Lai Yee Lee

Erratum to: Potential Malaysia agricultural waste materials for the biosorption of cadmium(II) from aqueous solution

Biosorption of cadmium(II) ions (Cd2+) onto Ananas comosus (AC) peel, Parkia speciosa (PS) pods and Psidium guajava (PG) peel were investigated in this study. Batch sorption experiments were performed by investigating the effect of initial pH. It was found that Cd2+ uptake was highly dependent on the initial pH and Cd2+ removal efficiency was highest for PG peel, followed by AC peel and PS pods. Biosorption experiments were carried out using different initial Cd2+ concentration and the experimental data obtained was fitted to both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The experimental data was found to best fit the Langmuir isotherm, and adsorption capacities of 18.21 mg/g (AC peel), 25.64 mg/g (PS pods) and 39.68 mg/g (PG peel) were obtained. Comparison with published adsorption capacities for other low-cost biosorbents indicates that PS pods and PG peel have potential as low-cost biosorbent materials for the removal of Cd2+ from aqueous solution.

Manufacture and Characterisation of Silicalite Monoliths

Multichannel monoliths containing up to 90% silicalite by weight and with cell densities up to 28 cells/cm2, wall thicknesses down to 0.6 mm and an overall diameter of 40 mm have been prepared from silicalite powder and sodium bentonite (as a binder) by the unit operations of paste preparation, extrusion, drying and firing. The manufactured monoliths, which show good strength, retain the crystal structure and micropore size of the source silicalite powder, and adsorption measurements made by using a dynamic flow system confirm that the monoliths exhibit an equilibrium performance broadly similar to that of commercial silicalite pellets. In addition, the manufactured monoliths possess a higher macroporosity than the commercial pellets. Regeneration of the monoliths was found to be possible at mildly increased temperature. These features augur well for the recovery and/or separation of organic compounds in simple pressure swing and thermal swing processes.

Biochar potential evaluation of palm oil wastes through slow pyrolysis: Thermochemical characterization and pyrolytic kinetic studies

This research investigated the potential of palm kernel shell (PKS), empty fruit bunch (EFB) and palm oil sludge (POS), abundantly available agricultural wastes, as feedstock for biochar production by slow pyrolysis (50mLmin-1 N2 at 500°C). Various characterization tests were performed to establish the thermochemical properties of the feedstocks and obtained biochars. PKS and EFB had higher lignin, volatiles, carbon and HHV, and lower ash than POS. The thermochemical conversion had enhanced the biofuel quality of PKS-char and EFB-char exhibiting increased HHV (26.18-27.50MJkg-1) and fixed carbon (53.78-59.92%), and decreased moisture (1.03-2.26%). The kinetics of pyrolysis were evaluated by thermogravimetry at different heating rates (10-40°C). The activation energies determined by Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa models were similar, and comparable with literature data. The findings implied that PKS and EFB are very promising sources for biochars synthesis, and the obtained chars possessed significant biofuel potential.

Insights into the equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamics of nickel removal by environmental friendly Lansium domesticum peel biosorbent.

Lansium domesticum peel (LDP), a waste material generated from the fruit consumption, was evaluated as a biosorbent for nickel removal from aqueous media. The effects of dosage, contact time, initial pH, initial concentration and temperature on the biosorption process were investigated in batch experiments. Equilibrium data were fitted by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich models using nonlinear regression method with the best-fit model evaluated based on coefficient of determination (R(2)) and Chi-square (χ(2)). The best-fit isotherm was found to be the Langmuir model exhibiting R(2) very close to unity (0.997-0.999), smallest χ(2) (0.0138-0.0562) and largest biosorption capacity (10.1mg/g) at 30°C. Kinetic studies showed that the initial nickel removal was rapid with the equilibrium state established within 30min. Pseudo-second-order model was the best-fit kinetic model indicating the chemisorption nature of the biosorption process. Further data analysis by the intraparticle diffusion model revealed the involvement of several rate-controlling steps such as boundary layer and intraparticle diffusion. Thermodynamically, the process was exothermic, spontaneous and feasible. Regeneration studies indicated that LDP biosorbent could be regenerated using hydrochloric acid solution with up to 85% efficiency. The present investigation proved that LDP having no economic value can be used as an alternative eco-friendly biosorbent for remediation of nickel contaminated water.

