Highly porous carboxylated activated carbon from jute stick for removal of Pb2+ from aqueous solution

Comparative study on the impact of physicochemical characteristics of the activated carbons derived from biochar/hydrochar on the adsorption performances

This research presents a comparative study on the characteristics of the activated carbon (AC) produced from biomass-derived hydrochar (HC) and biochar (BC) and how their physicochemical features affect their performance in organic pollutant remediation. Using a suite of characterization techniques, including BET, SEM, XRD, Raman Spectroscopy, elemental composition, and FTIR, it was determined that HC-derived AC (HAC) exhibited higher oxidation, greater porosity, and more pronounced amorphous structures compared to BC-derived AC (BAC). The HC, BC, HAC, and BAC were also assessed as their oxygenated functional groups (OFGs) and aromatic compounds using a semi-quantitative analysis technique. Notably, HC and HAC displayed higher reactivity, while BC and BAC showed greater aromaticity. Adsorption tests for methylene blue (MB) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) revealed that under optimal conditions (contact time: 170 min, MB and CIP concentrations: 400 mg/L, and temperature: 25 °C), HAC achieved superior adsorption capacities (1261.519 mg/g for MB at pH: 8.5 and 1132.86 mg/g for CIP at pH: 5) compared to BAC (1094.704 mg/g for MB at pH: 10 and 838.492 mg/g for CIP at pH: 5). The adsorption processes for MB and CIP were found endothermic and spontaneous, mainly driven by electrostatic attraction, H-bonding, hydrophobic, n-π, and π-π interactions. Furthermore, the reusability study demonstrated high pollutant removal efficiency for HAC and BAC even after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles. This research underscores the superiority of HC as feedstock for producing AC over BC, and it emphasizes the potential of HAC and BAC as cost-effective and reusable adsorbents for enhancing wastewater treatment efficacy.

Protocol for the removal of polyvinyl chloride microplastics from water using activated jute stick charcoal

We present a protocol to remove polyvinyl chloride-based microplastics (MPs) from aquatic environments using jute stick activated charcoal (JSAC) as an adsorbent. We describe steps for preparing JSAC by pyrolyzing jute sticks at high temperatures without oxygen, followed by chemical activation with HCl. We also detail the procedures for the post-functionalization of JSAC and for the collection, processing, and measurement of MPs. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Alom et al.1.

Removal of microplastics from aqueous media using activated jute stick charcoal

Microplastics (MPs), which are repositories of various pollutants, have significant effects on the people and the environment. Therefore, there is an urgent need for efficient and eco-friendly techniques to eliminate microplastics from water-based environments. This study introduces a new method for producing jute stick-activated charcoal (JSAC) by placing jute sticks on high-temperature pyrolysis without oxygen, followed by chemical activation with HCl. This process greatly enhances the adsorption capacity of JSAC for polyvinylchloride-based microplastics (PVC-MPs). JSAC was characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM studies both before and after adsorption. The study investigated the influence of pH, adsorbent quantity, and contact time on the optimization of the JSAC process. The PVC-MPs exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 94.12 % for the target MPs (5 g L-1) within 120 min when 10 g L-1 of JSAC was added at pH 7. This work also examined adsorption rate and various isotherm models. Adsorption kinetics analysis reveals electrostatic, hydrogen bond, π-π, and hydrophobic interactions are the combined forces responsible for MPs adsorption onto JSAC. However, the decrease in hydrophobicity in acidic or basic media led to a decrease in adsorption. The isotherm analysis was conducted using the Langmuir isotherm model, and predicted the maximum adsorption capacity of PVC-MPs to be 4.4668 mg/g. Furthermore, by employing density functional theory, the interaction energy after PVC-MP adsorption was calculated to be -269 kcal/mol, demonstrating robust adsorption and agreement with the experimental findings. Due to its large surface area and porous structure containing many functional groups, JSAC can potentially be used to treat MP contamination in water.

Advancements in Olive-derived Carbon: Preparation Methods and Sustainable Applications

In the realm of material science, carbon materials, especially olive-derived carbon (ODC), have become vital due to their sustainability and diverse properties. This review examines the sustainable extraction and use of ODC, a carbohydrate-rich by-product of olive biomass. We focus on innovative preparation techniques like pyrolysis, which are crucial forenhancing ODC's microstructure and surface properties. Variables such as activating agents, impregnation ratios, and pyrolysis conditions significantly influence these properties. ODC's high specific surface area renders it invaluable for applications in energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors) and environmental sectors (water purification, hydrogen storage). Its versatility and accessibility underscore its potential for broad industrial use, makingit as a key element in sustainable development. This review provides a detailed analysis of ODC preparation methodologies, its various applications, and its role in advancing sustainable energy solutions. We highlight the novelty of ODC research and its impact on future studies, establishing this review as a crucial resource for researchers and practitioners in sustainable carbon materials. As global focus shifts towards eco-friendly solutions, ODC emerges as a critical component in shaping a sustainable, innovation-driven future.

