Environment
Behnoosh Khataei; Farhad Qaderi; Farzad Mosavat
Abstract
The increase in the number of factories, the industrialization of human life, and the increasing use of industrial paints have caused an increase in dye wastewater and consequent environmental pollution. Discharging wastewater containing the dyes mentioned above, which are often carcinogenic, is a severe ...
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The increase in the number of factories, the industrialization of human life, and the increasing use of industrial paints have caused an increase in dye wastewater and consequent environmental pollution. Discharging wastewater containing the dyes mentioned above, which are often carcinogenic, is a severe threat to living organisms. In this research, a photocatalytic method (as an advanced oxidation method) using zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated to treat the colored wastewater containing methylene blue. This type of nanoparticle is cheap (based on the used synthesis method), abundant and readily available, and low in toxicity. For this purpose, an evaluation of the optimal ratio between zinc acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was carried out. Furthermore, the simultaneous decreasing and increasing effects of independent parameters (pH, irradiation time, methylene blue concentration, zinc acetate to PVP ratio) on the efficiency of the photocatalytic process and kinetic model were evaluated. The results showed that the best pollutant removal efficiency (91.7%) was obtained using the ratio of zinc acetate and polyvinylpyrrolidone equal to 33.67 in 60 minutes of irradiation time. This result shows that the lower ratio of zinc acetate to polyvinylpyrrolidone indicates higher dye removal.
R. Dabiri; E. Amiri Shiraz
Abstract
This paper describes a preliminary study of the adsorption of toxic elements from synthetic wastewater in a batch mode. Clay minerals have been highly considered as inexpensive available adsorbents that adapt with the environment due to a special level and a high potential of adsorption. In the present ...
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This paper describes a preliminary study of the adsorption of toxic elements from synthetic wastewater in a batch mode. Clay minerals have been highly considered as inexpensive available adsorbents that adapt with the environment due to a special level and a high potential of adsorption. In the present research work, low-cost natural minerals of speiolite from the Iliato mine (located in NE Iran) and zeolite from the Aftar mine (located in north of Iran) are used to remove nickel(II), antimony(III), and arsenic(V) from synthetic wastewater. The adsorption experiments are conducted by varying the initial concentrations of the elements, pH values, adsorption times, and adsorbent dosage. The experimental isotherm data is analyzed using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Concerning a higher Langmuir coefficient R2 in nickel and antimony, the mechanism of adsorption of these elements is mono-layer and homogenous. Based on the Freundlich model, adsorption of arsenic is multi-layer and heterogeneous. The kinetic studies show that the Ni, Sb, and As adsorption mechanism is well-described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the adsorption process has an exothermic character and is more feasible with decreasing temperature. Based on the experimental results, it can be concluded that natural sepiolite and zeolite has the potential of application as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of toxic elements from synthetic wastewater.
