M.C. Wang

Removal of some metal ions by activated carbon prepared from Phaseolus aureus hulls

Removal of lead [Pb(II)], zinc [Zn(II)], copper [Cu(II)], and cadmium [Cd(II)] from aqueous solutions using activated carbon prepared from Phaseolus aureus hulls (ACPAH), an agricultural waste was studied. The influence of various parameters such as effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration of metal ions on the removal was evaluated by batch method. The removal of metal ions by ACPAH was pH dependent and the optimum pH values were 7.0, 8.0, 7.0 and 6.0 for Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II), respectively. The sorption isotherms were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R), and Temkin isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity values of ACPAH for metal ions were 21.8 mg g(-1) for Pb(II), 21.2 mg g(-1) for Zn(II), 19.5 mg g(-1) for Cu(II), and 15.7 mg g(-1) for Cd(II). The experiments demonstrated that the removal of metal ions followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Desorption experiments were carried out using HCl solution with a view to regenerate the spent adsorbent and to recover the adsorbed metal ions.

Biosorption of Pb2+ from aqueous solutions by Moringa oleifera bark: Equilibrium and kinetic studies

Biosorption of Pb(2+) from aqueous solution by biomass prepared from Moringa oleifera bark (MOB), an agricultural solid waste has been studied. Parameters that influence the biosorption such as pH, biosorbent dose, contact time and concentration of metal ion were 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. Results indicated that the data of Pb(2+) adsorption onto MOB were best fit by the Freundlich model. The adsorption capacity (Q(m)) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 34.6mgPb(2+)g(-1) at an initial pH of 5.0. Adsorption kinetics data were analyzed using the pseudo-first-, pseudo-second-order equations and intraparticle diffusion models. The results indicated that the adsorption kinetic data were best described by pseudo-second-order model. Infrared (IR) spectral analysis revealed that the lead ions were chelated to hydroxyl and/or carboxyl functional groups present on the surface of MOB. Biosorbent was effective in removing lead in the presence of common metal ions like Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) present in water. Desorption studies were carried out with dilute hydrochloric acid for quantitative recovery of the metal ion as well as to regenerate the adsorbent. Based on the results obtained such as good uptake capacity, rapid kinetics, and its low cost, M. oleifera bark appears to be a promising biosorbent material for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater/effluents.

Oxidative degradation and associated mineralization of catechol, hydroquinone and resorcinol catalyzed by birnessite.

Abiotic degradation and mineralization of catechol, hydroquinone, and resorcinol catalyzed by birnessite (delta-MnO2) was investigated. Studies were carried out by monitoring changes of pE versus time and pH versus time of the reaction systems during the initial 10 h reaction period and release of CO2 and associated reactions at the end of a 90 h reaction period. The reactions under anoxic condition were compared with aeration condition. The reactions were carried out in suspensions at initial pH of 6.0 under air and N2 atmosphere at room temperature and free of microbial activity. These results indicated that kinetic-related changes of pE versus time and pH versus time were dependent on structural characteristics of phenolic compound and aeration or anoxic condition in the reaction system. The sequence of the mineralization of phenolic compounds catalyzed by delta-MnO2 in presence of air expressed by CO2 release was catechol > hydroquinone > or = resorcinol and the differences were significant. However, under an N2 atmosphere the amounts of CO2 released were drastically reduced with insignificant differences among the three reaction systems. Further, phenolic compound degradations, dissolved and adsorbed Mn, and oxidation state of Mn in delta-MnO2 were also determined to elucidate the catalytic efficacy mediated by both O2 and delta-MnO2 in the reaction systems.

