Bachar Koubaissy

Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of phenol drifts on three zeolites

In this study, the sorption of phenol drifts was studied by performing batch kinetic sorption experiments. The equilibrium kinetic data was analyzed using the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Fowler-Guggenheim model gives a perfect fitting with the isotherm data. The influence of porous structure of a zeolite particle on phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions is analyzed and discussed. The adsorption for phenol drifts on zeolite was proved to be an exothermic process. Thus the solubility of the phenolic compound and the pH of the solution play also an important role in adsorption phenomena.The relative affinity of the phenolic compound toward the zeolite was related to the electron donor-acceptor complexes that were formed between the basic sites on the zeolite (oxygen) and hydrogens (acidic site) of the phenols. Finally zeolite seems to be an efficient adsorbent; it can be easily regenerated by methanol leaching.

Functionalization of SBA-15 materials for the adsorption of phenols from aqueous solution

Water pollution by toxic organic compounds is a problem and demand for efficient adsorbents for the removal of toxic compounds is increasing. In the present work, we studied the functionalization of SBA-15 materials via the co-condensation between an alkoxysilane and an organoalkoxysilane in the presence of P123 as structuring agent. Several types of ligands were used: 3-mercaptopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] aniline; aminopropyltrimethoxysilane; [aminoethylamino]-propyltrimethoxysilanes and [(2-aminoethylamino) ethylamino] propyltrimethoxysilanes. These materials exhibit BET surface area of 275–776 m2/g and total pore volume of 0.29–1 cm3/g, depending on the ligand types and contents. Elementary analysis results confirm the incorporation of both thiol and amine group in the materials. Batch adsorption studies shows that the adsorption capacity of phenol drifts on the amine and thiol functionalized SBA-15 is greater than that on pure SBA-15. A linear relationship was observed between the adsorption capacity and N/SiO2 ratio. It was shown that the presence of amine promotes interactions with water molecules, on the other hand, these results can also be explained by the basic behavior of N-functionalized materials.

Bio oil synthesis by coupling biological biomass pretreatment and catalytic hydroliquefaction process.

The bio-oil synthesis from a mixture of wastes (7wt.% straw, 38wt.% wood, and 45wt.% grass) was carried out by direct liquefaction reaction using Raney Nickel as catalyst and tetralin as solvent. The green wastes were biologically degraded during 3 months. Longer the destructuration time; higher the yield into oil is. Biological pretreatment of green wastes promotes the liquefaction process. Among the components of degraded biomass, Humin, the major fraction (60-80wt.%) that was favored by the biological treatment, yields to a bio oil extremely energetic with a HHV close to biopetroleum (40MJ kg(-1)), contrariwise, Fulvic acids (2-12wt.%), the minor fraction is refractory to liquefaction reaction.

Valorization of agricultural waste into activated carbons and its adsorption characteristics for heavy metals

Activated carbon derived from pine cones waste was prepared by carbonization at 450°C, activated by different activating agents: ZnCl2, H2SO4 and NaOH, and then pyrolyzed at 600°C. Adsorption of Cr VI and other heavy metals (Mn II, Fe II, Cu II) on activated carbons was investigated to evaluate the adsorption properties. Special attention was paid to the effects of carbon surface functionalities that were analyzed by FT-IR and zeta potential study. Moreover, XRD study of activated carbon was also carried out. Results had shown that activated carbon by NaOH was the best adsorbent for removal of chromium VI from wastewater. The solid-solution interaction was determined by analyzing the adsorption isotherms at room temperature at different pH. When pH is above 4, the removal fraction of Cr (VI) ions decreased with the increase of pH. The removal fraction of Cr (VI) ions decreased below pH 4. The preferable removal of Cu (II) over Mn(II) and Fe (II) could be due to its lower affinity to solvent.Pseudo-second order equation provided the better correlation for the adsorption kinetics data. Equilibrium isotherms were determined by Fowler-Guggenheim model.

Adsorption of uremic toxins over dealuminated zeolites

In this study, adsorption capacities of uremic toxins over Faujasite (HFAU) and Beta (HBEA) have been evaluated by varying the composition of solvent by using water, physiological, and sodium chloride solutions. HFAU was found to be more efficient in adsorption of these molecules. The adsorption results over HFAU were compared in various conditions to understand the adsorption mechanism. Thus, the adsorption mechanism was confirmed also by Fourier transform infrared and X-ray diffraction analysis, and it is found to be through the interaction of creatinine by hydrogen bonding on two types of sites on zeolites. Pseudo-second-order equation described well the adsorption kinetics data. Equilibrium isotherms were determined by Fowler–Guggenheim model. Finally, hydrophobic HFAU zeolite seems to be an efficient adsorbent; it is able to be easily regenerated under air, through retention of these initial adsorption properties.