Ammar H. Al-Dujaili

A study on removal characteristics of o-, m-, and p-nitrophenol from aqueous solutions by organically modified diatomaceous earth

AbstractThe natural diatomaceous earth (DAT) was modified with surfactant of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMABr) to form organic-modified diatomaceous earth (DAT-HDTMABr). The DAT and DAT-HDTMABr were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and DTA-TG. The surface area was determined using Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller adsorption method. Cation exchange capacity was estimated using an ethylenediamine complex of copper method, and the modifier loading was calculated from the total carbon analysis. The ability of raw and organomodified diatomaceous earth to remove o-nitrophenol (ONP), m-nitrophenol (MNP), and p-nitrophenol (PNP) from aqueous solutions has been carried out at predetermined equilibration time, adsorbent amount, pH, and temperatures using a batch technique. The removal of ONP, MNP, and PNP from aqueous solutions by modified clay seems to be more effective than unmodified sample. The experimental equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed by four widely used two par...

Adsorption of Pb(II) on raw and organically modified Jordanian bentonite

Abstract A comparative study using bentonite (BT), hexadecyltrimethylammonium-modified bentonite (BT-HDTMA) and phenyl fatty hydroxamic acid-modified bentonite (BT-PFHA) as adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) has been proposed. These adsorbents were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and surface area measurement. Cation exchange capacity was also determined in this study. The adsorbent capabilities for Pb(II) from aqueous solution were investigated, and the optimal experimental conditions including adsorption time, adsorbent dosage, the initial concentration of Pb(II), pH and temperature that might influence the adsorption performance were also investigated. The experimental equilibrium adsorption data were tested by four widely used two-parameter equations, the Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin- Radushkevich (D-R) and Temkin isotherms. The monolayer adsorption capacities of BT, BT-HDTMA and BT-PFHA for Pb(II) were 149.3, 227.3 and 256.4 mg/g, respectively. The experimental kinetic data were analysed by pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion kinetics models. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Determination of the thermodynamic parameters, ΔG, ΔH and ΔS showed the adsorption to be feasible, spontaneous and exothermic.

Phenol adsorption on biochar prepared from the pine fruit shells: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamics studies

Biochar samples were prepared from pine fruit shell (PFS) biomass using slow pyrolysis for 1 h at three different temperatures (350, 450 and 550°C). Batch experiments were carried out for the biosorption of phenol onto these biochars. The effect of biosorption experimental parameters such as adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, initial solution pH, contact time and temperatures has been investigated. Experimental equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherms by non-linear regression method. The experimental kinetic data were also fitted to Lagergren pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models by non-linear regression method. Determination coefficient (R2), chi-squared (χ2) and error function (Ferror%) were used to determine the optimum isotherm and kinetic by non-linear regression method. Kinetics results were best described by pseudo-second order model for phenol onto three biochars. Thermodynamic parameters were estimated and implied that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic in nature.

Synthesis and Characterization of New Polyamides Containing Symmetrical and Unsymmetrical Thiadiazole Rings

Diamino derivatives of thiadiazole namely, 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazole were synthesized and characterized. Polyamides were synthesized by condensation of the two diamino derivatives with diacide chlorides. The structures of polyamides were verified by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The polyamides possess good solubility in aprotic organic solvents such as DMF, DMAC, DMSO and NMP at room temperature. Intrinsic viscosity measurements indicate that the polyamides synthesized have moderate molecular weights. The thermal stability of these polyamides in nitrogen atmosphere is relatively good, especially for those polyamides containing phenylene ring in the backbone. Compared to the structurally related Kevlar aramide, using 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole and 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-thiadiazole instead of p-phenylene diamine results in reducing the melting points of polyamides to below 350 °C.

Synthesis and characterization of some novel liquid crystalline compounds of 1,3,4-oxadiazoline and their hydrazone derivatives

ABSTRACT Three new series of mesogens have been synthesized by fixing 4-methoxy or 4-butoxy substituted phenyl ring in one side and 4-hydroxy, bromo or amino substituted phenyl group in the other side with different central linkage. The molecular structure of these series was confirmed by elemental analysis and FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy. The mesomorphic properties were studied by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and optical polarizing microscopy (OPM). All the compounds of series [I] exhibit enantiotropic smectic B (SmB) phase. All the compounds of series [II] and [III] display SmB and nematic (N) phases. The mesomorphic properties were found to be dependent on the two terminal 4-substituted phenyl groups and the central linkage group.

Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in the Dead Sea Mud and Treatment Optimization

ABSTRACT This paper describes the experimental remediation of the Dead Sea mud and the quantitative determination of some heavy metals. Herein, two chelating agents were employed as extracting aqueous solution: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and citric acid. The study focused on the main known heavy metals that were reported previously to be in the Dead Sea mud, which are Co, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cr. Findings had indicated that citric acid was efficient in the removal of the aforementioned heavy metals. Physicochemical parameters that were expected to affect the removal of metals in the Dead Sea mud were optimized. Those parameters were the chelating agent concentration, mixing time and speed, type of washing water, temperature, and pH. The results showed that the best removal of heavy metals from Dead Sea mud can be achieved under optimum citric acid concentration, 1.5 g/50 mL for treatment of 10 g mud. Optimum mixing speed and time were found to be 800 rpm and 1 hr, respectively. Regarding washing water, it was found that the use of the same water for repeated washing provided better removal percentages. pH values and temperature had effect on removal percentages of the heavy metals from mud. However, working at pH 7 and room temperature would provide convenient results for heavy metal removal.

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of 2,4-bis(4′-n-pentyloxybenzoyloxy)- benzylidine-4″- n-alkoxyaniline

ABSTRACT The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a new series of 2,4-bis(4′-npentyloxybenzoyloxy)- benzylidine-4″ -n-alkoxyaniline (DC5An) are reported. The molecular structure of compounds was confirmed by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The mesomorphic properties were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) measurements. All compounds of the series exhibit nematic (N) and smectic C (SmC) phases. The first four homologues (DC5A1-DC5A4) display a N mesophase, whereas the highest homologues (DC5A5-DC5A10) exhibit an enantiotropic dimorphism N and SmC phases. The mesomorphic properties of the present series are compared and discussed with other structurally related series.