Trimellitated sugarcane bagasse: A versatile adsorbent for removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solution. Part II: Batch and continuous adsorption in a bicomponent system.

In the second part of this series of studies, the bicomponent adsorption of safranin-T (ST) and auramine-O (AO) on trimellitated sugarcane bagasse (STA) was evaluated using equimolar dye aqueous solutions at two pH values. Bicomponent batch adsorption was investigated as a function of contact time, solution pH and initial concentration of dyes. Bicomponent kinetic data were fitted by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models and the competitive model of Corsel. Bicomponent equilibrium data were fitted by the real adsorbed solution theory model. The antagonistic interactions between ST and AO in the adsorption systems studied contributed to obtain values of maximum adsorption capacity in mono- (Qmax,mono) and bicomponent (Qmax,multi) lower than unity (Qmax,multi/Qmax,mono at pH 4.5 for ST of 0.75 and AO of 0.37 and at pH 7 for ST of 0.94 and AO of 0.43). Mono- and bicomponent adsorption of dyes in a fixed-bed column was evaluated at pH 4.5. The breakthrough curves were fitted by the Thomas and Bohart-Adams original models. Desorption of ST in a fixed-bed column was studied. The results obtained from the bicomponent batch and continuous adsorption showed that the presence of ST most affected the AO adsorption than the presence of AO affected the ST adsorption.

Synthesis and application of sugarcane bagasse cellulose mixed esters. Part II: Removal of Co2+ and Ni2+ from single spiked aqueous solutions in batch and continuous mode.

Sugarcane bagasse cellulose succinate trimellitate (SBST) was prepared by a one-pot synthesis method. The synthesis of this novel mixed ester was investigated by a 23-factorial design. The parameters investigated were time, temperature, and succinic anhydride mole fraction (χSA). The responses evaluated were the adsorption capacity (qCo2+ and qNi2+), weight gain (wg), and number of carboxylic acid groups (nT,COOH). 13C Multiple Cross-Polarization solid-state NMR spectroscopy, 1H NMR relaxometry, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to elucidate the SBST structure. The best SBST reaction conditions were 100 °C, 660 min, and χSA of 0.2, which yielded SBST with a wg of 57.1%, nT,COOH of 4.48 mmol g-1, and qCo2+ and qNi2+ of 0.900 and 0.963 mmol g-1, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities (Qmax) (pH 5.75, 25 °C) estimated by the Redlich-Peterson model for Co2+ and Ni2+ were 1.16 and 1.29 mmol g-1. The ΔadsH° values for Co2+ and Ni2+ adsorption obtained by isothermal titration calorimetry were 8.03 and 6.94 kJ mol-1. Regeneration and reuse of SBST were investigated and the best conditions applied for fixed-bed column adsorption in five consecutive cycles. SBST was fully desorbed and Qmax values for Co2+ (0.95 mmol g-1) and Ni2+ (1.02 mmol g-1) were estimated using the Bohart-Adams model.

Modeling adsorption of copper(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) metal ions from aqueous solution onto a new carboxylated sugarcane bagasse. Part II: Optimization of monocomponent fixed-bed column adsorption.

In the second part of this series of studies, the monocomponent adsorption of Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ onto STA adsorbent in a fixed-bed column was investigated and optimized using a 22 central composite design. The process variables studied were: initial metal ion concentration and spatial time, and the optimized responses were: adsorption capacity of the bed (Qmax), efficiency of the adsorption process (EAP), and effective use of the bed (H). The higher Qmax for Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ were 1.060, 0.800 and 1.029 mmol/g, respectively. The breakthrough curves were modeled by the original Thomas and Bohart-Adams models. The changes in enthalpy (ΔadsH°) of adsorption of the metal ions onto STA were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The values of ΔadsH° were in the range of 3.0-6.8 kJ/mol, suggesting that the adsorption process involved physisorption. Desorption (Edes) and re-adsorption (Ere-ads) of metal ions from the STA adsorbent were also investigated in batch mode, and the optimum conditions were applied for three cycles of adsorption/desorption in a fixed bed column. For these cycles, the lowest values of Edes and Ere-ads were 95 and 92.3%, respectively, showing that STA is a promising candidate for real applications on a large scale.

New sex attractant composition for the click beetle Agriotes proximus: similarity to the pheromone of Agriotes lineatus.

While testing traps baited with a blend of geranyl octanoate and geranyl butanoate (pheromone components previously identified for Agriotes lineatus, Coleoptera, Elateridae) in Portugal and Bulgaria, large numbers of the closely related Agriotes proximus were captured. In the literature, two different compounds, (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and neryl isovalerate had previously been identified as pheromone components of A. proximus. Subsequent field tests, conducted in several European countries, revealed that A. proximus was weakly attracted to geranyl butanoate on its own, while A. lineatus was weakly attracted to geranyl octanoate on its own. However, the largest catches for both species were observed with a blend of both compounds. No A. proximus was caught in traps baited with the blend of (E,E)-farnesyl acetate and neryl isovalerate at any of the test sites. In electroantennographic studies, antennae of male A. proximus and A. lineatus both gave greater responses to geranyl butanoate than to geranyl octanoate, suggesting that the perception of these two compounds was similar for both species. A 1:1 blend of geranyl octanoate and geranyl butanoate can be used as a bait in traps for the detection and monitoring of both A. lineatus and A. proximus in many European countries.