Coagulation/flocculation of textile effluent using a natural coagulant extracted from Dillenia indica.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficiency of mucilage extracted from the fruit of Dillenia indica for enhancing coagulation in the treatment of textile effluent. The mucilage extraction was carried out in water at room temperature. The pH, concentration of coagulant FeCl3.6H2O, and concentration of mucilage solution were optimized with star-type central composite design (CCD). We were able to analyze the synergistic effects between the FeCl3.6H2O and mucilage concentrations: the process of coagulation/flocculation (CF) for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was more efficient at a low chemical coagulant concentration (8.00 mg L-1) and a higher natural coagulant (NC) concentration (15.00 mg L-1). This demonstrated the potential of this mucilage to treat textile effluents, with 67.66%% COD removal, 96.86% turbidity removal and 91.12% apparent color reduction. The characterization of the mucilage of Dillenia indica was done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and solid-state cross-polarization magic angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS 13C NMR), and the signals obtained indicated the presence of polysaccharides, which are responsible for enhancing the CF process.

Hydrogen peroxide-assisted photocatalytic degradation of textile wastewater using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

The present work investigated the degradation of a dyeing factory effluent by advanced oxidative process under UV irradiation. TiO2 and ZnO were used as catalysts and the influence of different concentrations of H2O2 added to the system was studied. The catalysts were characterized in terms of crystal structure (X-ray diffraction), textural properties (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller area and pore volume) and point of zero charge, which indicated the semiconductors had a positively charged surface in an acidic medium. After 8 h of irradiation at pH 3.0 and catalyst concentration of 0.0625 g L-1, the effect of H2O2 was evaluated by means of kinetic efficiency (rate constants), absorbance reduction (at 284, 621 e 669 nm), total organic carbon reduction and mineralization (in terms of the formation of ions such as NH4+ and NO3- ). Adding H2O2 to the photocatalytic system significantly increased pollutants' removal, highlighting tests with 1.0 × 10-2 mol L-1, showing higher absorbance reduction and rate constants at 621 and 669 nm for TiO2 and best mineralization rates for ZnO. Ecotoxicity bioassays using Artemia salina L confirmed the treatment efficacy, with effluent lethal concentration (LC50) increasing from 65.68% (in natura) to over 100% after photocatalysis treatment.

Solar photocatalytic degradation of textile effluent with TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 catalysts: assessment of photocatalytic activity and mineralization.

The photocatalytic degradation of textile effluent was investigated using TiO2, ZnO, and Nb2O5 catalysts under solar irradiation. The procedures were carried out at ambient conditions in April 2014, with pH 3.0 and catalyst concentration of 0.250 g L-1. The photocatalytic activity of the oxides was evaluated by means of kinetic efficiency (rate constant and half-life time), chemical oxygen demand reduction, and absorbance reduction at 228, 254, 284, 310, 350, 500, and 660 nm (λmáx). Mineralization in terms of the formation of inorganic ions and toxicity reduction using bioassays with Artemia salina were performed. TiO2 reduced the absorbance at 660 nm (λmax) after 300 min of solar irradiation around 94 and 93%; and 68 and 60% of COD, respectively. ZnO showed lower photocatalytic activity giving 64 and 42% of absorbance and COD reduction, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of Nb2O5 was very close to TiO2-P25. In this sense, Nb2O5 becomes a promising alternative to replace the commercial TiO2-P25. Bioassays confirmed the efficacy of treatment, increasing the lethal concentration of 27.59 (in natura) to 131.95% in the presence of Nb2O5.

Optimization of photocatalytic degradation of biodiesel using TiO2/H2O2 by experimental design.

This study reports on the investigation of the photodegradation of biodiesel (B100) in contact with water using TiO2/H2O2. The TiO2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), pH point of zero charge (pHpzc) and textural analysis. The results of the experiments were fitted to a quadratic polynomial model developed using response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the parameters. Using the three factors, three levels, and the Box-Behnken design of experiment technique, 15 sets of experiments were designed considering the effective ranges of the influential parameters. The responses of those parameters were optimized using computational techniques. After 24h of irradiation under an Hg vapor lamp, removal of 22.0% of the oils and greases (OG) and a 33.54% reduction in the total of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) concentration was observed in the aqueous phase, as determined using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC/FID). The estimate of FAMEs undergo base-catalyzed hydrolysis is at least 3years (1095days) and after photocatalytic treatment using TiO2/H2O2, it was reduced to 33.54% of FAMEs in only 1day.

The use of a natural coagulant (Opuntia ficus-indica) in the removal for organic materials of textile effluents.

The goal of this study was to investigate the activity of the coagulant extracted from the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) in the process of coagulation/flocculation of textile effluents. Preliminary tests of a kaolinite suspension achieved maximum turbidity removal of 95 % using an NaCl extraction solution. Optimization assays were conducted with actual effluents using the response surface methodology (RSM) based on the Box-Behnken experimental design. The responses of the variables FeCl3, dosage, cactus dosage, and pH in the removal of COD and turbidity from both effluents were investigated. The optimum conditions determined for jeans washing laundry effluent were the following: FeCl3 160 mg L(-1), cactus dosage 2.60 mg L(-1), and pH 5.0. For the fabric dyeing effluent, the optimum conditions were the following: FeCl3 640 mg L(-1), cactus dosage 160 mg L(-1), and pH 6.0. Investigation of the effects of the storage time and temperature of the cactus O. ficus-indica showed that coagulation efficiency was not significantly affected for storage at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Toxicity assessment of textile effluents treated by advanced oxidative process (UV/TiO2 and UV/TiO2/H2O2) in the species Artemia salina L.

Textile industry wastes raise a great concern due to their strong coloration and toxicity. The objective of the present work was to characterize the degradation and mineralization of textile effluents by advanced oxidative processes using either TiO(2) or TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) and to monitor the toxicity of the products formed during 6-h irradiation in relation to that of the in natura effluent. The results demonstrated that the TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) association was more efficient in the mineralization of textile effluents than TiO(2), with high mineralized ion concentrations (NH (4) (+) , NO (3) (-) , and SO (4) (2-) ) and significantly decreased organic matter ratios (represented by the chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon). The toxicity of the degradation products after 4-h irradiation to Artemia salina L. was not significant (below 10 %). However, the TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) association produced more toxicity under irradiation than the TiO(2) system, which was attributed to the increased presence of oxidants in the first group. Comparatively, the photogenerated products of both TiO(2) and the TiO(2)/H(2)O(2) association were less toxic than the in natura effluent.