Phytoremediation of pyrene contaminated soils amended with compost and planted with ryegrass and alfalfa

Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were planted in pots to remediate pyrene contaminated quartz sand (as a control group), alluvial and red soils amended with and without compost. The pyrene degradation percentages in quartz sand, alluvial soil, and red soil amended with compost (5%, w/w) and planted with ryegrass and alfalfa for 90 d growth were 98-99% and 97-99%, respectively, while those of pyrene in the corresponding treatments amended without compost but planted with ryegrass and alfalfa were 91-96% and 58-89%, respectively. Further, those of pyrene in the respective treatments amended with and without compost but unplanted were 54-77% and 51-63%, respectively. Pyrene contents in both roots and aboveground parts of ryegrass and alfalfa after 90 d growth in quartz sand and the two soils amended with or without compost were trace amounts. Statistical analyses for the parameters of ryegrass planted in red and alluvial soils including the concentrations of total water-soluble volatile low molecular weight organic acids, microbial population, pyrene degradation percentage, and spiked pyrene concentration show significant correlations at 5% and mostly 1% probability levels, by the analysis of variance. It was thus suggested that the interactions among the consortia of plant root exudates, microorganisms, and amended compost in rhizosphere soils could facilitate bioavailability of pyrene and subsequently enhance its dissipation.

Effect of water extract of compost on the adsorption of arsenate by two calcareous soils

The increasing mobility of arsenate will increase its leachingpotential to groundwater and uptake by plants. The mobility ofarsenate in soils is related to the competitive adsorption with other substances. The effect of organic substances on the adsorption of arsenate by soils was evaluated using the water extract of compost (WEC) as a complex anion source in a batch experiment. Two calcareous slate alluvial soils, Chiwulan andShuipientou, with higher arsenic contents of 23.7 and 12.9 mg kg-1, respectively, were used. The Langmuir equation has been used to describe successfully the As adsorption isotherm for the two soils. The maximum adsorption of As was 6.098 and 4.785 μmol g-1 for Chiwulan and Shuipientou soils, respectively. There was competitive adsorption for binding siteson the soils between arsenate oxyanions and organic anions derived from the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of WEC. Differentcritical pH values were for arsenate addition related to arsenateadsorption on both soils in the absence of DOC of WEC but not inthe presence of DOC of WEC. The soil properties related to arsenate adsorption by the two soils may govern the critical pH values.

Type of fertilizer applied to a paddy-upland rotation affects selected soil quality attributes

Abstract Transformation of organic amendments in soil greatly affects its physical, chemical, and biological properties. The aim of this study was to investigate changes of soil quality attributes in field plots after 3–5 years of annual paddy–upland crop rotation with various fertilizations since 1995. Other than the amendments of green manure, compost, and peat, chemical fertilizer N in the amounts of 33% and 67% of established N rate were complemented. Spring rice ( Oryza sativa L.) and autumn maize ( Zea mays L.) were planted each year. After the harvests of three to five maize and rice crops from 1998 through 2000, surface soil samples were collected from the plots of each treatment. Applications of organic materials to the plots prevented soil pH from decreasing, and increased the amounts of soluble salts. After rice harvest, the soil water contents at 0.033 MPa tension were significantly greater in soils amended with peat and/or compost than that with chemical fertilizer and the check. The bulk density of surface soils of the field plots amended with organic materials was significantly lower than that of the check. After maize harvest, the differences in bulk density of the surface soils among the seven treatments were not significant. The percentages of water stable aggregate in 1–2 and 0.5–1 mm particle size fractions of the soils, amended with peat and compost, were significantly higher than those amended with chemical fertilizer and the check. Although chemical fertilizer played a significant role in governing the maize and rice yields, it did not significantly contribute to the improvement of some soil quality attributes.

Effect of sunlight irradiation on photocatalytic pyrene degradation in contaminated soils by micro-nano size TiO2.

