Equilibrium and kinetic modelling of chromium(III) sorption by animal bones

Facile fabrication of chitosan/bone/bamboo biochar beads for simultaneous removal of co-existing Cr(VI) and bisphenol a from water

Heavy metal Cr(VI) and organic BPA have posed harmful risks to human health, aquatic organisms and the ecosystem. In this work, Chitosan/bone/bamboo biochar beads (CS-AMCM) were synthesized by co-pyrolysis and in situ precipitation method. These microbeads featured a particle size of approximately 1 ± 0.2 mm and were rich in oxygen/nitrogen functional groups. CS-AMCM was characterized using XRD, Zeta potential, FTIR, etc. Experiments showed that adsorption processes of CS-AMCM on Cr(VI) and BPA fitted well to Langmuir model, with theoretical maximum capacities of 343.61 mg/g and 140.30 mg/g, respectively. Pore filling, electrostatic attraction, redox, complexation and ion exchange were the main mechanisms for Cr(VI), whereas for BPA, the intermolecular force (hydrogen bond) and pore filling were involved. CS-AMCM with adsorbed Cr(VI) demonstrated effective activation in producing ·OH and ·O2 from H2O2, which degraded BPA and Cr(VI) with the removal rates of 99.2% and 98.2%, respectively. CS-AMCM offers the advantages of low-cost, large adsorption capacity, high catalytic degradation efficiency, and favorable recycling in treating Cr(VI) and BPA mixed wastewater, which shows great potential in treating heavy metal and organic matter mixed pollution wastewater.

Value-added materials recovered from waste bone biomass: technologies and applications

As the world population increases, the generation of waste bones will multiply exponentially, increasing landfill usage and posing health risks. This review aims to shed light on technologies for recovering valuable materials (e.g., alkaline earth material oxide such as CaO, hydroxyapatite, beta tri-calcium phosphate, phosphate and bone char) from waste bones, and discuss their potential applications as an adsorbent, catalyst and catalyst support, hydroxyapatite for tissue engineering, electrodes for energy storage, and phosphate source for soil remediation. Waste bone derived hydroxyapatite and bone char have found applications as a catalyst or catalyst support in organic synthesis, selective oxidation, biodiesel production, hydrocracking of heavy oil, selective hydrogenation and synthesis of bioactive compounds. With the help of this study, researchers can gather comprehensive data on studies regarding the recycling of waste bones, which will help them identify material recovery technologies and their applications in a single document. Furthermore, this work identifies areas for further research and development as well as areas for scaling-up, which will lead to reduced manufacturing costs and environmental impact. The idea behind this is to promote a sustainable environment and a circular economy concept in which waste bones are used as raw materials to produce new materials or for energy recovery.

Sorption of Cd2+ on Bone Chars with or without Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment under Various Pyrolysis Temperatures: Comparison of Mechanisms and Performance

In this study, bone char pretreated with hydrogen peroxide and traditional pyrolysis was applied to remove Cd2+ from aqueous solutions. After hydrogen peroxide pretreatment, the organic matter content of the bone char significantly decreased, while the surface area, the negative charge and the number of oxygen-containing functional groups on the bone char surface increased. After being pyrolyzed, the specific surface area and the negative charge of the material were further improved. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of Cd2+ adsorption were studied, and the influence of solution pH and the presence of ionic species were investigated. The experimental results showed that the samples with lower crystallinity exhibited less organic matter content and more surface oxygen-containing functional groups, resulting in stronger adsorption capacity. After being treated with hydrogen peroxide and pyrolyzed at 300 °C, the maximum adsorption capacity of bone char was 228.73 mg/g. The bone char sample with the lowest adsorption capacity(47.71 mg/g) was pyrolyzed at 900 °C without hydrogen peroxide pretreatment. Ion exchange, surface complexation, and electrostatic interactions were responsible for the elimination of Cd2+ by the bone char samples. Overall, this work indicates that hydrogen peroxide-treated pyrolytic bone char is a promising material for the immobilization of Cd2+.

