Maria Lucia Caetano Pinto da Silva

Adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by hydrous zirconium oxide

A type of ZrO(2).nH(2)O was synthesized and its Cr(VI) removal potential was investigated in this study. The kinetic study, adsorption isotherm, pH effect, thermodynamic study and desorption were examined in batch experiments. The kinetic process was described by a pseudo-second-order rate model very well. The Cr(VI) adsorption tended to increase with a decrease of pH. The adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacity increased from 61 to 66 mg g(-1) when the temperature was increased from 298 to 338 K. The positive values of both Delta H degrees and DeltaS degrees suggest an endothermic reaction and increase in randomness at the solid-liquid interface during the adsorption. Delta G degrees values obtained were negative indicating a spontaneous adsorption process. The effective desorption of Cr(VI) on ZrO(2).nH(2)O could be achieved using distilled water at pH 12.

Adsorption of phosphate from aqueous solution by hydrous zirconium oxide

Synthetic ZrO2·nH2O was used for phosphate removal from aqueous solution. The optimum adsorbent dose obtained for phosphate adsorption on to hydrous zirconium oxide was 0.1 g. The kinetic process was described very well by a pseudo-second-order rate model. The phosphate adsorption tended to increase with the decrease in pH. The adsorption capacity increased from 61 to 66 mg g−1 when the temperature was increased from 298 to 338 K. A phosphate desorption of approximately 74% was obtained using water at pH 12.

Adsorção de chumbo, cádmio e prata em óxido de nióbio (V) hidratado preparado pelo método da precipitação em solução homogênea

This paper describes the adsorption of heavy metals ions from aqueous solution by hydrous niobium oxide. Three heavy metals were selected for this study: cadmium, lead and silver. Adsorption isotherms were well fitted by Langmuir model. Maximum adsorption capacity (Q0) for Pb2 +, Ag+ and Cd2 + was found to be 452.5, 188.68 and 8.85 mg g-1, respectively.

Preparation and characterization of cellulose/hydrous niobium oxide hybrid

A composite of cellulose extracted from bagasse with Nb2O5·nH2O in three different proportions (16.67, 37.5 and 50.0 wt%) was prepared using the co-precipitation method. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TG data obtained show that the presence of inorganic material influenced slightly the stability of the hybrid material. The precipitation of 16.67 wt.% of oxide was sufficient to inhibit the combustion peaks present in the DSC curve of cellulose. This work will help find new applications for these materials.

Adsorção de íons fosfato em óxido de nióbio hidratado

The adsorption kinetics of phosphate on Nb2O5.nH2O was investigated at initial phosphate concentrations 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 mg.L-1. The kinetic process was described by a pseudo-second-order rate model very well. The adsorption thermodynamics was carried out at 298, 308, 318, 328 and 338 K. The positive values of both ΔH and ΔS suggest an endothermic reaction and increase in randomness at the solid-liquid interface during the adsorption. ΔG values obtained were negative indicating a spontaneous adsorption process. The Langmuir model described the data better than the Freundlich isotherm model. The effective desorption could be achieved using water at pH 12.

Novel synthetic route for low-cost carbon-modified TiO2 with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity: carbon content and calcination effects

AbstractThe aim of this study was the development of low-cost tannin-formaldehyde xerogel/TiO2 (XTi-w) and carbon xerogel/TiO2 (XTiC-w) photocatalysts. The materials used as precursors were recycled titanium scraps and black wattle tannin extract, highlighting the low-cost approach employed in the synthesis. The materials were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dispersive energy spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, infrared and Raman spectroscopy. X-ray diffractometry showed that the XTiC-w have tetragonal crystalline structure (anatase), whereas the XTi-w has an amorphous structure. The Raman and infrared analysis also showed the presence of titanium dioxide in the composition of both XTi-w and XTiC-w. XTi-w and XTiC-w showed photocatalytic activity at the visible wavelength. Titanium dioxide displayed no photocatalytic activity at the visible wavelength. The XTi-60 composite displayed the highest efficiency in the removal of the methylene blue from the system, as well as good reusability properties. The radicals with higher influence in the photocatalytic reaction mechanism are the photo generated electron and the singlet oxygen molecule. The effect of the heat treatment is negative on the photocatalytic properties of the hybrids produced, due to the removal of acid sites, adsorbed water and OH surface groups. The graphical abstract displays an illustration of the materials obtained in this work and their respective efficiency in the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light.HighlightsHybrids were produced using low-cost materials, such as titanium scraps and tanninBoth hybrid materials showed photocatalytic activity at the visible wavelengthHeat treatment is negative on the photocatalytic properties of the hybridsReaction mechanism is controlled by trapped electrons and singlet oxygen molecules