Synthesis of nickel sulfide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon as a novel adsorbent for the competitive removal of Methylene blue and Safranin-O.

Nickel sulfide nanoparticle-loaded activated carbon (NiS-NP-AC) were synthesized as a novel adsorbent for simultaneous and rapid adsorption of Methylene blue (MB) and Safranin-O (SO), as most together compounds in wastewater. NiS-NP-AC was characterized using different techniques such as UV-visible, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The surface area of the adsorbent was found to be very high (1018m(2)/g according BET). By using central composite design (CCD), the effects of variables such as pH, adsorbent dosage, MB concentration, SO concentration and contact time on binary dyes removal were examined and optimized values were found to be 8.1, 0.022g, 17.8mg/L, and 5mg/L and 5.46min, respectively. The very short time required for the dyes removal makes this novel adsorbent as a promising tool for wastewater treatment applications. Different models were applied to analyze experimental isotherm data. Modified-extended Langmuir model showed good fit to equilibrium data with maximum adsorption capacity at 0.022g of adsorbent. An empirical extension of competitive modified-extended Langmuir model was proposed to predict the simultaneous adsorption behavior of MB and SO. Kinetic models were applied to fit the experimental data at various adsorbent dosages and initial dyes concentrations. It was seen that pseudo-second-order equation is suitable to fit the experimental data. Individual removalof each dye was also studied.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate coated alumina modified with a new Schiff's base as a uranyl ion selective adsorbent.

A simple and selective method was used for the preconcentration and determination of uranium(VI) by solid-phase extraction (SPE). In this method, a column of alumina modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a new Schiff's base ligand was prepared for the preconcentration of trace uranyl(VI) from water samples. The uranium(VI) was completely eluted with HCl 2M and determined by a spectrophotometeric method with Arsenazo(III). The preconcentration steps were studied with regard to experimental parameters such as amount of extractant, type, volume and concentration of eluent, pH, flow rate of sample source and tolerance limit of diverse ions on the recovery of uranyl ion. A preconcentration factor more than 200 was achieved and the average recovery of uranyl(VI) was 99.5%. The relative standard deviation was 1.1% for 10 replicate determinations of uranyl(VI) ion in a solution with a concentration of 5 µg mL(-1). This method was successfully used for the determination of spiked uranium in natural water samples.

Occurrence of plant parasitic nematodes (Tylenchina) in sugar beet fields in Fars province, Iran.

On a survey of plant parasitic nematode fauna, belonging to the suborder Tylenchina, about 110 soil and root samples were collected from different sugar beet field in fars Province in Iran. The samples were washed and the nematodes were extracted by Centrifugal Flotation Technique according to the modified method by De Grisse, 1969. They were fixed and transferred to glycerine, then permanent slides were mounted. Morphological and morphometrical characters of collected species were carefully studied and the characters were compared with the original descriptions and differences were discussed. In this study 18 species belonging to 11 different genera of subordes Tylenchina were identified as follows. Boleodorus thylactus, Ditylenchus destructor, D. dipsaci Geocenamus brevidens, G. rugosus, Helicotylenchus digonicus, H. pseudorobustus, H. vulgaris, Heterodera filipjevi, H. schachtii, Pratylenchus neglectus, P. thornei, Psilenchus hilarulus, P. hilarus, Stictylus mucronatus, Tylenchorhynchus ventrosinatus, Tylenchus davainei and Zygotylenchus guevarai. The species of the genera Ditylenchus, Heterodera, Pratylenchus and Psilenchus were comparatively more distributed than the others. This investigation revealed that sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachti) was found already in most sugar beet fields in this Province. Fathabod, Marvdasht and Tasuj-kwar were the most infested areas. Cysts collected from 100 gr. Of soil samples were 120 to 121 in number and the eggs and second stage larvae in each gr. of soil were 104.1 to 104.5 respectively.