Efficient removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in aqueous solutions using modified water treatment residuals-sodium alginate beads

A high-performance sorbent, modified water treatment residuals-sodium alginate beads (WTR-SA beads), was prepared through a series of salt and combined thermal roasting composite modification between water treatment residuals and sodium alginate. The properties of modified WTR-SA beads composites were characterized by SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XRD, and BET. The adsorption performance of WTR-SA beads was investigated in removing nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater. Compared to the unmodified WTR, the removal efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus onto the modified WTR-SA beads was increased from 22.34 and 77.13% to 95.14 and 98.31%, respectively. The adsorption capacities of nitrogen and phosphorus onto the modified WTR-SA beads were reach a maximum of 2.52 mg/g and 6.45 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behavior can be well described using a quasi-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic properties of nitrogen adsorption indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. On the contrary, the adsorption process of phosphorus is an endothermic reaction. The adsorption of nitrogen by modified WTR-SA beads is mainly carried out through ion exchange and hydroxyl complexation, and ion exchange plays a major role in it. While, the adsorption of modified WTR-SA beads on phosphorus is affected by three actions: ligand exchange, chemical precipitation, and ion exchange, which ligand exchange is the main effect. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the modified WTR-SA beads are a high efficiency adsorbent for removing nitrogen and phosphorus from domestic and industrial wastewater.

Potential Viable Products Identified from Characterisation of Agricultural Slaughterhouse Rendering Wastewater

The composition of challenging matrices must be fully understood in order to determine the impact of the matrix and to establish suitable treatment methods. Rendering condensate wastewater is a complex matrix which is understudied. It is produced when the vapour from rendering facilities (heat processing of slaughterhouse waste material) is cooled as a liquid for discharge. This study offers a full physicochemical characterisation of rendering condensate wastewater and its potential for valorisation via production of viable by-products. A study of seasonal variation of levels of dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen and ammonia was carried out on the wastewater. The results show that the wastewater was high strength all year-round, with a chemical oxygen demand of 10,813 ± 427 mg/L and high concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (1745 ± 90 mg/L), ammonia (887 ± 21 mg/L), crude protein (10,911 ± 563 mg/L), total phosphorous (51 ± 1 mg/L), fat and oil (11,363 ± 934 mg/L), total suspended solids (336 ± 73 mg/L) and total dissolved solids (4397 ± 405 mg/L). This characterisation demonstrates the requirement for adequate treatment of the condensate before releasing it to the environment. While there is a reasonably constant flow rate and dissolved oxygen level throughout the year, higher chemical oxygen demand, total nitrogen and ammonia levels were found in the warmer summer months. From this study, rendering condensate slaughterhouse wastewater is shown to have potential for production of marketable goods. These products may include ammonium sulphate fertilizer, protein supplements for animal feeds and recovery of acetic acid calcium hydroxyapatite, thus enhancing both the financial and environmental sustainability of slaughterhouse operations. This work demonstrates a valuable assessment of a complex wastewater, while taking advantage of on-site access to samples and process data to inform the potential for wastewater reuse.

Constructing mesoporous phosphated titanium oxide for efficient Cr(III) removal

Heavy metal removal by environmental-friendly nanostructured TiO₂ adsorbent is a promising strategy to facilitate wastewater treatment. Here, a boiling water synthetic approach is explored to prepare mesoporous phosphated TiO₂ (PTO) used for Cr(III) adsorption in polluted water. We obtain mesoporous 8-PTO (synthesized with 8% molar ratio of H₃PO₄) with a high specific surface area (278 m²/g), narrow size distribution (<5 nm), low pH_zpc (pH of zero point of charge) value (∼1.0), and abundant surface hydroxyl group, which is attributed to the introduction of H₃PO₄ during the hydrolysis process of TiCl₄ in boiling water. Importantly, the obtained 8-PTO shows better thermal stability than pure TiO₂ and retains mesoporous structure after thermal treatment owning to [PO₄] tetrahedral incorporated into the network of [TiO₆] octahedral. The optimized 8-PTO exhibits superior Cr(III) adsorption up to 92 mg/g in sewage, which makes it one of the best materials among TiO₂ adsorbent known for Cr(III) Removal (10-83 mg/g). Additionally, the as-prepared mesoporous 8-PTO adsorbent possesses an excellent reusability without significant degradation and can largely avoid the generation of secondary contaminants. A linear relationship (R²  = 0.9985) between adsorption capacity and hydroxyl content percentage of different PTO samples is revealed, indicating that the surface hydroxyl groups play a decisive role in the adsorption process. This study provides a facile approach to synthesize high specific surface area mesoporous phosphated TiO₂ with rich surface functional groups for efficient Cr(III) removal in sewage.

