Comparative kinetics and thermodynamic studies of fluoride adsorption by two novel synthesized biopolymer composites

Comprehensive life cycle assessment of NH2-functionalized magnetic graphene oxide for mercury removal: Carbon emissions and economic evaluation

Heavy metals contamination critically affects human health and ecosystems, necessitating pioneering approaches to diminish their adverse impacts. Hence, this study synthesized aminated magnetic graphene oxide (mGO-NH2) for the removal of mercury (Hg) from aqueous solutions. Although functionalized GO is an emerging technology at the early stages of development, its synthesis and application require special attention to the eco-environmental assessment. Therefore, the life cycle assessment and life cycle cost of mGO-NH2 were investigated from the cradle-to-gate approach for the removal of 1 kg Hg. The adsorption process was optimized based on pH, Hg concentration, adsorbent dose, and contact time at 6.48, 40 mg/l, 150 mg/l, and 35 min, respectively, resulting in an adsorption capacity of 184.17 mg/g. Human carcinogenic toxicity with a 40.42% contribution was the main environmental impact, relating to electricity (35.76%) and ethylenediamine (31.07%) usage. The endpoint method also revealed the pivotal effect of the mGO-NH2 synthesis on human health (90.52%). The most energy demand was supplied by natural gas and crude oil accounting for 70.8% and 22.1%, respectively. A 99.02% CO2 emission originated from fossil fuels consumption based on the greenhouse gas protocol (GGP). The cost of mGO-NH2 was about $143.7/kg with a net present value of $21064.8 per kg Hg removal for a 20-year lifetime. Considering the significant role of material cost (>70%), the utilization of industrial-grade raw materials is recommended to achieve a low-cost adsorbent. This study demonstrated that besides the appropriate performance of mGO-NH2 for Hg removal, it is essential that further studies evaluate eco-friendly approaches to decrease the adverse impacts of this emerging product.

Enhanced Adsorptive Removal of Tetracycline by Phosphomolybdic Acid-Modified Low-Temperature Sludge Biochar

Increasing the adsorption capacity and reducing the energy consumption of sludge biochar during preparation is important. In this study, a new modification method was developed to prepare phosphomolybdic acid-modified sludge biochar through the low-temperature pyrolysis of sewage sludge using phosphomolybdic acid as a modifier. Tetracycline was used to assess the adsorption performance of sludge biochar, and phosphomolybdic acid-modified sludge biochar was prepared at different temperatures. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of sludge biochar improved from 84.49 to 120.86 mg/g through modification with phosphomolybdic acid at 200 °C. The maximum adsorption capacities of phosphomolybdic acid-modified sludge biochar (200 °C pyrolysis temperature) at 298, 308, and 318 K were 283.87, 421.39, and 545.48 mg/g, respectively. Both liquid film and intraparticle diffusion were the main rate-limiting steps of tetracycline adsorption by phosphomolybdic acid-modified sludge biochar. Furthermore, the adsorption of tetracycline by phosphomolybdic acid-modified sludge biochar was mainly attributed to π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and pore filling.

Successful removal of fluoride from aqueous environment using Al(OH)3@AC: column studies and breakthrough curve modeling

In this study, we discuss the removal of fluoride from water through column adsorption methods using Al(OH)3@AC as a functional granular activated carbon. The height of the bed, fluoride concentration, and flow rate are the experimental factors used to obtain the breakthrough curves. As the flow rate increased, the breakthrough and saturation times decreased. The analysis of simplified column models, such as the Adams-Bohart, Thomas, and Yoon-Nelson models, revealed that the Clark model best described the adsorption process when fitting the experimental data. The obtained breakthrough curves agreed with the corresponding experimental data. The highest capacity for adsorption obtained during the column procedure was found to be 41.84 mg g-1 with a bed height of 3 cm, an initial fluoride concentration of 10 mg L-1 and a flow rate of 7.5 mL min-1.