Adsorptive detoxification of Cd2+ and Pb2+ from wastewater using MWCNTs functionalized with -di-(2-ethyl hexyl phosphoric acid) and bis-(2,4,4-trimethyl pentyl) phosphonic acid

Selective and rapid determination of procedure for Cd2+ and Pb2+ samples using MWCNT surfaces can be modified by loading ligands such as D2EHPA and Cyanex 272 which is described. The adsorbent was modified with D2EHPA and Cyanex 272. Effect of pH, amount of adsorbent, contact time for adsorption, and the optimum eluent for the quantitative recovery of Cd2+ and Pb2+ were investigated and the subsequent determination by FAAS. The adsorption was found to be mainly due to the chemical interactions between the metal ions and functional groups -COO- and -OH which were characterized by FT-IR. The adsorption of metal occurs at pH 4.5 with 500 mg of MWCNTs. The enrichment factor was 40 and 30. The detection limit was 0.03 and 0.05 μg L-1. The quantitative recovery of metal ion used 1 mol L-1 HNO3. The thermodynamic parameter of Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm revealed that the adsorption of free energy (ΔG) was spontaneous and the monolayer adsorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ was mainly on the surfaces. The adsorbent performance of R2 in the range of 0.93-0.99 and also the identified adsorption efficiency of Cd2+ and Pb2+ are linear or non-linear curves respectively. The proposed method was applied to heavy metals from environmental samples.

Low-temperature aerobic carbonization and activation of cellulosic materials for Pb2+ removal in water source

Targeting the removal of Pb²⁺ in wastewater, cellulosic materials were carbonized in an aerobic environment and activated via ion exchange. The maximum adsorption capacity reached 243.5 mg/g on an MCC-derived adsorbent activated with sodium acetate. The modified porous properties improved the adsorption capacity. The capacity could be completely recovered five times through elution with EDTA. Because of the negative effects of Ni, Mg, and Ca elements, the adsorption capacities of activated carbonized natural materials were lower than that of pure cellulose. N₂ adsorption measurement showed that the adsorbent had a large specific surface area as well as abundant micropores and 4-nm-sized mesopores. FTIR and surface potential results proved that carboxyl group was generated in the aerobic carbonization, and was deprotonated during ion exchange. This adsorbent consisted of C-C bonds as the building blocks and hydrophilic groups on the surface. XPS results demonstrated that the Pb 4f binding energies were reduced by 0.7-0.8 eV due to the interaction between Pb²⁺ and the activated adsorbent, indicating that the carboxylate groups bonded with Pb²⁺ through coordination interactions. Pseudo-second-order and Elovich kinetic models were well fitted with the adsorption processes on the pristine and activated carbonized adsorbents, indicative of chemisorption on heterogeneous surfaces. The Freundlich expression agreed well with the data measured, and the pristine and activated adsorbents had weak and strong affinities for Pb²⁺, respectively. The Pb²⁺ adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous, and heat release determined the spontaneity. The adsorption capacity is attributed to the carboxylate groups and pores generated in the aerobic oxidation and ion exchange procedures.

Removal of halides from drinking water: technological achievements in the past ten years and research needs

Disinfection is an essential process for drinking water supplies resulting in the formation of unintended disinfection by-products (DBPs), many of which are potentially toxic and are known as the possible or probable human carcinogens. As of now, 100⁺ DBPs were characterized while about 600⁺ others can be formed in the supply water. To protect the human health, many regulatory agencies have set the guideline values for several DBPs. Removal of halide ions and natural organic matter prior to disinfection is an important step to reduce DBPs, and the associated exposure and risks. To date, many publications have reported various methods for halide removal from drinking water. The most review about halide removal technologies, associated challenges, and future research needs was published in 2012. Since then, a number of studies have been published on different methods of halide removal techniques. This paper aims to review the state of research on halide removal techniques focusing on the development during the past 10 years (2012-2021). The techniques were clustered into six major groups: adsorption, ion exchange, coagulation, advanced oxidation, membrane separation, and combined techniques. The progress on these groups of technologies, their advantages, and limitations were examined, and the future research directions to produce the safe drinking water were identified.