Modeling Pb (II) adsorption from aqueous solution by ostrich bone ash using adaptive neural-based fuzzy inference system

To evaluate the performance of Adaptive Neural-Based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) model in estimating the efficiency of Pb (II) ions removal from aqueous solution by ostrich bone ash, a batch experiment was conducted. Five operational parameters including adsorbent dosage (C(s)), initial concentration of Pb (II) ions (C(o)), initial pH, temperature (T) and contact time (t) were taken as the input data and the adsorption efficiency (AE) of bone ash as the output. Based on the 31 different structures, 5 ANFIS models were tested against the measured adsorption efficiency to assess the accuracy of each model. The results showed that ANFIS5, which used all input parameters, was the most accurate (RMSE = 2.65 and R(2) = 0.95) and ANFIS1, which used only the contact time input, was the worst (RMSE = 14.56 and R(2) = 0.46). In ranking the models, ANFIS4, ANFIS3 and ANFIS2 ranked second, third and fourth, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the estimated AE is more sensitive to the contact time, followed by pH, initial concentration of Pb (II) ions, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The results showed that all ANFIS models overestimated the AE. In general, this study confirmed the capabilities of ANFIS model as an effective tool for estimation of AE.

Evaluation of factors influencing Co²⁺ removal by calcinated bone sorbent using experimental design methodology

Experimental design methodology was applied for evaluation of factors influencing Co(2+) sorption by thermally treated bovine bones. The major aim of this study was to determine factors which affect process the most, as well as their mutual interactions, in order to select conditions that provide maximum sorbent loading. Five process variables (sorbent mass, sorbate concentration, contact time, initial pH and agitation speed) were examined by full factorial design at two levels. The initial sorbate concentration and sorbent mass were found to be a principle factors influencing cation sorption. Furthermore, a considerable interaction effect between these two factors was detected. Optimal conditions for the maximum sorbent loading include the use of small sorbent doses and concentrated Co(2+) solution, without any previous pH adjustment, at least if the pH of actual waste water is within tested range (3 < pH < 6). The contact time and agitation speed, which within investigated ranges had no significant effect on sorption, may be set at their minimum levels (1 h; 10 rpm) to shorten the reaction time and reduce energy consumption. The influence of process factors on other system responses (amounts of Ca(2+) released from apatite phase of bones, and final pH values) were also determined and analyzed. Empirical mathematical models illustrated the dependences of responses on the process variables, whereas residual and statistical analysis confirmed model adequacy.

Removal of metals from landfill leachate by sorption to activated carbon, bone meal and iron fines

Sorption filters based on granular activated carbon, bone meal and iron fines were tested for their efficiency of removing metals from landfill leachate. Removal of Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn were studied in a laboratory scale setup. Activated carbon removed more than 90% of Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn and Ni. Ca, Pb, Sr and Zn were removed but less efficiently. Bone meal removed over 80% of Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn and Sr and 20-80% of Al, Ca, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn. Iron fines removed most metals (As, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn) to some extent but less efficiently. All materials released unwanted substances (metals, TOC or nutrients), highlighting the need to study the uptake and release of a large number of compounds, not only the target metals. To remove a wide range of metals using these materials two or more filter materials may need to be combined. Sorption mechanisms for all materials include ion exchange, sorption and precipitation. For iron fines oxidation of Fe(0) seems to be important for metal immobilisation.

The effect of process parameters on kinetics and mechanisms of Co2+ removal by bone char

Bone char powder, composed mainly of poorly crystalline hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2)), carbon and CaCO(3), has potential applicability in the removal of Co(2+) ions from contaminated effluents. In the present study, the influence of process parameters: particle size, agitation speed, initial pH and initial sorbate concentration, onto kinetics and mechanism of Co(2+)sorption was studied and discussed. In order to describe and compare time evolution of the process under different conditions, the experimental data were analyzed using pseudo-first, pseudo-second and Vermeulen's kinetic models. Generally, experimental results were best fitted with the pseudo-second-order model, which accurately predicted the equilibrium sorbed amounts. The pseudo-second-order rate constant was the most influenced by variations in initial metal concentration and pH, in the investigated ranges. The conclusions about sorption mechanism were derived based on Co(2+) amounts sorbed during time, as well as considering solution pH changes, changes of Ca(2+) amounts released into liquid phase and Ca(2+)/Co(2+) molar ratios. It was concluded that rapid sorption stage was governed by surface complexation reactions, whereas the contribution of the ion-exchange mechanism increased with time and became more significant in the second, slower phase. Experimentally determined maximum sorption capacity towards Co(2+), under optimal conditions, was found to be 0.38 mmol/g. The results show that bone char represents cost-effective alternative to synthetic hydroxyapatite sorbent.