Preparation of magnetic sodium alginate/sodium carboxymethylcellulose interpenetrating network gel spheres and use in superefficient adsorption of direct dyes in water

The rapid development of the printing and dyeing industry has led to the production of a large amount of high-density printing and dyeing wastewater, and technology for its effective treatment has become a focus of research. To construct a polymeric adsorbent material with abundant functional groups for the efficient adsorption of dye wastewater, a novel magnetic sodium alginate/carboxymethylcellulose interpenetrating network gel sphere (Fe3O4@SA/CMC-Fe) was prepared by co-blending sodium alginate (SA) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) with Fe3O4; Fe3O4@SA/CMC-Fe was characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, TGA, FT-IR, UV-Vis, VSM, BET-BJH and XPS. Static adsorption experiments showed that the optimal rates for adsorption of DV 51 and DR 23 from solutions with neutral pH values by Fe3O4@SA/CMC-Fe were up to 96 %, the adsorption process exhibited a Langmuir adsorption isotherm, and the dynamic adsorption process was accurately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. A thermodynamic study showed that the adsorption reactions were all spontaneous exothermic reactions with increasing entropy. The mechanism for adsorption of the dyes by Fe3O4@SA/CMC-Fe involved hydrogen bonding, complexation and electrostatic adsorption. In summary, Fe3O4@SA/CMC-Fe is a green, simple, recyclable and highly efficient magnetic adsorbent that is expected to be widely used in treating dye wastewaters over a wide pH range.

3D flower-like zirconium magnesium oxide nanocomposite for efficient fluoride removal

A 3D flower-shaped bimetallic nanocomposite zirconium magnesium oxide (ZMO) was prepared first time by the controlled solution combustion method using triethanolamine (TEA) as a fuel and chelating agent. The composite material was used to remove excess fluoride via adsorption. The thermal stability of the adsorbent was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the adsorbent. The surface charge of the nano adsorbent was determined by Zeta Sizer. The surface area and pore volume of the adsorbent were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) isotherm and Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) methods. The adsorption behavior of fluoride was studied systematically varying the pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial fluoride concentration. The adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 42.14 mg/g. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was confirmed by the adsorption study. The maximum adsorption efficiency was in the 6-10 pH range. The reaction mechanism was mainly based on ion exchange between hydroxy and fluoride ions which was proven by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Real water tests indicated that ZMO could be used as a potential defluoridation agent for fluoride containing groundwater treatment.

Phosphogypsum-Modified Vinasse Shell Biochar as a Novel Low-Cost Material for High-Efficiency Fluoride Removal

In this study, vinasse shell biochar (VS) was easily modified with phosphogypsum to produce a low-cost and novel adsorbent (MVS) with excellent fluoride adsorption performance. The physicochemical features of the fabricated materials were studied in detail using SEM, EDS, BET, XRD, FTIR, and XPS techniques. The adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption capacity of fluoride by MVS was greatly enhanced compared with VS, and the adsorption capacity increased with the pyrolysis temperature, dosage, and contact time. In comparison to chloride and nitrate ions, sulfate ions significantly affected adsorption capacity. The fluoride adsorption capacity increased first and then decreased with increasing pH in the range of 3-12. The fluoride adsorption could be perfectly fitted to the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption isotherms matched Freundlich and Sips isotherm models well, giving 290.9 mg/g as the maximum adsorption capacity. Additionally, a thermodynamic analysis was indicative of spontaneous and endothermic processes. Based on characterization and experiment results, the plausible mechanism of fluoride adsorption onto MVS was proposed, mainly including electrostatic interactions, ion exchange, precipitation, and hydrogen bonds. This study showed that MVS could be used for the highly efficient removal of fluoride and was compatible with practical applications.

