Marek Matik

Removal of Cd2+ And Pb2+ from Aqueous Solutions Using Bio-Char Residues

Abstract In this paper, wheat straw and rapeseed residues before and after microwave pyrolysis during biooil production were studied as potential sorbents of heavy metals. The sorbents were characterized by elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Sorption properties of the materials were investigated using batch adsorption-equilibrium experiments and the effect of initial Cd and Pb concentration was studied. The experimental data fit Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The maximum sorption affinity of studied materials was observed in the case of rapeseed and its sorption capacity was 31.6 and 83.5 mg/g for Cd and Pb, respectively.

Production, characterization and adsorption studies of bamboo-based biochar/montmorillonite composite for nitrate removal

Biochar is a promising immobilization tool for various contaminants in liquid wastes, aqueous solutions and soils. To further improve the sorption characteristics, a biochar/montmorillonite composite was produced and synthesized in an experimental pyrolysis reactor, using bamboo as biomass feedstock. The composite was characterized by physico-chemical and structural methods (FTIR, SEM, SEM/EDX, SSA, Low temperature nitrogen adsorption method). Based on these methods, the successful preparation of a bamboo based biochar/montmorillonite composite preparation has been demonstrated. The particles of montmorillonite were distributed across the biochar surface. The adsorption studies for removal nitrates from aqueous solutions were investigated by a batch method at laboratory temperatures. The experimental data were fitted by three adsorption models (Langmuir, Freundlich and DR; R2 > 0.93). The maximum adsorption capacity achieved by biochar at pH 4, was about 5 mg g-1 and by biochar/montmorillonite composite 9 mg g-1. The results suggest that the bamboo-based biochar/montmorillonite composite can be used effectively in the treatment of industrial effluents or waste water containing anionic pollutants such as nitrates.

Application of Microwave Energy at Treatment of Asbestos Cement (Eternit)

Asbestos is the common name applied to a group of natural, fibrous silicate minerals, which were once one of the most popular raw materials to be used in building materials. Asbestos was mainly used for the production of assortment asbestos cement products. Today it is generally known that asbestos belongs to the group of hazardous materials and shows carcinogenic activity. It is therefore advisable to attempt to dispose of asbestos minerals in asbestos-containing materials and to convert them into a harmless material. One of methods may be microwave thermal decomposition of asbestos minerals. The research was used for old etemit roof ceiling. X-ray analysis indicated the presence of undesirable chrysotile. Its thermal destruction was carried out in a microwave oven in the power of 2500 W. In case the heating time was 15 min, X-ray analysis was confirmed chrysotile change into harmless minerals. Thermal analysis was used for characterization and the thermal behaviour of the asbestos cement sample.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON NANOSTRUCTURES INSIDE POROUS ZEOLITES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN WATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES

Abstract. A new sorbent with magnetic properties and anion removal ability has been produced by incorporating iron oxide based nanoparticles into the pores of zeolite crystals. The sorbent has been tested for the removal of arsenic (V) species from model aqueous solutions in batch–type equilibrium expe-riments. Good sorption was observed with maximum capacity of 73.32 mg of As per g of sorbent at pH 3.5. Keywords: arsenic; iron oxides; nanoparticles; magnetically modified zeolite; sorption Nanotechnology is developing fast, with much impact on a wide variety of technological areas. Inclusion of guests into a well-organized host matrix is a powerful method to form new nano-sized materials. Nanoporous and micropo-rous crystals, such as molecular sieves (zeolites) are ideal hosts for accommo-dation of organic and inorganic molecules, polymer chains, etc., because of their uniform pore size and their ability to adsorb molecular species. It is well known that zeolites possess a negatively charged surface and are therefore good sorbents of cations. The modification of their surface can create localized functional groups with a good affinity to inorganic anions too.