Removal of lead ions (Pb2+) from water and wastewater: a review on the low-cost adsorbents

The presence of lead compounds in the environment is an issue. In particular, supply water consumption has been reported to be a significant source of human exposure to lead compounds, which can pose an elevated risk to humans. Due to its toxicity, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have classified lead (Pb) and its compounds as probable human carcinogens. The European Community Directive and World Health Organization have set the maximum acceptable lead limits in tap water as 10 µg/L. The USEPA has a guideline value of 15 µg/L in drinking water. Removal of lead ions from water and wastewater is of great importance from regulatory and health perspectives. To date, several hundred publications have been reported on the removal of lead ions from an aqueous solution. This study reviewed the research findings on the low-cost removal of lead ions using different types of adsorbents. The research achievements to date and the limitations were investigated. Different types of adsorbents were compared with respect to adsorption capacity, removal performances, sorbent dose, optimum pH, temperature, initial concentration, and contact time. The best adsorbents and the scopes of improvements were identified. The adsorption capacity of natural materials, industrial byproducts, agricultural waste, forest waste, and biotechnology-based adsorbents were in the ranges of 0.8-333.3 mg/g, 2.5-524.0 mg/g, 0.7-2079 mg/g, 0.4-769.2 mg/g, and 7.6-526.0 mg/g, respectively. The removal efficiency for these adsorbents was in the range of 13.6-100%. Future research to improve these adsorbents might assist in developing low-cost adsorbents for mass-scale applications.

Preparation of Highly Stable and Electrochemically Active Three-dimensional Interconnected Graphene Frameworks from Jute Sticks

Over the past few years, the environmentally friendly synthesis of nanomaterials, including graphene using green chemistry, has attracted tremendous attention due to its easy handling, low cost, and biocompatibility. Here we demonstrate a facile and efficient green synthesis route for producing highly stable and electrochemically active three-dimensional interconnected graphene frameworks (3DIGF) from jute sticks. Initially, jute sticks derived three-dimensional amorphous activated carbon nanosheets (3DAACNs) were prepared at low temperatures (i.e., 850 °C) in an inert environment. The resultant 3DAACNs were then heat treated at a high temperature (i.e., 2700 °C) under an inert environment, resulting in 3DIGF. The prepared carbonaceous materials were fully characterized, and various experimental techniques confirmed the preparation of 3DIGF. The prepared 3DIGF shows a highly stable nature in thermal and chemical environments and demonstrates a highly dynamic nature for the electrooxidation of sulfide. This study could be considered a vital contribution towards the economic and simple approach for preparing 3DIGF from biomass.

Date-Leaf Carbon Particles for Green Enhanced Oil Recovery

Green enhanced oil recovery (GEOR) is an environmentally friendly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process involving the injection of green fluids to improve macroscopic and microscopic sweep efficiencies while boosting tertiary oil production. Carbon nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotube (CNT), and carbon dots have gained interest for their superior ability to increase oil recovery. These particles have been successfully tested in EOR, although they are expensive and do not extend to GEOR. In addition, the application of carbon particles in the GEOR method is not well understood yet, requiring thorough documentation. The goals of this work are to develop carbon nanoparticles from biomass and explore their role in GEOR. The carbon nanoparticles were prepared from date leaves, which are inexpensive biomass, through pyrolysis and ball-milling methods. The synthesized carbon nanomaterials were characterized using the standard process. Three formulations of functionalized and non-functionalized date-leaf carbon nanoparticle (DLCNP) solutions were chosen for core floods based on phase behavior and interfacial tension (IFT) properties to examine their potential for smart water and green chemical flooding. The carboxylated DLCNP was mixed with distilled water in the first formulation to be tested for smart water flood in the sandstone core. After water flooding, this formulation recovered 9% incremental oil of the oil initially in place. In contrast, non-functionalized DLCNP formulated with (the biodegradable) surfactant alkyl polyglycoside and NaCl produced 18% more tertiary oil than the CNT. This work thus provides new green chemical agents and formulations for EOR applications so that oil can be produced more economically and sustainably.