Effective assessment of biopolymer-based multifunctional sorbents for the remediation of environmentally hazardous contaminants from aqueous solutions

Persistent contaminants in wastewater effluent pose a significant threat to aquatic life and are one of the most significant environmental concerns of our time. Although there are a variety of traditional methods available in wastewater treatment, including adsorption, coagulation, flocculation, ion exchange, membrane filtration, co-precipitation and solvent extraction, none of these have been found to be significantly cost-effective in removing toxic pollutants from the water environment. The upfront costs of these treatment methods are extremely high, and they require the use of harmful synthetic chemicals. For this reason, the development of new technologies for the treatment and recycling of wastewater is an absolute necessity. Our way of life can be made more sustainable by the synthesis of adsorbents based on biomass, making the process less harmful to the environment. Biopolymers offer a sustainable alternative to synthetic polymers, which are manufactured by joining monomer units through covalent bonding. This review presents a detailed classification of biopolymers such as pectin, alginate, chitosan, lignin, cellulose, chitin, carrageen, certain proteins, and other microbial biomass compounds and composites, with a focus on their sources, methods of synthesis, and prospective applications in wastewater treatment. A concise summary of the extensive body of knowledge on the fate of biopolymers after adsorption is also provided. Finally, consideration is given to open questions about future developments leading to environmentally friendly and economically beneficial applications of biopolymers.

In-situ modified biosynthetic crystals with lanthanum for fluoride removal based on microbially induced calcium precipitation: Characterization, kinetics, and mechanism

In this research, in-situ modified biosynthetic crystals with lanthanum (BC-La) were synthesized based on anaerobic microbially induced calcium precipitation (MICP) and investigated its capacity for groundwater defluoridation under various operational conditions. The kinetic and thermodynamic models were simulated to explore the effect of the material on the removal of fluoride ion (F^-) under various parameters (pH, initial concentration of F^-, and temperature). BC-La had the maximum F^- adsorption capacity of 10.92 mg g^-1 and 96.66% removal efficiency. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model were the best kinetic and isotherm models for F^- removal from BC-La, which indicated that F^- were mainly spontaneously removed through chemisorption and adsorption processes. The specific surface area was 54.26 m² g^-1 and the average pore size was 9.0670 nm. BC-La mainly contained LaCO₃OH, LaPO₄, CaCO₃, Ca₅ (PO₄)₃OH, and F^- was mainly removed through ion exchange with the material surface. Moreover, OH^-, PO₄^3-, and CO₃^2- significantly influenced the F^- removal. This work suggested a novel method for in-situ modification of anaerobic biosynthetic crystals, which improved the defluoridation effect of traditional biosynthetic crystals, increased the stability of the BC-La and allowed to remove F^- from groundwater consistently.

Zirconium/lanthanum-modified chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite adsorbent for rapid removal of fluoride

A novel and easily separable adsorbent in the shape of a membrane for the rapid removal of fluoride from water was prepared after testing Zr, La and LaZr to modify a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol composite adsorbent (CS/PVA-Zr, CS/PVA-La, CS/PVA-LA-Zr). The CS/PVA-La-Zr composite adsorbent can remove a large amount of fluoride within 1 min of contact time, and the adsorption equilibrium can be reached within 15 min. The fluoride adsorption behavior of the CS/PVA-La-Zr composite can be described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherms models. The morphology and structure of the adsorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption mechanism was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and which showed that ion exchange occurred mainly with hydroxide and fluoride ions. This study showed that an easily operable, low-cost and environmentally friendly CS/PVA-La-Zr has the potential to remove fluoride effectively from drinking water in a short time.

Biopolymers as a versatile tool with special emphasis on environmental application

Water sources are becoming highly unsuited as potable sources due to the presence of impurities and hazardous chemicals. Although there are many conventional methods available, the development of innovative technologies is essential for the treating and recycling of wastewater. Owing to their unique and excellent qualities, polymers have recently seen extensive use across various industries. By joining the monomeric components covalently, biopolymers resemble a more natural alternative to synthetic polymers. The biopolymer and biopolymer composites integrate into many sections of the treatment process easily, making them effective, affordable, and environmentally beneficial. Due to their distinct features, biopolymers can replace traditional adsorbents. The biopolymers and composites discussed in this chapter are ideal adsorbent materials for eliminating contaminants from the environment. Based on their sources, methods of preparation, and uses, biopolymers, and their composites are categorized. This chapter also includes different research perspectives on biopolymers, especially from an ecological and financial standpoint.

