Adsorption of methylene blue dye onto activated carbons based on agricultural by-products: equilibrium and kinetic studies.

Mixtures of novolac resin and olive stone biomass (20/80 and 40/60 w/w) were cured, pyrolyzed up to 1,000 °C and activated with CO2 under a continuous flow operation (named N20B-cCa and N40B-cCa respectively). Commercial activated charcoal was similarly re-activated with CO2 and used for comparison reasons (AC-a). The characterization of these materials was performed by Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis and their specific surface area was determined according to DIN 66132. The materials were tested for their adsorption abilities at different temperatures (298, 333 K) and initial dye concentrations (0.01-0.35 g/L) using 1 L of methylene blue (MB) solution in 10 g of activated carbon. MB adsorption kinetic was also studied. The FTIR spectra of all activated carbons show absorption peaks which correspond to -OH, -CH, -C-O-C- groups and to aromatic ring. The presence of the absorption peak at about 1,400 cm(-1) for N20B-cCa, N40B-cCa indicates more acidic groups on them compared to the commercial AC-a. The specific surface area of N20B-cCa, N40B-cCa and AC-a has values equal to 352, 342 and 760 m(2)/g respectively. From the applied kinetic models, pseudo-second-order equation could best describe MB adsorption. Consequently, such adsorbents can be used as filters to adsorb dyes from wastewaters.

Production of carbonaceous adsorbents from agricultural by-products and novolac resin under a continuous countercurrent flow type pyrolysis operation.

Carbonaceous adsorbents based on novolac resin (N) and olive stone biomass (B) in a proportion of 20/80 and 40/60 w./w. N/O were produced. The specimens were cured (c) and pyrolyzed/carbonized (C) up to 1000 °C under a continuous countercurrent flow type pyrolysis operation (N20B-cC, N40B-cC). Commercial activated carbon (AC) was used for comparison reasons. Methylene blue adsorption from its aqueous solutions onto the adsorbents and kinetic analysis were investigated. The specific surface area of adsorbents and the gross calorific values (GCV) of cured materials were determined. The results show that N40B-cC presents lower weight loss and shrinkage but higher methylene blue adsorption than N20B-cC. Pseudo-second order mechanism describes better methylene blue adsorption onto all adsorbents. The specific surface area of carbonaceous and the gross calorific values of cured materials follow the order: AC>N20B-cC>N40B-cC and N100-c>N40B-c>N20B-c>B respectively. Olive stone biomass may constitute a suitable precursor for the production of carbonaceous materials.

Synthesis and characterization of hydrolytically degradable copolyester biomaterials based on glycolic acid, sebacic acid and ethylene glycol.

Copolyesters of glycolic acid (G) combined with sebacic acid (S) and ethylene glycol were synthesized in different molar ratios (G: 0-100% and S: 100-0%) and their hydrolytic degradation was studied and correlated with their structures. Based on the FTIR spectra of the homopolyesters and copolyesters and the normalized peak intensity of the I(2918), I(2848) and I(1087) for the corresponding wavenumbers, it is concluded that the I(2918) and the I(2848) are in accordance with the mean number degree of polymerization of ethylene sebacate units and the I(1087) is in accordance with the mean number degree of polymerization of glycolate units. Based on the XRD diffractograms, poly(ethylene sebacate) and poly(glycolic acid) belong to the monoclinic and the orthorhombic crystal system, respectively and both have higher crystallinity than the copolyesters. The experimental data of the hydrolytic degradation were fitted with exponential rise to maximum type functions using two-parameter model and four-parameter model. Three regions can been distinguished for the hydrolytic degradation by decreasing the molar feed ratio of sebacic acid, which are correlated with the changes of crystallinity. Two copolyesters are proposed: first the copolyester with high amount of glycolate units (S10G90) having higher hydrolytic degradation than G100 and second the copolyester with equal amount of glycolate and ethylene sebacate units (S50G50), having lower hydrolytic degradation than G100. These hydrolytically degradable copolyesters are soluble in common organic solvents, opposite to poly(glycolic acid) and could have perspectives for biomedical applications.

