Anthracene Bioadsorption from Simulated Wastewater by Chemically-Treated Unripe Plantain Peel Bioadsorbent: Batch Kinetics and Isothermal Modeling Studies

Bio-sorptive remediation of crude oil polluted sea water using plantain (Musa parasidiaca) leaves as bio-based sorbent: Parametric optimization by Taguchi technique, equilibrium isotherm and kinetic modelling studies

This study investigated the potential of employing plantain leaves as a natural bio-based sorbent for crude oil spill polluted seawater remediation. Type L9(34) Taguchi orthogonal array technique was used to evaluate the effect of four independent bio-sorption factors at three different levels (crude oil initial concentration (X1 7.8, 11.5 and 15.6 g/L), seawater-crude oil temperature (X2 25, 35 and 45 °C), bio-sorbent dosage (X3 1, 2 and 3 g) and bio-sorbent particle size (X4 1.18, 2.36 and 4.72 mm) on two response indices (bio-sorption efficiency (%) and bio-sorption capacity (g/g)). Taguchi optimization technique, numerical-desirability index function optimization technique and a proposed optimization method were utilized to determine the optimum bio-sorption factors needed for the optimum bio-sorption efficiency and bio-sorption capacity. The results demonstrated that the crude oil bio-sorption efficiency of the plantain leaves was significantly influenced by X1, X3 and X4 and the bio-sorption capacity was mainly influenced by X1 and X3. The optimum bio-sorption efficiency and the optimum bio-sorption capacity were 99.05 % and 12.82 g/g, respectively, obtained at optimum combination of factors and levels of X11 (7.8 g/L), X33 (3 g) and X41 (1.18 mm) for bio-sorption efficiency and X13 (15.6 g/L) X31 (1 g) for bio-sorption capacity. The Freundlich and Dubinin-Rudeshkevich isotherm models best explain the equilibrium bio-sorption data, while the pseudo-second order kinetic model best describes the bio-sorption kinetics. The bio-sorptive remediation mechanism followed dual mechanism of physical and chemical bio-sorption and the mass transfer controlled by film diffusion. The maximum bio-sorption capacity (K f ) was 14.0 gg-1.

Maize cob (Zea mays) as natural biomass sorbent for crude oil biosorptive removal from contaminated seawater: Taguchi process optimization and biosorptive removal mechanism

Crude oil pollution poses a serious threat to the aquatic environment. Hence, there is an increasing interest in developing an efficient cleaner process technique for oil spill cleanup via agricultural biomass waste-organic sorbent utilization. This work evaluated the effects of independent biosorptive removal at three varying levels (initial concentration of crude oil (Z1, 7.8-15.6 g/L), seawater-oil temperature (Z2, 25-45 °C), sorbent dose (Z3, 1-3 g), and sorbent particle size diameter (Z4, 1.18-4.72 mm)) on the biosorptive removal efficiency and biosorptive capacity performance of maize cob sorbent for crude oil biosorptive removal from seawater. Experiments were designed based on Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design (L9(34)) to study the effects and process optimization. The results revealed that the maize cob sorbent's crude oil biosorptive removal efficiency is related to Z1, Z3, and Z4, while the biosorptive capacity is related to Z1 and Z3. The optimum biosorptive removal efficiency and the biosorptive capacity values were 96.53% and 12.64 g/g, respectively, achieved at optimum factors of Z1 (7.8 g/L), Z3 (3 g), and Z4 (1.18 mm), as well as at Z1 (15.6 g) and Z3 (1 g). The isotherm and kinetic data, respectively, followed the Langmuir isotherms and the pseudo-second-order kinetics with a maximum monolayer biosorptive capacity of 23.31 g g-1. The mechanism of biosorptive crude oil removal was by physical sorption and film diffusion control. Therefore, the maize cob represents an inexpensive and effective natural sorbent for oil spill removal from water bodies.