A Stable Fe-Zn Modified Sludge-Derived Biochar for Diuron Removal: Kinetics, Isotherms, Mechanism, and Practical Research

To remove typical herbicide diuron effectively, a novel sludge-derived modified biochar (SDMBC600) was prepared using sludge-derived biochar (SDBC600) as raw material and Fe-Zn as an activator and modifier in this study. The physico-chemical properties of SDMBC600 and the adsorption behavior of diuron on the SDMBC600 were studied systematically. The adsorption mechanisms as well as practical applications of SDMBC600 were also investigated and examined. The results showed that the SDMBC600 was chemically loaded with Fe-Zn and SDMBC600 had a larger specific surface area (204 m²/g) and pore volume (0.0985 cm³/g). The adsorption of diuron on SDMBC600 followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum diuron adsorption capacity of 17.7 mg/g. The biochar could maintain a good adsorption performance (8.88-12.9 mg/g) under wide water quality conditions, in the pH of 2-10 and with the presence of humic acid and six typical metallic ions of 0-20 mg/L. The adsorption mechanisms of SDMBC600 for diuron were found to include surface complexation, π-π binding, hydrogen bonding, as well as pore filling. Additionally, the SDMBC600 was tested to be very stable with very low Fe and Zn leaching concentration ≤0.203 mg/L in the wide pH range. In addition, the SDMBC600 could maintain a high adsorption capacity (99.6%) after four times of regeneration and therefore, SDMBC600 could have a promising application for diuron removal in water treatment.

Facile synthesis and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with hydroxyapatite from cattle horns for adsorptive removal of fluoride

Developing a new adsorbent for fluoride removal from cattle horn waste materials by a facile chemical method has shown great potential for fluoride removal. This paper reports the synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with hydroxyapatite from cattle horns (MWCNT-CH) using a facile chemical method. Characterization studies using standard techniques showed that the composite is mesoporous with a rough morphology and contained MWCNTs uniformly encapsulated by the hydroxyapatite forming a crystalline MWCNT-CH composite. Optimization of fluoride adsorption by the as-synthesized composite using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) showed that a maximum fluoride removal efficiency of 80.21% can be attained at initial fluoride concentration = 10 mg/L, pH = 5.25, adsorbent dose = 0.5 g and a contact time of 78 min. ANOVA indicates contribution of the process variables in descending order as pH > contact time > adsorbent dose > initial fluoride concentration. Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.9991) best described the process, and the maximum adsorption capacity of fluoride onto the as-synthesized MWCNT-CH composite was 41.7 mg/g. Adsorption kinetics data were best fitted in the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.9969), indicating chemisorption. The thermodynamic parameter ( Δ H = 13.95 J/mol and Δ S = 65.76 J/mol/K) showed that fluoride adsorption onto the MWCNT-CH composite was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-driving process. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism involves ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. Fluoride was successfully desorbed (using 0.1 M NaOH) from the composite in four cycles, retaining fluoride removal efficiency in the fourth cycle of 57.3%.

Construction of HAnW-based nanotwigs for removing inorganic fluorion in wastewater

