Eva Kumar

DEFLUORIDATION FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY GRANULAR FERRIC HYDROXIDE (GFH)

This research was undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) for fluoride removal from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of various experimental parameters such as contact time (1 min-24h), initial fluoride concentration (1-100 mgL(-1)), temperature (10 and 25 degrees C), pH (3-12) and the presence of competing anions on the adsorption of fluoride on GFH. Kinetic data revealed that the uptake rate of fluoride was rapid in the beginning and 95% adsorption was completed within 10 min and equilibrium was achieved within 60 min. The sorption process was well explained with pseudo-first-order and pore diffusion models. The maximum adsorption capacity of GFH for fluoride removal was 7.0 mgg(-1). The adsorption was found to be an endothermic process and data conform to Langmuir model. The optimum fluoride removal was observed between pH ranges of 4-8. The fluoride adsorption was decreased in the presence of phosphate followed by carbonate and sulphate. Results from this study demonstrated potential utility of GFH that could be developed into a viable technology for fluoride removal from drinking water.

Defluoridation from aqueous solutions by nano-alumina: Characterization and sorption studies

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of nano-alumina (Al(2)O(3)) for fluoride adsorption from aqueous solutions. The nature and morphology of pure and fluoride-sorbed nano-alumina were characterized by SEM with EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis. Batch adsorption studies were performed as a function of contact time, initial fluoride concentration, temperature, pH and influence of competing anions. Fluoride sorption kinetics was well fitted by pseudo-second-order model. The maximum sorption capacity of nano-alumina for fluoride removal was found to be 14.0 mg g(-1) at 25°C. Maximum fluoride removal occurred at pH 6.15. The fluoride sorption has been well explained using Langmuir isotherm model. Fluoride sorption was mainly influenced by the presence of PO(4)(3-), SO(4)(2-) and CO(3)(2-) ions.

Removal of Anionic Dyes from Water using Citrus limonum (Lemon) Peel: Equilibrium Studies and Kinetic Modeling

Abstract The present study was undertaken to evaluate the adsorption potential of Citrus limonum (lemon) peel as an adsorbent for the removal of two anionic dyes, Methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. The adsorption was studied as a function of contact time, initial concentration, and temperature by batch method. The adsorption capacities of lemon peel adsorbent for dyes were found 50.3 and 34.5 mg/g for MO and CR, respectively. The equilibrium adsorption data was well described by the Langmuir model. Three simplified kinetic models viz. pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model were tested to describe the adsorption process. Kinetic parameters, rate constants, equilibrium sorption capacities, and related correlation coefficients for each kinetic model were determined. It was found that the present system of dyes adsorption on lemon peel adsorbent could be described more favorably by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The results of the present study reveal that lemon peel adsorbent can be fruitfully utilized as an inexpensive adsorbent for dyes removal from effluents.

Interaction of inorganic anions with iron-mineral adsorbents in aqueous media--a review.

A number of inorganic anions (e.g., nitrate, fluoride, bromate, phosphate, and perchlorate) have been reported in alarming concentrations in numerous drinking water sources around the world. Their presence even in very low concentrations may cause serious environmental and health related problems. Due to the presence and significance of iron minerals in the natural aquatic environment and increasing application of iron in water treatment, the knowledge of the structure of iron and iron minerals and their interactions with aquatic pollutants, especially inorganic anions in water are of great importance. Iron minerals have been known since long as potential adsorbents for the removal of inorganic anions from aqueous phase. The chemistry of iron and iron minerals reactions in water is complex. The adsorption ability of iron and iron minerals towards inorganic anions is influenced by several factors such as, surface characteristics of the adsorbent (surface area, density, pore volume, porosity, pore size distribution, pHpzc, purity), pH of the solution, and ionic strength. Furthermore, the physico-chemical properties of inorganic anions (pore size, ionic radius, bulk diffusion coefficient) also significantly influence the adsorption process. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the properties of iron and iron minerals and their reactivity with some important inorganic anionic contaminants present in water. It also summarizes the usage of iron and iron minerals in water treatment technology.

