Mustafa Usta

Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution using cotton stalk, cotton waste and cotton dust.

In this study, cotton stalk (CS), cotton waste (CW) and cotton dust (CD) was used as sorbents to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution by batch sorption technique. Effects of initial dye concentration, solution pH, solution temperature and sorbent dose on sorption were studied. It was seen that the removal of methylene blue increased with increasing initial dye concentration (from 25 to 100 mg/l), solution pH (from 5 to 10), solution temperature (from 20 to 50°C) and sorbent dose (from 0.25 to 1.50 g/50 ml). The maximum dye removal was reached at 90 min. Sorption isotherms were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich models at different temperatures of 20, 30, 40 and 50°C, and the results were discussed in detail. Moreover, the thermodynamics of sorption were also studied. It was found that the values of standard free energy (ΔG°) were positive for cotton stalk and negative for cotton waste and cotton dust. The values of standard enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) were found to be positive, and the obtained results were interpreted in detail. The results of this study showed that cotton stalk, cotton waste and cotton dust could be employed as effective and low-cost materials for the removal of dyes from aqueous solution.

Termite Resistance of MDF Panels Treated with Various Boron Compounds

In this study, the effects of various boron compounds on the termite resistance of MDF panels were evaluated. Either borax (BX), boric acid (BA), zinc borate (ZB), or sodium perborate tetrahydrate (SPT) were added to urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin at target contents of 1%, 1.5%, 2% and 2.5% based on dry fiber weight. The panels were then manufactured using 12% urea-formaldehyde resin and 1% NH4Cl. MDF samples from the panels were tested against the subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Laboratory termite resistance tests showed that all samples containing boron compounds had greater resistance against termite attack compared to untreated MDF samples. At the second and third weeks of exposure, nearly 100% termite mortalities were recorded in all boron compound treated samples. The highest termite mortalities were determined in the samples with either BA or BX. Also, it was found that SPT showed notable performance on the termite mortality. As chemical loadings increased, termite mortalities increased, and at the same time the weight losses of the samples decreased.

Effect of fiber modification with carboxymethyl cellulose on the efficiency of a microparticle flocculation system

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been used widely to enhance dry strength of paper and uniformity of sheet in the papermaking industry. Besides these positive effects, it may affect the fines retention and dewatering processes negatively. These negative effects are mainly seen when fiber modifications with high CMC dosages are studied in laboratory scale. In this paper, the effect of fiber modification with CMC on the deposition of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and on the dewatering process in the presence of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM)/bentonite microparticle flocculation system is examined. It was determined that fiber modification with 10 mg g−1 of CMC decreased PCC deposition at the initial addition of CPAM and gave better PCC deposition at 2 mg g−1 of CPAM. It was also observed that PCC deposition on unmodified fibers is higher at lower CPAM concentration. PCC deposition was found as almost stable after a maximum value obtained at 0.5 mg g−1 of bentonite concentration for fiber modified with 40 mg g−1 of CMC. This indicates that interaction between CPAM and bentonite particles changed due to higher surface charge and CMC conformation on fibers. Results of the dewatering experiments showed that CMC modification increased the drainage time due to a denser and more plugged sheet. This negative effect was compensated with higher concentrations of CPAM and bentonite. On the other hand, dewatering is also affected by the mass ratio of CMC and CPAM, which was not the optimum one in this study at lower of CPAM. Thus, the increase in the drainage time in the presence of CMC on the fiber surface could be also caused by incorrect ratios of chemicals because the effect of CMC on the drainage time was not observed at higher concentrations of CPAM.

Removal of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution Using Cotton Stalk: As a Bioadsorbent

A batch adsorption system using cotton stalk as a bioadsorbent was investigated to remove methylene blue from aqueous solution. The system variables studied include adsorbent particle size, initial dye concentration and adsorbent dose. Based on the isotherm data obtained from the fittings of the adsorption kinetics, the Freundlich model (Regression coefficient R ≈ 0.99) appears to fit the adsorption better than the Langmuir model (Regression coefficient R ≈ 0.89). The Freundlich and Langmuir monolayer capacity had a mean values of 1.29 l/g and 1.054 mg/g, respectively.

Effect of ethyl acetate on carbohydrate components and crystalline structure of pulp produced in aqueous acetic acid pulping

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in carbohydrate components and the crystalline structure in hemp bast fibers by adding ethyl acetate to acetic acid/water pulping processes. It was found that ethyl acetate added to acetic acid/water process had a positive effect on yield, viscosity and carbohydrate components in pulp. It was assumed that the delignification ratio increased by adding ethyl acetate to aqueous acetic acid pulping. Xylose content in hemp bast fibers was affected more negatively in the ethyl acetate/acetic acid/water process than in the acetic acid/water one. Crystallinity and crystallite size were higher in pulp sample obtained by the acetic acid/water process without ethyl acetate.