The enhanced catalytic pyrene degradation in quartz sand and alluvial and red soils by micro-nano size TiO(2) in the presence and absence of sunlight was investigated. The results showed that the synergistic effect of sunlight irradiation and TiO(2) was more efficient on pyrene degradation in quartz sand and red and alluvial soils than the corresponding reaction system without sunlight irradiation. In the presence of sunlight irradiation, the photooxidation (without TiO(2)) of pyrene was very pronounced in alluvial and red soils and especially in quartz sand. However, in the absence of sunlight irradiation, the catalytic pyrene degradation by TiO(2) and the photooxidation (without TiO(2)) of pyrene were almost nil. This implicates that ultra-violet (UV) wavelength range of sunlight plays an important role in TiO(2)-enhanced photocatalytic pyrene degradation and in photooxidation (without TiO(2)) of pyrene. The percentages of photocatalytic pyrene degradation by TiO(2) in quartz sand, alluvial and red soils under sunlight irradiation were 78.3, 23.4, and 31.8%, respectively, at 5h reaction period with a 5% (w/w) dose of the amended catalyst. The sequence of TiO(2)-enhanced catalytic pyrene degradation in quartz sand and alluvial and red soils was quartz sand>red soil>alluvial soil, due to different texture and total organic carbon (TOC) contents of the quartz sand and other two soils. The differential Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of degraded pyrene in alluvial soil corroborate that TiO(2)-enhanced photocatalytic degradation rate of degraded pyrene was much greater than photooxidation (without TiO(2)) rate of degraded pyrene. Based on the data obtained, the importance for the application of TiO(2)-enhanced photocatalytic pyrene degradation and associated organic contaminants in contaminated soils was elucidated.

Sorption of toluene by humic acids derived from lake sediment and mountain soil at different pH.

Contamination of soil and groundwater with BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) depends on the sorption behavior of these compounds by soil organic matter (SOM) and humic acids (HAs). In this study sorption of toluene by HAs extracted from lake sediment and mountain soil was investigated. HA suspensions were adjusted to pH 4.00, 6.00, or 8.00 and made to the concentration of 200 mg L(-1). Each HA suspension or solution was subjected to particle size analysis using high performance particle sizer (HPPS). The particle size of HA from lake sediment was around 1000-1200 nm while that from mountain soil was 220-320 nm at suspension pH 4.00. Kinetic studies showed that sorption of toluene by the two HAs followed pseudo-first-order and mainly pseudo-zero-order kinetics. At suspension pH 4.00, the sorption of toluene by the two HAs was best described by Langmuir and Temkin adsorption isotherm models. Further, sorption of toluene by the lake sediment HA was significantly greater than that by mountain soil HA. It was thus suggested that the lake sediment HA with larger particle size may develop beneficially chemical conformation for sorption of toluene and related compounds in soil and associated environments.

Oxidative degradation of pyrene in contaminated soils by δ-MnO2 with or without sunlight irradiation.

The enhanced oxidative degradation of pyrene in quartz sand and alluvial and red soils by micro-nano size birnessite (δ-MnO(2)) in the presence and absence of sunlight was investigated. The degradation of pyrene by δ-MnO(2) in quartz sand showed very little synergistic effect of sunlight irradiation on δ-MnO(2) oxidizing power. However, pyrene degradation by δ-MnO(2) in alluvial and red soils was greater under solar irradiation than the combination of photooxidation of pyrene and oxidation of pyrene by δ-MnO(2). The oxidative degradation percentages of pyrene by δ-MnO(2) under sunlight irradiation are 94.8, 97.7, and 100% for alluvial soil, red soil, and quartz sand, respectively. Oxidative degradation percentages of pyrene by δ-MnO(2) in alluvial and red soils with irradiation of sunlight almost attained a maximum at 1 h with a 5% (w/w) dose of the amended oxidant. Due to their different total organic carbon (TOC) contents, the sequence of enhanced oxidative degradation of pyrene by δ-MnO(2) in quartz sand and alluvial and red soils was quartz sand>red soil>alluvial soil. Further, this study revealed that δ-MnO(2)-enhanced oxidative degradation of pyrene is very pronounced in contaminated soils in situ even at deep soil layers where irradiation by sunlight is very limited.