Comparative study of differently treated animal bones for Co(2+) removal

The objective of the present study was the evaluation of differently treated bovine bones for Co(2+) removal from aqueous media. Powdered bones (B), as well as samples prepared by H(2)O(2) oxidation (BH(2)O(2)) and annealing at 400-1000 degrees C (B400-B1000), were tested as sorbent materials. A combination of XRD, FTIR spectroscopies, DTA/TGA analyses, specific surface area (S(p)) and point of zero charge (pH(PZC)) measurements was utilized for physicochemical characterization of sorbents. Sorption of Co(2+) was studied in batch conditions as a function of pH, contact time and Co(2+) concentration. Initial pH values in the range 4-8 were found optimal for sorption experiments. Equilibrium time of 24h was required in all investigated systems. The maximum sorption capacities differ significantly from 0.078 to 0.495mmol/g, whereas the affinity towards Co(2+) decreased in the order: B400>BH(2)O(2)>B600>B>B800>B1000. The pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir theoretical equation were used for fitting the kinetic and equilibrium data, respectively. Ion-exchange with Ca(2+) and specific cation sorption were identified as main removal mechanisms. The amounts of Co(2+) desorbed from loaded bone sorbents increased with the decrease of pH as well as with the increase of Ca(2+) concentration. Heating at 400 degrees C was found to be an optimal treatment for the production of the Co(2+) removal agent.

Novel chromium tolerant microorganisms: isolation, characterization and their biosorption capacity

Effluent from tannery, electroplating and electronic industries contain chromium which is highly toxic. This paper reports isolation of chromium tolerant microorganisms from solid waste as well as liquid effluent of an electroplating industry. Nine isolates were obtained that can tolerate chromium concentration up to 700 mg/L. They reach their stationary phase within 8-12h and can biosorb 95% of initial 200mg/L concentration of chromium within 4-10h. Fourier Transform Infra Red analysis of the biomass exposed to chromium indicates that amino and carboxylate groups in the biomass are involved in biosorption process. 16S RNA results of two most active organisms indicate that they are Bacillus marisflavi and Arthrobacter sp. and they show 98% and 96% homology similarity in the phylogenetic tree, respectively.

Factors influencing the removal of divalent cations by hydroxyapatite

The effect of pH, contact time, initial metal concentration and presence of common competing cations, on hydroxyapatite (HAP) sorption properties towards Pb(2+), Cd(2+), Zn(2+), and Sr(2+) ions was studied and compared using a batch technique. The results strongly indicated the difference between the sorption mechanism of Pb(2+) and other investigated cations: the removal of Pb(2+) was pH-independent and almost complete in the entire pH range (3-12), while the sorption of Cd(2+), Zn(2+) and Sr(2+) generally increased with an increase of pH; the contact time required for attaining equilibrium was 30 min for Pb(2+) versus 24h needed for other cations; maximum sorption capacity of HAP sample was found to be an order of magnitude higher for Pb(2+) (3.263 mmol/g), than for Cd(2+) (0.601 mmol/g), Zn(2+) (0.574 mmol/g) and Sr(2+) (0.257 mmol/g); the selectivity of HAP was found to decrease in the order Pb(2+)>Cd(2+)>Zn(2+)>Sr(2+) while a decrease of pH(PZC), in respect to the value obtained in inert electrolyte, followed the order Cd(2+)>Zn(2+)>Pb(2+)>Sr(2+); neither of investigated competing cations (Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+) and K(+)) influenced Pb(2+) immobilization whereas the sorption of other cations was reduced in the presence of Ca(2+), in the order Sr(2+)>Cd(2+)>or=Zn(2+). The pseudo-second order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm have been proposed for modeling kinetic and equilibrium data, respectively. The sorption of all examined metals was followed by Ca(2+) release from the HAP crystal lattice and pH decrease. The ion exchange and specific cation sorption mechanisms were anticipated for Cd(2+), Zn(2+) and Sr(2+), while dissolution of HAP followed by precipitation of hydroxypyromorphite (Pb(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2)) was found to be the main operating mechanism for Pb(2+) immobilization by HAP, with the contribution of specific cation sorption.

Removal of Co2+ from aqueous solutions by hydroxyapatite

A study on the removal of cobalt ions from aqueous solutions by synthetic hydroxyapatite was conducted in batch conditions. The influence of different sorption parameters, such as: initial metal concentration, equilibration time, solution pH and presence of EDTA on the amount of Co(2+) sorbed was studied and discussed. The sorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics with necessary time of 24 h to reach equilibrium. Cobalt uptake was quantitatively evaluated using the Langmuir and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) model. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm constant corresponding to adsorption capacity, Xm, was found to be 20.92 mg/g. Sorption of Co(2+) is constant in the initial pH range 4-8, because HAP surface buffers these solutions to the constant final pH value of 5.1. In the presence of EDTA, sorption of Co(2+) decreases due to formation of complex with lower sorption affinities. Cobalt desorption depends on the composition of the extracting solution. The desorbed amount of cobalt decreased continuously with increasing pH, and increased with increasing Ca(2+) concentration in leaching solution.