Correlation of hydrolytic degradation with structure for copolyesters produced from glycolic and adipic acids.

Copolyesters based on glycolic acid (G) combined with adipic acid (A) and ethylene glycol (E) were synthesized in different percentage of molar ratios (A: 100-50% and G: 100%) and their hydrolytic degradation was studied and correlated with their structures. According to the DSC, the production of polyesters leads to the formation of copolyesters and not to mixtures of homopolyesters. The crystallites in the copolyesters mainly consist of continuous sequences of ethylene adipate structural units. The hydrolytic degradation of the polyesters was followed by their weight loss during hydrolysis and by the FTIR spectra of the initial polyesters compared with that of the degraded polyesters at equilibrium. The region between 1142 and 800 cm(-1) can be utilized to evaluate the extent of degradation of polyesters after their hydrolysis. The absorption bands at 1142, 1077 and 850 cm(-1) due to the amorphous region decrease after hydrolysis, whereas those at 972, 901 and 806 cm(-1) due to the crystalline region increase. The experimental data of the hydrolytic degradation were fitted with exponential rise to maximum type functions using two-parameter model, which describes very well mainly the initial part of the degradation, and four-parameter model (containing two exponential terms), which is appropriate for fitting the hydrolytic degradation on the entire time period (including the equilibrium). Furthermore, the kinetics of the hydrolytic degradation of the polyesters for the initial time period based on both models results to similar values of the rate constant, k. The synthesized copolyesters of glycolic acid combined with adipic acid and ethylene glycol are soluble in many common organic solvents opposite to PGA, leading to modified biodegradable polyesters and therefore they can be easily processed.

Adsorption kinetics of phenol and 3-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions on conventional and novel carbons.

Carbonaceous adsorbents prepared from olive stones biomass and novolac resin, as well as a commercial activated carbon for comparison reasons, have been examined for the removal of phenol and 3-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions. All carbonaceous adsorbents have been characterized by SEM-EDAX analysis and mercury porosimetry. The experimental data were examined according to the following kinetic models: pseudo first order, pseudo second order, Natarajan and Khalaf, Elovich, power function equations and intraparticle diffusion. By plotting the amount of adsorbate (phenol or 3-nitrophenol) adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent b(t), versus the square root of time, four regions can be distinguished (A, B, C and D). By applying all the previously described models it is concluded that: (a) the intraparticle diffusion model is valid for the B and C region, whereas macropore diffusion and mesopore diffusion, respectively, take place. The pore diffusion coefficient, D for each carbonaceous material was calculated and indicated that the adsorption is controlled by diffusion, (b) the power model for the adsorption of phenol on each of the three carbonaceous materials is acceptable only for the C region and (c) the pseudo second order for the adsorption of 3-nitrophenol on each of the three carbonaceous materials is acceptable for the C region.

Structural and optical characterization of pyrolytic carbon derived from novolac resin.

The structural and optical properties of technologically interesting pyrolytic carbons formed from cured novolac resin and cured novolac/biomass composites were studied by X-Ray Diffraction Analysis (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Raman and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Pyrolysis of the cured materials took place at temperatures in the range 400-1000 degrees C. The most important weight loss, shrinkage and structural changes of pyrolyzed composites are observed at temperatures up to 600 degrees C due to the olive stone component. In the same temperature range, the changes in pyrolyzed novolac are smaller. The spectroscopic analysis shows that novolac pyrolyzed up to 900 ( degrees )C has less defects and disorder than the composites. However, above 900 ( degrees )C, pyrolyzed novolac becomes more disordered compared to the pyrolyzed composites. It is concluded that partial replacement of novolac by olive stone in the composite materials leads to the formation of a low cost, good quality product.