The environmental pollution with fluoride compounds was currently being paid more and more attention as it threatens the safety of animal and human life in an ecosystem. In this study, an eco-friendly adsorbing material for removing fluoride ion (F^-) was prepared by hydroxyapatite nanowires (HAnWs), a typical biocompatible inorganic conjugates. UiO66, a typical zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), was conjugated onto HAnW by a simple in situ hydrothermal reaction, which afforded a novel HAnW-based nanotwigs of conjugates like millet (UiO66@HAnWs). Being characterized by SEM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, XPS, and TGA, the obtained UiO66@HAnWs were applied to removing F^- in wastewater, and its adsorption capacity was optimized. It was found that UiO66@HAnWs had a bigger specific surface area (115.310 m²/g), and its efficiency for removing F^- got to 99.3%, which was greatly improved than that of related materials. It was considered that the adsorption of F^- on UiO66@HAnWs was mainly multi-molecular layer adsorption, which fluoride ions aggregate on the Zr(IV) active sites to attain ligand switching, and the nanoconjugated structure like nanotwigs of millet greatly improved its adsorption capacity. In summary, a novel eco-friendly UiO66@HAnWs with nanoconjugated structure could be constructed by simple hydrothermal method, which the agglomeration defects of MOFs were not only ameliorated, but also its adsorption capacity was greatly improved.

Biopolymer - A sustainable and efficacious material system for effluent removal

Undesired discharge of various effluents directly into the aquatic ecosystem can adversely affect water quality, endangering aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Therefore, the conceptual design and fabrication of a sustainable system for alleviating the harmful toxins that are discharged into the atmosphere and water bodies using a green sustainable approach is a fundamental standpoint. Adsorptive removal of toxins (∼99% removal efficacy) is one of the most attractive and facile approaches for cleaner technologies that remediate the environmental impacts and provide a safe operating space. Recently, the introduction of biopolymers for the adsorptive abstraction of toxins from water has received considerable attention due to their eclectic accessibility, biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and enhanced removal efficacy (∼ 80-90% for electrospun fibers). This review summarizes the recent literature on the biosorption of various toxins by biopolymers and the possible interaction between the adsorbent and adsorbate, providing an in-depth perspective of the adsorption mechanism. Most of the observed results are explained in terms of (1) biopolymers classification and application, (2) toxicity of various effluents, (3) biopolymers in wastewater treatment and their removal mechanism, and (4) regeneration, reuse, and biodegradation of the adsorbent biopolymer.

Removal of fluoride using platanus acerifoli leaves biochar - an efficient and low-cost application in wastewater treatment

The fluoride with high-concentration in industrial wastewater will cause great harm to the environment and calcium-modified biochar is an effective adsorbent for the removal of fluoride. Biochar composites were prepared from mature and dried dead leaves and eggshell to remove fluoride from the aqueous solution. The effects of raw material ratio, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature, initial concentration of fluoride, and the coexisting ions on the removal efficiency of fluoride were explored. The biochar composites before and after fluoride removal were characterized by the SEM, FTIR, XRD, and XPS, which showed CaF₂ precipitation was formed during the adsorption. The kinetics and isotherm study showed that chemical adsorption was the primary step for the fluoride adsorption of the biochar composites. The removal efficiency of fluoride can reach 98.53% when the amount of adsorbent was 1.6 g/L and the fluoride concentration was 500 mg/L. The BET-specific surface area of platanus acerifoli leaves biochar was 410.14 m²/g, which was suitable for the adsorption carrier. The adsorption capacity of the biochar composite materials was as high as 308 mg/g. The platanus acerifoli leaves-eggshell biochar composite with large pore size and high removal efficiency may be used as an efficient and low-cost adsorbent for treating high-concentration fluoride-containing wastewater.

Review on biopolymers and composites - Evolving material as adsorbents in removal of environmental pollutants

The presence of pollutants and toxic contaminants in water sources makes it unfit to run through. Though various conventional techniques are on deck, development of new technologies are vital for wastewater treatment and recycling. Polymers have been intensively utilized recently in many industries owing to their unique characteristics. Biopolymers resembles natural alternative to synthetic polymers that can be prepared by linking the monomeric units covalently. Despite the obvious advantages of biopolymers, few reviews have been conducted. This review focuses on biopolymers and composites as suitable adsorbent material for removing pollutants present in environment. The classification of biopolymers and their composites based on the sources, methods of preparation and their potential applications are discussed in detail. Biopolymers have the potentiality of substituting conventional adsorbents due to its unique characteristics. Biopolymer based membranes and effective methods of utilization of biopolymers as suitable adsorbent materials are also briefly elaborated. The mechanism of biopolymers and their membrane-based adsorption has been briefly reviewed. In addition, the methods of regeneration and reuse of used biopolymer based adsorbents are highlighted. The comprehensive content on fate of biopolymer after adsorption is given in brief. Finally, this review concludes the future investigations in recent trends in application of biopolymer in various fields in view of eco-friendly and economic perspectives.

