Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol.

Contamination of the food supply from agricultural waste is an increasing concern worldwide. Numerous hazardous chemicals enter the environment from various industrial sources daily. Many of these pollutants, including 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), are water soluble, toxic, and not easily biodegradable. The solar photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DNP was investigated in a solution of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) that was prepared to be an optically clear aqueous solution of nanosized particles of TiO(2). In order to achieve optimal efficiency of the photodegradation, the effects of light intensity and pH were conducted. All experiments were carried out in a batch mode. At a pH of 8, maximum removal of 70% of 2,4-DNP was achieved within 7h of irradiation time. The nearly homogeneous solution of 5.8nm TiO(2) particles, size determined by XDS, were very effective in the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-DNP.

Removal of nickel from aqueous solutions using crab shells.

Partially converted crab shell waste, which contains chitosan, was used to remove nickel from water. The chelating ability of chitosan makes it an excellent adsorbent for removing pollutants. Advantages of chitosan in crab shells include availability, low cost, and high biocompatibility. The metal uptake by partially converted crab shell waste was successful and rapid. The sorption occurred primarily within 5 min. The sorption mechanism appears to be quite complicated and cannot be adequately described by either the Langmuir or Freundlich theories. Various anions, including chloride, bromide, fluoride, acetate, sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate, were found to have a very small effect on the capacity of the crab shells for uptake of nickel. The effect of pH was also found not to be prominent.

Removal of nickel from aqueous solutions by sawdust.

The main parameters influencing Nickel (II) metal sorption on maple sawdust were: initial metal ion concentration, amount of adsorbent, and pH value of solution. The maximum percent metal removal was attained after about 1h. The greatest increase in the rate of adsorption of metal ions on sawdust was observed for pH changes from 2 to 5. An empirical relationship has been obtained to predict the percentage Nickel (II) removal at any time for known values of sorbent and initial sorbate concentration. The experimental results provided evidence for chelation ion exchange as the major adsorption mechanisms for binding metal ions to the sawdust. The adsorbent can be effectively regenerated using 0.1 M strong acid and reused.

Adsorption of chromium from aqueous solutions by maple sawdust.

This paper presents the data for the effect of adsorbent dose, initial sorbate concentration, contact time, and pH on the adsorption of chromium(VI) on maple sawdust. Batch adsorption studies have been carried out. An empirical relationship has been obtained to predict the percentage chromium(VI) removal at any time for known values of sorbent and initial sorbate concentration. Under observed test conditions, the equilibrium adsorption data fits the linear Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The experimental result inferred that chelation ion exchange is one of the major adsorption mechanisms for binding metal ions to the maple sawdust.