Evaluation of carbon-based nanosorbents synthesised by ethylene decomposition on stainless steel substrates as potential sequestrating materials for nickel ions in aqueous solution

The present work covers the preparation of carbon-based nanosorbents by ethylene decomposition on stainless steel mesh without the use of external catalyst for the treatment of water containing nickel ions (Ni2+). The reaction temperature was varied from 650 to 850 degrees C, while reaction time and ethylene to nitrogen flow ratio were maintained at 30 min and 1:1 cm3/min, respectively. Results show that nanosorbents synthesised at a reaction temperature of 650 degrees C had the smallest average diameter (75 nm), largest BET surface area (68.95 m2/g) and least amount of impurity (0.98 wt.% Fe). A series of batch-sorption tests were performed to evaluate the effects of initial pH, initial metal concentration and contact time on Ni2+ removal by the nanosorbents. The equilibrium data fitted well to Freundlich isotherm. The kinetic data were best correlated to a pseudo second-order model indicating that the process was of chemisorption type. Further analysis by the Boyd kinetic model revealed that boundary layer diffusion was the controlling step. This primary study suggests that the prepared material with Freundlich constants compared well with those in the literature, is a promising sorbent for the sequestration of Ni2+ in aqueous solutions.

Assessment of fish scales waste as a low cost and eco-friendly adsorbent for removal of an azo dye: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

In this study, AB113 dye was successfully sequestered using a novel adsorbent made of mixed fish scales (MFS). The influence of adsorbent dosage, initial pH, temperature, initial concentration and contact time on the adsorption performance was investigated. The surface chemistry and morphology of the adsorbent were examined by FTIR, TGA and SEM. Amides, phosphate and carbonate groups were evidently responsible for the high affinity of MFS towards the dye. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetic were well described by Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacities of MFS were 145.3-157.3mg/g at 30-50°C. The adsorption of AB113 dye onto the adsorbent was exothermic and spontaneous as reflected by the negative enthalpy and Gibbs energy changes. The results support MFS asa potential adsorbent for AB113 dye removal.

Multistage optimizations of slow pyrolysis synthesis of biochar from palm oil sludge for adsorption of lead

This research investigated the removal of lead (Pb2+) by a novel biochar derived from palm oil sludge (POS-char) by slow pyrolysis. Multistage optimizations with central composite design were carried out to firstly optimize pyrolysis parameters to produce the best POS-char for Pb2+ removal and secondly to optimize adsorption conditions for the highest removal of Pb2+. The optimum pyrolysis parameters were nitrogen flowrateof30mLmin-1, heating rateof10°Cmin-1, temperatureof500°C and timeof30min. The optimum Pb2+ adsorption conditions were concentrationof200mgL-1, timeof60min, dosageof0.3g and pH of 3.02. The various functional groups within POS-char played a vital role in Pb2+ uptake. Regeneration was demonstrated to be feasible using hydrochloric acid. Adsorption equilibrium was best described by Freundlich model. At low concentration range, adsorption kinetic obeyed pseudo-first-order model, but at high concentration range, it followed pseudo-second-order model. Overall, the results highlighted that POS-char is an effective adsorbent for Pb2+ removal.

Adsorptive decontamination of diclofenac by three-dimensional graphene-based adsorbent: Response surface methodology, adsorption equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

&NA; Pharmaceutical residues are emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment and their removal by conventional wastewater treatment methods has proven to be ineffective. This research aimed to develop a three‐dimensional reduced graphene oxide aerogel (rGOA) for the removal of diclofenac in aqueous solution. The preparation of rGOA involved facile self‐assembly of graphene oxide under a reductive environment of L‐ascorbic acid. Characterisation of rGOA was performed by Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption‐desorption, Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The developed rGOA had a measured density of 20.39 ± 5.28 mg/cm3, specific surface area of 132.19 m2/g, cumulative pore volume of 0.5388 cm3/g and point of zero charge of 6.3. A study on the simultaneous interactions of independent factors by response surface methodology suggested dosage and initial concentration as the dominant parameters influencing the adsorption of diclofenac. The highest diclofenac adsorption capacity (596.71 mg/g) was achieved at the optimum conditions of 0.25 g/L dosage, 325 mg/L initial concentration, 200 rpm shaking speed and 30 °C temperature. The adsorption equilibrium data were best fitted to the Freundlich model with correlation coefficient (R2) varying from 0.9500 to 0.9802. The adsorption kinetic data were best correlated to the pseudo‐first‐order model with R2 ranging from 0.8467 to 0.9621. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the process was spontaneous (&Dgr;G = − 7.19 to − 0.48 kJ/mol) and exothermic (&Dgr;H = − 12.82 to − 2.17 kJ/mol). This research concluded that rGOA is a very promising adsorbent for the remediation of water polluted by diclofenac.