Batch adsorption of cadmium ions from aqueous solution by means of olive cake.

The use of natural adsorbent such as olive cake to replace expensive imported synthetic adsorbent is particularly appropriate for developing countries such as Jordan. In this study, batch adsorption experiments were carried out for the removal of cadmium ions from its aqueous solution using olive cake as adsorbent. Parameters effects such as temperature, pH and adsorbent dose on the adsorption process were studied. The adsorbent used in this study exhibited as good sorption at approximately pH 6 at temperatures 28, 35 and 45 degrees C. The removal efficiency was found to be 66% at pH 6 and temperature 28 degrees C. The equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to calculate isotherm constants. The experimental results were in a good agreement with these models. Results show that when an increasing in temperature from 28 to 45 degrees C, the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) is decreased from 65.4 to 44.4 mg/g and Freundlich constant (Kf) decreased from 19.9 to 15.7. The thermodynamic parameters for the adsorption process data were evaluated using Langmuir isotherm. The free energy change (DeltaG degrees) and the enthalpy change (DeltaH degrees) showed that the process was feasible and exothermic, respectively. The dynamic data fitted to the first order, Lagergren-first order and pseudo second-order kinetic models. The experimental results indicated that the pseudo second-order reaction model provided the best description for these data with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. The adsorption rate constant was calculated as 8.4x10(-3) g mg(-1) min(-1) at 28 degrees C.

The application of high frequency ultrasound waves to remove ammonia from simulated industrial wastewater.

This article aims at applying the ultrasound technique in the field of clean technology to protect environment. The principle of ultrasound was conducted here to remove and recover ammonia from industrial wastewater. Three different concentrations of ammonia namely 5%, 15% and 25% (vol.%) were used to study the efficiency of removing ammonia from water. These concentrations are exactly similar to what may be found in wastewater resulting from strippers at petroleum refinery. High ultrasound frequency device with 2.4 and 1.7 MHz was conducted to study the effect of waves on the removal of ammonia. It was found that the ultrasound has the ability to remove ammonia with 5% concentration to meet the local standard of treated wastewater within less than 2 h for 0.080 L solution. It was also found that as the concentration of the ammonia increases the removing of ammonia within 2 h decreases, still the concentration of the ammonia meets the standard of the treated wastewater. The ability of the ultrasound to remove the ammonia failed to produce any mist when the height of the liquid solution increased, namely when the height reached (0.0337 m). This is equivalent to liquid volume of 0.150 L. It means that the device capacity to remove ammonia has certain limitations based on liquid heights. The best condition for ammonia removal was obtained at 5% concentration and 0.080 L liquid volume (equivalent to 0.0165 m).