Biological treatment by activated sludge of petroleum refinery wastewaters

AbstractThis paper reports on biological treatment by activated sludge of petroleum refinery wastewaters, in a lab-scale reactor constituted by an aeration tank and clarifier provided with sludge recycle system. The main objective of the work includes the optimization of the process efficiency in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and total suspended solids (TSS), and modeling of the biological treatment by activated sludge and determination of the main stoichiometry and kinetic parameters for the process, such as, synthesis and decay of biomass, oxygen consumption related to organics oxidation, and endogenous respiration with and without sludge recycle. Laboratory-scale experiments successfully showed high removal efficiencies for COD (94–95%), TOC (85–87%), and TSS (98–99%). The removal of organic matter was well described by a pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with rate constant (k) values of 0.055 and 0.059 L mg−1 VSS day−1, with and without biomass recirculation, respe...

Removal of phenolic pollutants from water utilizing Mangifera indica (Mango) seed waste and cement fixation

Abstract A process for the removal of two chlorophenols (2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol) from water using surface modified mango seed waste by adsorption process followed by cement fixation of the phenols-laden adsorbent is investigated. The two main objectives of this study were to develop efficient adsorbent utilizing mango seed waste by physiochemical activation and to an environmentally-friendly disposal of phenols-laden adsorbent into cement by a fixation process. The results of the present study reveal that the modified mango seed adsorbent showed an efficient adsorption potential for chlorophenols removal from water. The maximum adsorption potential of modified mango seed adsorbent for 2-chlorophenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol was 40.6 and 72.3 mg g−1, respectively at 25°C. Adsorption kinetic data of chlorophenols adsorption on mango seed adsorbent could be described more favorably by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. After the adsorption studies, the phenol-laden adsorbent was immobilized in cement for its ultimate disposal. Leachates from the fixed phenols-laden adsorbent exhibit phenols concentrations lower than the drinking water standards. Results from this study suggest the potential utility of agricultural wastes as one of the most promising activated carbon precursors for phenols removal from water and wastewater and the safe disposal of phenol-laden adsorbent into cement by fixation process.

Sulphide removal from petroleum refinery wastewaters by catalytic oxidation

Abstract The catalytic oxidation of sulphides present in oil refinery wastewaters was investigated in the present study. The wastewaters were obtained from the wastewater treatment plant of the oil refinery in Matosinhos (Portugal), Galp Energia. Air, NaOCl and H2O2 were chosen as oxidants and Fe3+ and Mn2+ as the two catalysts to assess the effective combination of catalyst–oxidant for sulphide removal after oil separation in parallel plate interceptors. Primarily, air (oxygen) was used as the oxidant and the efficiency of two catalysts (Fe3+ and Mn2+) for sulphide removal was evaluated. Experimental data suggested that Fe3+ catalysed sulphide removal in the presence of oxygen was more effective than Mn2+ catalysed reaction. In a subsequent study, oxygen was replaced by NaOCl and H2O2, and the potential of various catalyst–oxidant combinations, NaOCl + [Fe3+], NaOCl + [Mn2+], H2O2 + [Fe3+], H2O2 + [Mn2+], was assessed. The NaOCl + [Fe3+] combination achieved the maximum sulphide oxidation. Pseudo-first-o...

Ion Exchange Technology: A Promising Approach for Anions Removal from Water

Water pollution due to increased agricultural, industrial, and domestic activities has become a serious concern worldwide. Various toxic pollutants have been detected in drinking water sources at alarming levels. Anionic pollutants, one of the important classes of aquatic pollutants, need special attention for their removal from water as usually there will be no organoleptic changes in water when anions are present even at low concentrations, thereby increasing the health risks. Ion exchange (IE) technology has been proven as one of the best technologies for water and wastewater treatment. In this review, a compilation of various IE materials reported in the vast literature, used for the removal of various anions (nitrate, fluoride, perchlorate, arsenate, chromate, phosphate, thiocyanate, etc.) from water, has been presented, and their main findings are discussed.