Model-based Application for Adsorption of Lead (II) from Aqueous Solution using Low-cost Jute Stick Derived Activated Carbon

Background:

Removal of lead (II) ions from supply water using an inexpensive adsorbent is essential. It is recommended that low-cost adsorbents are developed to effectively remove lead (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The aim of the study is to develop and validate models for predicting the performance of carboxylated jute stick derived activated carbon (JSAC-COOH) in removing lead (II) ions from aqueous solution, which can assist the water supply authorities in supplying lead (II) free drinking water to the communities at a low-cost.

Methods:

Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted following the statistical “Design of Experiments” through varying the factors affecting the performance of JSAC-COOH in removing lead (II) ions. The performance of JSACCOOH was investigated for different concentrations of lead (II) ions (range: 50 - 500 mg/L) at variable experimental conditions (temperature: 15°C and 27°C; pH: 4.0 and 7.0) and time (1, 10, 30 and 60 min). Several models (Linear and non-linear) were investigated and validated for predicting the concentrations of lead (II) ions in aqueous solution.

Results:

The prepared JSAC-COOH had a surface area of 615.3 m2 /g. In 60 min, up to 99.8% removal of lead (II) ions was achieved. Few models showed very good to excellent predictive capabilities with coefficients of determination in the range of 0.85–0.95. The model validation experiments showed the correlation coefficients in the range of 0.84 – 0.98.

Conclusion:

The models have the capabilities to reasonably predict the final concentrations of lead (II) ions, which can be used in controlling the effluent lead (II) ion concentrations. The proposed adsorbent is likely to be low-cost as it was developed using the commonly available agricultural byproduct.

Mesoporous activated carbon as a green adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals and Congo red: Characterization, adsorption kinetics, and isotherm studies

In this study, an effective and green adsorbent was prepared by the self- activation of kenaf fiber and then the kenaf-based activated carbon (KAC) was applied for the removal of lead Pb(II), copper Cu(II), and Congo red (CR) dye from an aqueous solution by the process of adsorption. The surface morphology of mesoporous adsorbent was characterized. The KAC showed good capacity of adsorption of as Pb(II), Cu(II), and anionic dye CR in very short period of agitation. The adsorbent efficiency of metal ions and dye was estimated by varying the adsorbent dose, pH, contact time, initial metals and dye concentration, and temperature. Optimum adsorption of metal ions and CR dye was observed at pH 6, and at pH 4 at 120 min, respectively. The adsorption isotherm was described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. The green adsorbent followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with correlation coefficients R² value >0.99. The increase in adsorption temperature enhanced the adsorption efficiency for both heavy metals and dye. The KAC showed no significant loss of the adsorption capacity after 3 cycles of reuse.

Preparation, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Anticorrosion Performance of Submicron/Nanocarbon from Jute Sticks

Jute stick, one of the most commonly and abundantly available agricultural waste product, was converted to a value-added submicron/nano jute carbon by using pyrolysis and high-energy ball milling techniques. The submicron/nano jute carbon was characterized using FE-SEM, TEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The anticorrosive performance of the submicron/nano jute carbon was investigated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and salt spray techniques, on mild steel plates coated with a mixture of epoxy resin and the submicron/nano jute carbon. The electrochemical impedance of the steel coated with the composite coating was two orders of magnitudes higher than that of the specimen coated with neat epoxy. Consequently, the corrosion rate of specimens coated with composite coating was 13-20 times higher than that of steel coated with neat epoxy coating. The salt spray results also indicate an improvement in the corrosion resistance performance of the composite coating compared to the neat epoxy. The uniform distribution of the submicron/nano jute carbon particles in the epoxy resin improved the denseness of the composite coating by acting as a barrier against the diffusion of chloride, moisture, and oxygen, thus, improving the corrosion resistance of the developed coating.

High-sensitive sensor for the simultaneous determination of phenolics based on multi-walled carbon nanotube/NiCoAl hydrotalcite electrode material

The ternary NiCoAl hydrotalcite (NiCoAl-LDH) was combined with carboxylic multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) to fabricate a novel electrochemical sensor for simultaneously determining the co-existing trace phenolic substances. The morphology, structure, and electrochemical behavior of the as-prepared materials were characterized by various techniques. Benefitting from the great conductivity of MWCNT and high electrocatalytic activity of NiCoAl-LDH for phenolic substances, the advanced MWCNT/NiCoAl-LDH sensor presented a fast response, high sensitivity, excellent stability, and satisfactory replicability. The sensor offered good linear responses in the ranges1.50~600 μM to hydroquinone (HQ), 5.00~1.03 × 10³ μM to catechol (CC), and 6.00 × 10^-2~250 μM to bisphenol A (BPA). The detection limits of HQ, CC, and BPA were 0.4, 0.8, and 6. × 10^-3 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. In environmental water, the sensor achieved satisfactory recoveries for the simultaneous detection of HQ (98.6~101%), CC (98.0~101%), and BPA (97.5~101%), with relative standard deviations less than 4.4%.

