Strategies for powering electrokinetic soil remediation: A way to optimize performance of the environmental technology

The electro-kinetic remediation of soils using different powering strategies has been studied, in order to clarify which is the best strategy to couple solar powering with this remediation technology, in a context of developing more sustainable electrochemical remediation technologies. Direct powering from photovoltaic panels (Case a), application of constant electric fields with the same average value of Case a (Case b) and application of constant specific power with the same average value of Case a (Case c) have been compared. Results show an outstanding influence of the powering strategy on the removal efficiency of clopyralid (model of herbicide used in this work). The direct use of solar power profiles obtained the lowest removal efficiencies, which contrasts with the higher expected sustainability of this powering strategy. Reversion of pollutant transport overnight and extreme electric field values at noon help to explain the lower efficiency of this strategy. Evaporation mechanisms are promoted by operating at extreme large electric fields. In addition, harsher conditions lead to a higher negative soil affectation in terms of regions affected by extreme pHs, water contents and/or conductivities and to lower specific pollutant removals. Therefore, maximum efficiencies were found for Case b (constant electric potential gradient) with a total removal over 110 g kWh^-1 and only a slight affectation into the final soil properties.

Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes: An Overview of the Current Applications to Actual Industrial Effluents

<p>Many human activities result in the production of wastewater. Usually, physical, chemical and biological processes are successfully combined for the treatment of municipal wastewater, attaining good removal efficiencies. However, some industrial processes introduce anthropogenic recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater that are quite difficult to remove or degrade using conventional means and that should be removed due to their hazardousness. In such cases, the application of an Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) uses to be a good and/or promising alternative to attain an appropriate effluent. These processes rely on generating hydroxyl radical, which is a powerful oxidant that mineralizes efficiently pollutants contained in wastewater. In this review, we focus on the use of electrochemical methods to produce hydroxyl radical, using directly or indirectly electrochemical technology, within the so-called Advanced Electrochemical Oxidation Processes (EAOP). These processes include electrochemical, sonoelectrochemical and photoelectrochemical technologies and this work describes the fundamentals, main cases studied in the literature related to actual industrial waste treatment and tries to help in the elucidation of the range of applicability of each technology.</p>

Removal of oxyfluorfen from spiked soils using electrokinetic soil flushing with the surrounding arrangements of electrodes

This work reports the results of a study in which the remediation of soil that undergoes an accidental discharge of oxyfluorfen is carried out by using electrokinetic soil flushing (EKSF). Two different electrode configurations were tested, consisting of several electrodes surrounding an electrode of different polarity (so-called 1A6C, one anode surrounded by six cathodes, and 1C6A, one cathode surrounded by six cathodes). A pilot plant scale was used (with a soil volume of 175dm(3)) to perform the studies. During the tests, different parameters were measured daily (flowrates, pH, electrical conductivity and herbicide concentration in different sampling positions). Furthermore, at the end of the test, a complete post-mortem analysis was carried out to obtain a 3-D map of the pollution, pH and electrical conductivity in the soil. The results demonstrate that electrode arrangement is a key factor for effective pollutant removal. In fact, the 1A6C configuration improves the removal rate by 41.3% versus the 27.0% obtained by the 1C6A configuration after a period of 35days. Finally, a bench mark comparison of this study of soil remediation polluted with 2,4-D allows for significant conclusions about the scale-up and full-scale application of this technology.

Biosorption of Cr(III) and Fe(III) in single and binary systems onto pretreated orange peel

Trivalent chromium and iron are the products of the traditional reduction of hexavalent chromium by ferrous salts in industrial wastewater. Although there have been a few studies of Cr(III) adsorption, none have considered the effect of Fe(III) on Cr(III) adsorption in a binary system representing expected products of hexavalent chromium in industrial wastewater. The biosorption of Cr(III) and Fe(III) ions onto pretreated ground orange peel in single and binary systems was studied in batch experiments using a variety of techniques. The kinetic results showed a rapid rate of biosorption of Cr(III) and Fe(III) in single and binary systems and mutual interference effects in the competitive binary Cr(III)-Fe(III) system. Second order kinetic models showed the best fit for all systems. The behavior of competitive Cr(III)-Fe(III) biosorption were successfully described by the multicomponent Langmuir model, obtaining maximum capacities for Cr(III) and Fe(III) of 9.43 and 18.19 mg/g respectively. SEM/EDS results confirmed that the metals adsorb on the surface and FTIR identified the hydroxyl groups on the carboxylic acids as the active binding sites.

Treatment of soft drink process wastewater by ozonation, ozonation-H₂O₂ and ozonation-coagulation processes

In this research, we studied the treatment of wastewater from the soft drink process using oxidation with ozone. A scheme composed of sequential ozonation-peroxide, ozonation-coagulation and coagulation-ozonation treatments to reduce the organic matter from the soft drink process was also used. The samples were taken from the conventional activated sludge treatment of the soft drink process, and the experiments using chemical oxidation with ozone were performed in a laboratory using a reactor through a porous plate glass diffuser with air as a feedstock for the generation of ozone. Once the sample was ozonated, the treatments were evaluated by considering the contact time, leading to greater efficiency in removing colour, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The effect of ozonation and coagulant coupled with treatment efficiency was assessed under optimal conditions, and substantial colour and turbidity removal were found (90.52% and 93.33%, respectively). This was accompanied by a 16.78% reduction in COD (initial COD was 3410 mg/L). The absorbance spectra of the oxidised products were compared using UV-VIS spectroscopy to indicate the level of oxidation of the wastewater. We also determined the kinetics of decolouration and the removal of turbidity with the best treatment. The same treatment was applied to the sample taken from the final effluent of the activated sludge system, and a COD removal efficiency of 100% during the first minute of the reaction with ozone was achieved. As a general conclusion, we believe that the coagulant polyaluminum chloride - ozone (PAC- ozone) treatment of wastewater from the manufacturing of soft drinks is the most efficient for removing turbidity and colour and represents an advantageous option to remove these contaminants because their removal was performed in minutes compared to the duration of traditional physical, chemical and biological processes that require hours or days.

