Synthesis of a CaO-Fe2O3-SiO2 composite from a dephosphorization slag for adsorption of CO2

Utilizing different types of biomass materials to modify steel slag for the preparation of composite materials used in the adsorption and solidification of Pb in solutions and soil

This study utilized discarded steel slag (SS) as raw material and prepared modified steel slag materials (SS-SBC, SS-NBC, SS-BHA) through modification with biomass materials such as straw biochar (SBC), nutshell biochar (NBC), and biochemical humic acid (BHA). These materials were then applied for the removal of Pb from both solution and soil. The physical and chemical properties of the materials were analyzed using characterization techniques such as SEM, EDS, XRD, and BET. The specific surface area of the modified materials increased from the original 3.8584 m2/g to 34.7133 m2/g, 181.7329 m2/g, and 7.7384 m2/g, respectively. The study then explored the influence of different adsorption conditions on the adsorption capacity of Pb in solution, determining the optimal conditions as follows: initial concentration of 200 mg/L, adsorbent mass of 0.04 g, temperature of 15 °C, and pH = 2. To further investigate the adsorption process, kinetic and isotherm models were established. The results indicated that the adsorption process for all three materials followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm model, suggesting a multi-layer chemical adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process was an exothermic spontaneous reaction. Soil cultivation experiments were conducted to explore the effects of different material addition amounts and cultivation times on the passivation of Pb-polluted soil. Analysis of heavy metal forms in the soil revealed that the addition of modified materials reduced the acid-extractable form of Pb in the soil and increased the residual form, which is beneficial for reducing the migration of Pb in the soil. FT-IR and XPS analyses were employed to study the functional groups, element composition, and valence states before and after adsorption passivation of Pb by the three materials. The results confirmed that the adsorption mechanisms of SS-SBC, SS-NBC, and SS-BHA mainly involved electrostatic adsorption, ion and ligand exchange, and surface precipitation. This study not only provides a new material for adsorbing and immobilizing heavy metals in soil and water but also offers a new approach for the resource utilization of steel slag waste.

Mg-O-F Nanocomposite Catalysts Defend against Global Warming via the Efficient, Dynamic, and Rapid Capture of CO2 at Different Temperatures under Ambient Pressure

The utilization of Mg-O-F prepared from Mg(OH)₂ mixed with different wt % of F in the form of (NH₄F·HF), calcined at 400 and 500 °C, for efficient capture of CO₂ is studied herein in a dynamic mode. Two different temperatures were applied using a slow rate of 20 mL·min^-1 (100%) of CO₂ passing through each sample for only 1 h. Using the thermogravimetry (TG)-temperature-programed desorption (TPD) technique, the captured amounts of CO₂ at 5 °C were determined to be in the range of (39.6-103.9) and (28.9-82.1) mg_CO2 ·g^-1 for samples of Mg(OH)₂ mixed with 20-50% F and calcined at 400 and 500 °C, respectively, whereas, at 30 °C, the capacity of CO₂ captured is slightly decreased to be in the range of (32.2-89.4) and (20.9-55.5) mg_CO2 ·g^-1, respectively. The thermal decomposition of all prepared mixtures herein was examined by TG analysis. The obtained samples calcined at 400 and 500 °C were characterized by X-ray diffraction and surface area and porosity measurements. The total number of surface basic sites and their distribution over all samples was demonstrated using TG- and differential scanning calorimetry-TPD techniques using pyrrole as a probe molecule. Values of (ΔH) enthalpy changes corresponding to the desorption steps of CO₂ were calculated for the most active adsorbent in this study, that is, Mg(OH)₂ + 20% F, at 400 and 500 °C. This study's findings will inspire the simple preparation and economical design of nanocomposite CO₂ sorbents for climate change mitigation under ambient conditions.