Synergistic Fluoride Adsorption by Composite Adsorbents Synthesized From Different Types of Materials—A Review

The reduction of fluoride concentrations in water is one of many concerns. Adsorption is the most widely used technology for fluoride removal and the center to development of adsorption technology is the improvement of adsorbents. This review classifies the typical fluoride removal adsorbents into four types: metal oxides/hydroxides, biopolymers, carbon-based, and other adsorbents. The exploitation of new materials and the synthesis of composite materials are two ways of developing new adsorbents. In comparison to the discovery of novel adsorbents for fluoride adsorption, research into the composite synthesis of different types of conventional adsorbents has proliferated in recent years. The traditional adsorbents used the earliest, metal oxides, can act as active centers in a wide range of applications for modifying and compounding with other types of adsorbents. This study emphasizes reviewing the research on fluoride removal by composite adsorbents synthesized from different types of metal-modified materials. Seven factors were compared in terms of material characterization, initial fluoride concentration, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, reaction time, and maximum adsorption capacity. The modification of composite adsorbents is facile and the synergistic effect of the different types of adsorbents significantly improves fluoride adsorption capacity. Metal composite adsorbents are synthesized by facile coprecipitation, hydrothermal, or impregnation modification methods. The adsorption mechanisms involve electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, complexation, and hydrogen bonding. The fluoride adsorption capacity of composite adsorbents has generally improved, indicating that most modifications are successful and have application prospects. However, to achieve significant breakthroughs in practical applications, numerous issues such as cost, separation/regeneration performance, and safety still need to be considered.

High-viscosity Pickering emulsion stabilized by amphiphilic alginate/SiO2 via multiscale methodology for crude oil-spill remediation

The separation of crude oil from oily water and collection of the emulsion constituents has attracted significant attention. We demonstrate that the relationships between inherent dynamic factors and the performance of a Pickering emulsion stabilized by SiO₂ particles with adsorbed hydrophobically modified sodium alginate derivatives (HMSA), a natural pH-sensitive polysaccharide, can be clarified via a multi-scale methodology. Functionalization of the silica surface with HMSA controls particle dispersibility, as verified by turbidity and stability analyses, the zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy measurements. The interaction mechanism between HMSA and SiO₂ nanoparticles was elucidated by both experimental adsorption measurements and computer simulations, which showed qualitative consistency. The aggregation/disaggregation of HMSA/SiO₂ particles achieved by tuning the pH of the solution facilitated reversible dispersibility/collectability behavior. Overall, a high-viscosity Pickering emulsion system based on particle-particle and droplet-droplet interactions, which can be filtered for the recovery of spilled crude oil, was demonstrated.

Fluoride removal by thermally treated egg shells with high adsorption capacity, low cost, and easy acquisition