Use of pH-sensitive polymer hydrogels in lead removal from aqueous solution

Three gamma crosslinked polymeric hydrogels were synthesized and evaluated as lead ion sorbents. A crosslinked poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel was compared with two 4-vinylpiridine-grafted poly(acrylic acid) hydrogels (26.74 and 48.1% 4-vinylpiridine). The retention properties for Pb(II) from aqueous solutions of these three polymers were investigated by batch equilibrium procedure. The effects of pH, contact time and Pb(II) concentration were evaluated. The optimal pH range for all polymers was 4-6. The lightly grafted polymer (PAAc-g-4VP at 26.74%) exhibited a Pb(II) removal close to 80% at 5h and above 90% at 24h. The maximum Pb(II) removal was 117.9mg g(-1) of polymer and followed the Freundlich adsorption model. XPS characterization indicates that the carboxyl groups are involved in the Pb(II) removal.

Inside the removal of lead(II) from aqueous solutions by De-Oiled Allspice Husk in batch and continuous processes

A new adsorbent material for removing lead ions from aqueous solutions has been investigated. The residue of the allspice extraction process (De-Oiled Allspice Husk) was used on the removal of Pb(II) from water solutions. The lead sorption capacity of De-Olied Allspice Husk (DOAH) was studied in batch and continuous processes. It was found that percentage removals of Pb(II) depend on the pH and the initial lead concentrations. The Pb(II) uptake process was maximum at pH 5 in a range concentrations of 5-25 mg L(-1). The overall sorption process was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model under conditions of pH 5 (0.1 g adsorbent per 100 mL of contaminated solution) 0.001 mass/volume ratio and 25 degrees C. The sorption capacity of lead(II) onto DOAH in batch process was 5.00, 8.02, 11.59, 15.23 and 20.07 mg g(-1), when the concentration solutions were 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg L(-1) respectively. These values are lower than obtained in continuous process, where lead was removed by 95% and the experimental results were appropriately fitted by the Yoon-Nelson model. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides information regarding the interactions between lead ions and the adsorbent surface indicating that the formation of 2 complexes depends on the functional groups associated.

Cr(VI) and Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide removal from aqueous solutions using an iron rotating disc electrode

This paper presents the results of the investigation on the removal of Cr(VI) and the complex Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide from aqueous solutions using an electrochemical reactor, with iron electrodes. A maximum value of 99% Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions is observed for both Cr(VI) and Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide, at initial concentrations from 150 to 800 mg l(-1). Cyclic voltammetry experiments of water show the presence of electroactive species in the oxidation and reduction zones previous to the treatment and how this presence diminishes as the electrochemical treatment is applied to the wastewater. UV-Vis analyses corroborate the improvement on the quality of aqueous solutions treated. Finally, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersion spectra show that Cr and Fe are present as constituents of the sludge formed during the electrochemical treatment. It was demonstrated that the use of electrochemical methods for the treatment of Cr(VI) and Cr(VI)-diphenylcarbazide aqueous solutions is an effective and economical method.

Cd(II) and Pb(II) separation from aqueous solution using clinoptilolite and Opuntia ectodermis

This work presents the conditions for Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution using two different sorbent materials, namely, clinoptilolite and Opuntia ectodermis, which were characterized before and after entering into contact with the metal-containing aqueous media, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis (TGA) and surface area (BET). Metal removal was found to depend on the initial metal concentration in aqueous solution, pH and the mass/volume ratio. The Pb(II) and Cd(II) uptake process was maximum at pH 4 for both sorbents, which showed an adsorption capacity that was adequately described by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The Thomas model was used to describe the adsorption data from column studies, the sorption capacity was 12.21 Pb(II) mg per gram of Opuntia ectodermis, while 7.71 Pb(II) mg per gram of clinoptilolite were adsorbed; lower values were obtained for Cd(II) removal. It was demonstrated that the use of low cost materials for the treatment of Pb(II), and Cd(II), containing wastewater is an effective and economical alternative method.

Cr(VI) removal from wastewater using low cost sorbent materials: roots of Typha latifolia and ashes

This work presents conditions for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal from aqueous solution using different sorbent materials, namely: pyrolytic ashes of an industrial sludge from wastewater treatment and roots of Typha latifolia. The sorbent materials were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface area using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) technique, before and after the contact with the chromium-containing aqueous media. An overall Cr(VI) concentration reduction of 45% was achieved using the roots of Typha latifolia whereas in the case of pyrolytic ashes a 60% removal was observed. The percentage removal was found to depend on the initial Cr(VI) concentration in aqueous solution, pH and temperature. The Cr(VI) uptake process was maximum at pH 2 and a temperature of 40 degrees C for both sorbents. These materials showed a Cr(VI) adsorption capacity that was adequately described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was demonstrated that the use of waste materials for the treatment of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater is an effective and economical alternative method.