Interactions at the mild steel acid solution interface in the presence of O-fumaryl-chitosan: Electrochemical and surface studies.

The performance of synthesised O-fumaryl-chitosan (OFC) as corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 1M HCl has been evaluated through various studies. The initial screening by weight loss method revealed the good inhibition efficiency by the inhibitor. Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters have been calculated and discussed. The mode of adsorption is physical in nature and it follows Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Electrochemical measurements supported the inhibition of mild steel by the fumaryl derivative of chitosan. Polarisation studies provided the information that the inhibition is of mixed type. The formation of inhibitor film is assured by surface morphological studies with Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM). The mechanism of inhibition is derived from the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and zero charge potential measurement. The adsorbed film is characterised using FTIR and X-ray diffraction studies (XRD).

Removal of fluoride from aqueous solution using protonated chitosan beads.

In the present study, chitosan in its more usable bead form has been chemically modified by simple protonation and employed as a most promising defluoridating medium. Protonated chitosan beads (PCB) showed a maximum defluoridation capacity (DC) of 1664mgF-/kg whereas raw chitosan beads (CB) possess only 52mgF-/kg. Sorption process was found to be independent of pH and altered in the presence of other co-existing anions. The sorbents were characterized using FTIR and SEM with EDAX analysis. The fluoride sorption on PCB follows both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters, viz., DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees DeltaS degrees and Ea indicate that the nature of fluoride sorption is spontaneous and endothermic. The sorption process follows pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models. 0.1M HCl was identified as the best eluent. The suitability of PCB has been tested with field samples collected from a nearby fluoride-endemic area.

Sorption behaviour of fluoride on carboxylated cross-linked chitosan beads.

Carboxylated cross-linked chitosan beads (CCB) showed a significant defluoridation capacity (DC) of 1385 mgF(-)/kg than the raw chitosan beads (CB) which displayed only 52 mgF(-)/kg. Sorption experiments were performed by varying contact time, pH, presence of co-anions and temperature. The nature and morphology of the sorbent were discussed using FTIR and SEM with EDAX analysis. The stability of the beads in solution was explained in terms of swelling ratio of the beads. The fluoride uptake onto CCB obeys both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the nature of fluoride sorption is spontaneous and endothermic. Sorption kinetics is mainly controlled by pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. 0.1M HCl was identified as the best eluent. The suitability of CCB at field conditions has been tested with field sample collected from a nearby fluoride-endemic area.

Defluoridation of water using magnesia/chitosan composite.

Magnesia (MgO) is a well-known adsorbent showing extremely high defluoridation capacity (DC). In order to over come the limitations of MgO for field applications, an attempt has been made to modify magnesia with abundant biomaterial chitosan to form magnesia/chitosan (MgOC) composite in a usable form and its merits over conventional magnesia and raw chitosan is established. Removal of fluoride from aqueous solution with MgO and MgOC composite was studied with batch equilibrium experiments. At equilibrium, MgOC composite has a DC of 4440 mg F(-)/kg while for magnesia it is only 2175 mg F(-)/kg. The physicochemical properties of the synthesised MgOC composite were analyzed with FTIR and SEM with EDAX studies. The equilibrium data were fitted with isotherm and kinetic models. Thermodynamic parameters viz, Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees and DeltaS degrees were calculated to understand the nature of sorption. Field studies were carried out to find the suitability of these sorbents at field conditions.

Defluoridation chemistry of synthetic hydroxyapatite at nano scale: equilibrium and kinetic studies.

This study describes the advantages of nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp), a cost effective sorbent for fluoride removal. n-HAp possesses a maximum defluoridation capacity [DC] of 1845 mg F(-)/kg which is comparable with that of activated alumina, a defluoridation agent commonly used in the indigenous defluoridation technology. A new mechanism of fluoride removal by n-HAp was proposed in which it is established that this material removes fluoride by both ion-exchange and adsorption process. The n-HAp and fluoride-sorbed n-HAp were characterized using XRD, FTIR and TEM studies. The fluoride sorption was reasonably explained with Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms. Thermodynamic parameters such as DeltaG degrees , DeltaH degrees , DeltaS degrees and Ea were calculated in order to understand the nature of sorption process. The sorption process was found to be controlled by pseudo-second-order and pore diffusion models. Field studies were carried out with the fluoride containing water sample collected from a nearby fluoride endemic area in order to test the suitability of n-HAp material as a defluoridating agent at field condition.

Enhanced fluoride sorption by mechanochemically activated kaolinites.

Kaolinite clay obtained from the mines was processed and studied for its fluoride sorption capacity. The surface area of the clay mineral was increased from 15.11 m(2)/g (raw) to 32.43 m(2)/g (activated) by mechanochemical activation. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to optimize various equilibrating conditions like the effect of contact time, dosage, pH for both raw and micronized kaolinites (RK and MK). The effect of other interfering anions on the defluoridation capacity (DC) of the sorbents was studied. Sorption of fluoride by the sorbents was observed over a wide pH range of 3-11. The studies revealed there is an enhanced fluoride sorption on MK. FTIR and XRD were used for the characterization of the sorbent. The surface morphology of the clay material was observed using SEM. The adsorption of fluoride was studied at three different temperatures, viz., 303, 313 and 323 K. The sorption data obtained at optimized conditions were subjected to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Sorption intensity (1/n) (0.770-0.810) has been evaluated using Freundlich isotherm, whereas the values of sorption capacity Q(0) (0.609, 0.714 and 0.782 mg/g) and binding energy b (0.158, 0.145 and 0.133 L/mg) at three different temperatures have been estimated using Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption process was found to be controlled by both Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the sorption of fluoride on MK is endothermic and a spontaneous process. The kinetic studies indicate that the sorption of fluoride on MK follows pseudo-first-order and intraparticle diffusion models.