a cheap, eco-friendly adsorbent and support matrix for the immobilization of microbial cell and for subsequent removal of phenol from waste water. The effects of initial phenol concentration, pH and adsorbent particle size on the simultaneous adsorption-biodegradation (SAB) of phenol were studied. The batch simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation (SAB) of phenol in simulated phenol waste water by pineapple peels immobilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIB 950 has been studied with the use of glass bottles as bioreactors placed in a rotary mechanical shaker for 72 h. The results of the batch equilibrium adsorption-biodegradation studies showed that adsorption-biodegradation capacity decreased with increase in particle size. The equilibrium adsorption-biodegradation data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models of adsorption. The results showed that the equilibrium data for phenol degradation sorbent systems were well fitted to the three adsorption models with Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson adsorption isotherms having the best fit. The adsorption-biodegradation kinetic data obtained at different initial phenol concentrations and pH showed that the adsorption-biodegradation capacity of the pineapple peels immobilized P. aeruginosa generally increased with increase in initial phenol concentration and pH. The kinetic data were analyzed using Lagergren pseudo-first order, pseudo second-order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion rate equations. The rate equations fitting showed that the adsorption-biodegradation kinetic data generally fitted the four rate equations tested from which the rate constants and diffusion rate constants were estimated. However, the Lagergren pseudo first-order rate equation gave the best fit and, thus the process followed first-order rate kinetics. Therefore, pineapple peels being an agricultural waste product have the potential to be used as low-cost adsorbent and support matrix for microbial culture immobilization for the removal of organic pollutant from waste water.

Modeling of drying and adsorption isotherms of the fish feed

The aim of this work was to study the drying curves and equilibrium isotherms of extruded fish feed. The drying curves were determined at air temperatures of 50, 60, 70 and 80°C and airflow velocities of 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 m/s). The equilibrium isotherms of relative humidity of air were obtained between 10 and 80 percent at 30, 40, 50, and 70°C. The experimental data were fitted for non-linear regression by using Statistica® to the models reported in the literature. The results showed that the drying curves and the equilibrium isotherms were significantly influenced by variations of the air temperature in a similar way to solid materials as described in the literature. The statistical results for models of Page and Peleg showed that the fitting of the experimental drying curve and isotherm data were satisfactory.

Nickel adsorption by variable charge soils: effect of pH and ionic strength

The effects of pH and ionic strength (I) on Ni adsorption in variable charge soils were evaluated by laboratory batch experiments. Experimental results fitted the Langmuir model. Maximum adsorption (Ads max) ranged from 260-2818 mg kg-1 (topsoil) to 532-1541 mg kg-1 (subsoil). Nickel affinity (K L) was higher in the subsoil samples (0.022-0.236 L kg-1) than in topsoil (0.003-0.049 L kg-1). Adsorption envelopes showed sharp increase in Ni adsorption (20-90 percent) in the 4.0-6.0 pH range. Nickel adsorption was affected by I and specific adsorption predominated in the 3.0-5.0 pH range, while above pH 5.0, it was adsorbed by electrostatic mechanisms. Negative values of free energy variation (ΔG) and the separation factor K R<1 indicated that Ni adsorption reaction was favorable and occurred spontaneously, especially when pH increase. Chemical and mineralogical soil attributes should be considered as criteria for selecting the areas for disposal of residues containing Ni to minimize the impact on the environment.

Monolitos de cabbón activado a partir de cáscara de coco e impregnación con níquel ccobre / Monolths of actiivated carbon from coconut shell and impregnation with nickel and copper / Monolitos de arbbon ativado a partir de casca de coco e impregnacion com niquel e cobre

Una serie de diferentes monolitos de carbón activado fueron preparados a partir de cáscara de coco por medio de activación química con ácido fosfórico a diferentes concentraciones sin utilizar aglomerantes ni plastificantes. Al monolito que mayor área desarrolló se le impregnó vía húmeda con soluciones de Ni y Cu a diferentes relaciones molares. Las estructuras fueron caracterizadas por la adsorción de N2 a 77 K, y se exploró su morfología por medio de microscopía electrónica de barrido. Los materiales carbonosos obtenidos, níquel-cobre-monolito, fueron analizados por Reducción Térmica Programada (RTP). Los resultados experimentales indicaron que la activación con ácido fosfórico genera una microporosidad, con volúmenes de microporos entre 0,39 y 0,81 cm3g-1 y áreas superficiales entre 703 y 1450 m2g-1, y buenas propiedades mecánicas. Se muestra que tanto el cobre como el níquel se fijan al monolito y se interpretan los resultados de RTP respecto a cuándo se modifica su relación molar.

A series of different monoliths of activated carbon were prepared from coconutshell by means of chemical activation with phosphoric acid at different concentrations without using binders or plastificantes. The monolith that developed the biggest surface area was impregnated by humidic route with solutions of Ni and Cu at diferents molar relations. The structures were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77 K, and the morphology was explored by means of scanning electron microscopy. The carbonaceous materials obtained, Nikel-Copper-Monolithe, were analyzed by Thermal Programmed Reduction (TPR). The experimental results indicated that the activation with the acid generated a microporosity, with micropores volume between 0.40 and 0.81 cm3g-1 and surface areas between 703 and 1450 m2g-1, and a good mechanical properties. It shows that, both the copper and the nickel, are fixed to the monolith and TPR’s results are interpreted when these molar relation are modified.

Uma série de diferentes monolitos de carvão ativado foram preparados a partir de casca de coco por meio de activação química com ácido fosfórico a diferentes concentrações sem utilizar aglomerantes nem plastificantes. Ao monolito que maior área desenvolve se lhe impregno via úmida com soluções de Ni e Cu a deferentes relações molares. As estruturas foram caracterizadas pela adsorção de N2 a 77 K, e se exploro sua morfologia por meio de microscopía eletrônica de varredura. Os materiais carbonosos obtidos Níquel-Cobre-Monolito foram analisados por Redução Térmica Programada (RTP). Os resultados experimentais indicaram que a activação com ácido fosfórico gera uma microporosidad, com volumenes de microporos entre 0,39 e 0,81 cm3g-1 e áreas superficiais entre 703 e 1450 m2g-1, e umas boas propriedades mecânicas. Mostra-se que tanto o cobre como o níquel se fixam ao monolito e se interpretam os resultados de RTP com respeito a quando se modifica sua relação molar.