Present Status and Future Prospects of Jute in Nanotechnology: A Review

Nanotechnology has transformed the world with its diverse applications, ranging from industrial developments to impacting our daily lives. It has multiple applications throughout financial sectors and enables the development of facilitating scientific endeavors with extensive commercial potentials. Nanomaterials, especially the ones which have shown biomedical and other health-related properties, have added new dimensions to the field of nanotechnology. Recently, the use of bioresources in nanotechnology has gained significant attention from the scientific community due to its 100 % eco-friendly features, availability, and low costs. In this context, jute offers a considerable potential. Globally, its plant produces the second most common natural cellulose fibers and a large amount of jute sticks as a byproduct. The main chemical compositions of jute fibers and sticks, which have a trace amount of ash content, are cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. This makes jute as an ideal source of pure nanocellulose, nano-lignin, and nanocarbon preparation. It has also been used as a source in the evolution of nanomaterials used in various applications. In addition, hemicellulose and lignin, which are extractable from jute fibers and sticks, could be utilized as a reductant/stabilizer for preparing other nanomaterials. This review highlights the status and prospects of jute in nanotechnology. Different research areas in which jute can be applied, such as in nanocellulose preparation, as scaffolds for other nanomaterials, catalysis, carbon preparation, life sciences, coatings, polymers, energy storage, drug delivery, fertilizer delivery, electrochemistry, reductant, and stabilizer for synthesizing other nanomaterials, petroleum industry, paper industry, polymeric nanocomposites, sensors, coatings, and electronics, have been summarized in detail. We hope that these prospects will serve as a precursor of jute-based nanotechnology research in the future.

A Review on Heavy Metal Ions and Containing Dyes Removal Through Graphene Oxide-Based Adsorption Strategies for Textile Wastewater Treatment

Textile wastewater heavy metal pollution has become a severe environmental problem worldwide. Metal ion inclusion in a dye molecule exhibits a bathochromic shift producing deeper but duller shades, which provides excellent colouration. The ejection of a massive volume of wastewater containing heavy metal ions such as Cr (VI), Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) and metal-containing dyes are an unavoidable consequence because the textile industry consumes large quantities of water and all these chemicals cannot be combined entirely with fibres during the dyeing process. These high concentrations of chemicals in effluents interfere with the natural water resources, cause severe toxicological implications on the environment with a dramatic impact on human health. This article reviewed the various metal-containing dye types and their heavy metal ions pollution from entryway to the wastewater, which then briefly explored the effects on human health and the environment. Graphene-based absorbers, specially graphene oxide (GO) benefits from an ordered structured, high specific surface area, and flexible surface functionalization options, which are indispensable to realize a high performance of heavy metal ion removal. These exceptional adsorption properties of graphene-based materials support a position of ubiquity in our everyday lives. The collective representation of the textile wastewater's effective remediation methods is discussed and focused on the GO-based adsorption methods. Understanding the critical impact regarding the GO-based materials established adsorption portfolio for heavy metal ions removal are also discussed. Various heavy-metal ions and their pollutant effect, ways to remove such heavy metal ions and role of graphene-based adsorbent including their demand, perspective, limitation, and relative scopes are discussed elaborately in the review.

Preparation and Utilization of Jute-Derived Carbon: A Short Review

This article summarizes the preparation and applications of carbon derived from jute sticks and fibers that are low-cost, widely available, renewable, and environmentally friendly. Both the fibers and sticks are considered ideal candidates of carbon preparation because they are composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin, and contain negligible ash content. Various carbon preparation methods including simple pyrolysis, pyrolysis with chemical and physical activations are discussed. The impacts of several parameters including types of activating agents, impregnation ratio, and temperature on their morphology, surface area, pore size, crystallinity, and surface functional groups are also emphasized. Various treatments to endow functionalization for increasing the practical applicability, such as chemical, physical, and physico-chemical methods, are discussed. In addition, applications of jute-derived carbon in various practical areas, including energy storage, water treatment, and sensors, are also highlighted in this report. Due to the porous fine structure and a large specific surface area, the jute-derived carbon could be considered as a powerful candidate material for various industrial applications. Finally, possible future prospects of jute-derived carbon for various applications are pointed out.