In this study, the use of eggshells was suggested as an adsorbent for fluoride removal, and their mechanism of fluoride removal was investigated. The eggshells underwent thermal treatment to improve their adsorption capacity; 800 °C was found to be the optimal temperature for treatment. Eggshells thermally treated at 800 °C (ES-800) were mainly composed of Ca (82.4%) and C (15.9%), and the peaks of ES-800 obtained from X-ray diffraction (XRD) corresponded to calcite, portlandite, and lime. Fluorine adsorption by ES-800 reached 70% of the equilibrium adsorption amount within 15 min and gradually increased until 24 h. The maximum adsorption capacity of ES-800 at pH 7 and 25 °C was 258.28 mg/g, which is 18 times larger than that of activated alumina; this is classified as the best available technology by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Both enthalpy and entropy increased in the process of fluoride adsorption onto ES-800. Fluoride adsorption of ES-800 decreased from 59.16 to 11.85 mg/g with an increase in pH from 3 to 11. Fluoride adsorption decreased in the presence of anions, whose impact follows the order: HPO43- > HCO3- >> SO42- > Cl-. XRD, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that fluoride removal was achieved by the formation of calcium fluorite (CaF2). Thus, it can be concluded that eggshells can function as highly efficient adsorbents for fluoride removal, replacing bone char and activated alumina; further, their adsorption capacity can be improved by thermal treatment.

A novel carboxylated polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane with high adsorption capacity for fluoride removal from water

To deal with the drinking water safety caused by fluoride, a novel carboxylated polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane (C-PAN NFM) is designed and fabricated massively for the first time by adopting synchronously biaxial stretching and carboxylation. The C-PAN NFM is composed of the layered stack structure by cross-linked nanofibers. Due to its high specific surface area, excellent hydrophilicity, a large amount of carboxyl and amine groups, C-PAN NFM owns high fluoride adsorption capacity and outstanding selectivity. Both the carboxylation and acid treatment of C-PAN NFM improved the fluoride adsorption capacity remarkably. Specifically, C-PAN NFM shows excellent reusability without secondary pollution. The fluoride adsorption behavior of C-PAN NFM is dominated by chemical adsorption, and the adsorption mechanism is mainly driven by hydrogen bonding and ion exchange. The mass-produced C-PAN NFM is a novel polyacrylonitrile-based porous membrane that shows a great application potential for fluoride removal with good efficiency and recyclability.

Enhanced fluoride adsorption from aqueous solution by zirconium (IV)-impregnated magnetic chitosan graphene oxide

In this study, zirconium (IV)-impregnated magnetic chitosan graphene oxide (Zr-MCGO) was synthesized for removing fluoride from aqueous solution in batch mode. Characterization approaches (pH_pzc, FTIR, SEM, XRD, VSM, Raman, BET, and XPS) proved the successful incorporation of Zr into the adsorbent. Zr-MCGO exhibited a relatively favorable and stable capacity of defluoridation at lower pH with a wide range of pH from 4.0 to 8.0, while there was slightly negative effect of ionic strength on adsorption. In addition, Elovich kinetic model and Koble-Corrigan isotherm model could describe the uptake of fluoride well. The adsorption capacity was 8.84 mg/g at 313 K and Zr-MCGO was easily separated from mixtures using external magnet. Based on the experiments and XPS, electrostatic force, ligand exchange, and Lewis acid-base interaction might be potential adsorption mechanisms. Pseudo-second-order model was more compatible with the desorption process by 0.01 mol/L NaHCO₃ solution. Therefore, Zr-MCGO was a promising candidate for defluoridation on wastewater pollution remediation.

Isolation of biosynthetic crystals by microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation and their utilization for fluoride removal from groundwater

Biosynthetic crystals (BC) were prepared through microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) for fluoride (F^-) removal from the groundwater. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the fluoride adsorption capacity and the impacts of critical factors (organic matter, pH, initial fluoride concentration and BC dosage) on defluorination efficiency of BC. The maximum adsorption amount and defluorination efficiency were recorded as 5.10 mg g^-1 and 98.24%, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms studies showed that pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model were best fitting to the reaction. Adsorption thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous, endothermic and thermodynamically favorable adsorption process. Moreover, the mechanism of F^- removal by BC was further analyzed by SEM, XPS, XRD and FTIR. The method can cope with the problem of applying the external organic substances in MICP, and avoid the microbial safety risk in the effluent. As an economically and environmentally friendly adsorbent, BC can be used for F^- removal from groundwater.

The relationship between fluoride accumulation in tea plant and changes in leaf cell wall structure and composition under different fluoride conditions

Tea plant is capable of hyper-accumulating fluoride (F) in leaves, suggesting drinking tea may cause excessive F intake in our body and threaten the health. This study investigated the changes in the structure, composition, and F content in the leaf cell wall of the tea (Camellia sinensis) under different F conditions to demonstrate the role of cell wall in F enrichment in tea plants. The cell wall was shown as the main part for F accumulation (67%-92%), with most of F distributed in the pectin fraction (56%-71%). With increasing F concentration, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed in the F content of cell wall and its components, the level of cell wall metal ions (i.e. Cu, Mg, Zn, Al, Ca, Ba, Mn), as well as the content of total cell wall materials, cellulose, and pectin. Meanwhile, the level of Cu, Mg, Zn, pectin, and cellulose was significantly positively correlated with the F content in the leaf cell wall. F addition was shown to increase the fluorescence intensity of LM19 and 2F4 antibody-labeled low-methylesterified homogalacturonans (HGs), while decrease LM20-labeled high-methylesterified HGs, coupled with an increase in the activity and gene expression of pectin methyl esterases (PMEs) in tea leaves. All these results suggest that F addition can increase pectin content and demethylesterification, leading to increased absorption of metal cations and chelation of F in the cell wall through the action of metal ions.

Study of impact of acids and comparison of adsorption efficiency of Pb(II) from carbon and its modified nano-nickel coated version

Acidic content in wastewaters poses greater difficulty in lead removal from most adsorbents as their removal efficiency significantly decreases in acidic media. Nano-nickel coated carbon (Ni/C), compared with uncoated carbon (C), has shown a much enhanced (almost 80% higher) tendency of Pb(II) removal from solutions having different acid concentrations. All of the characterization results show the creation of more active sites and functional groups on Ni/C. The pertinent kinetic models and thermodynamics of Pb(II) adsorption have demonstrated much improved efficiency by Ni/C. Various isotherms subjected to the sorption data revealed significant increase in the sorption capacities for Ni/C. The adsorption (evidently chemisorption) kinetics are best represented by a pseudo-second-order equation. The adsorption rates in acidic solutions were much higher for Ni/C. The temperature-dependent study enabled thermodynamic parameters to be worked out for C and Ni/C; for C the values are ΔH: 19.4 ± 0.5 kJ·mol^-1, ΔS: 76.1 ± 2.1 J·mol^-1·K^-1, ΔG₂₉₈: -0.37 ± 0.01 kJ·mol^-1 while for Ni/C the values are ΔH: 30 ± 1 kJ·mol^-1, ΔS: 114 ± 4 J·mol^-1·K^-1, ΔG₂₉₈: -4.56 ± 0.02 kJ·mol^-1. Both cases indicate endothermic, spontaneous and entropy-driven processes.

Enhanced removal of fluoride by zirconium modified tea waste with extrusion treatment: kinetics and mechanism

To improve the adsorption efficiency of tea-based biosorbents for removing fluoride in drinking water, the novel and effective adsorbent was formed by treating tea waste with extrusion technology. In this study, the extrusion technology was applied to the preparation of adsorbents for the first time. A low-priced and more efficient adsorbent was prepared by loading zirconium onto extruded tea waste (EXT-Zr). Extruded tea waste increased the surface pore size, which could provide more loading sites for zirconium. The EXT-Zr effectively removed fluoride from water in a pH range of 3.0–10.0, which is wider than the pH range of zirconium-loaded tea waste (Tea-Zr). The adsorption was fitted by a pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption model. The maximum adsorption capacity was 20.56 mg g⁻¹. The EXT-Zr adsorbent was characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to prove the mechanism of how EXT-Zr adsorbs fluoride. The results proved that EXT-based adsorbent will be effective for the enhanced removal of fluoride in drinking water.

Extruded tea waste (EXT) increased the pore size by extrusion technology. Extruded tea waste (EXT-Zr) modified by Zr performed well.