Nadeem Raza

Recent advancements in bioremediation of dye: Current status and challenges

The rampant industrialization and unchecked growth of modern textile production facilities coupled with the lack of proper treatment facilities have proliferated the discharge of effluents enriched with toxic, baleful, and carcinogenic pollutants including dyes, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, odorants, and other hazardous materials. Therefore, the development of cost-effective and efficient control measures against such pollution is imperative to safeguard ecosystems and natural resources. In this regard, recent advances in biotechnology and microbiology have propelled bioremediation as a prospective alternative to traditional treatment methods. This review was organized to address bioremediation as a practical option for the treatment of dyes by evaluating its performance and typical attributes. It further highlights the current hurdles and future prospects for the abatement of dyes via biotechnology-based remediation techniques.

Photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A in aqueous media: A review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is known to be an emerging pollutant in various environmental compartments. Human exposure to BPA occurs widely because it is commonly used as the raw material in a variety of industrial processes (e.g., the preparation of epoxy and polycarbonate resins). In this review, a brief survey was carried out to cover a range of photocatalytic materials (e.g., titania, zinc, silver, carbon, and bismuth) and their modified forms as an effective means to treat water systems contaminated with BPA. The overall efficiency and limitations of these catalysts are described for the photocatalytic treatment of BPA.

Beneficiation of zinc from electric arc furnace dust using hydrometallurgical approach

Zinc bearing wastes such as electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) obtained from steel making constitute an important resource for zinc extraction. Inclusion of heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, etc., in these wastes makes them hazardous to use and/or dispose. In the present research work, leaching kinetics of EAFD with sulfuric acid has been investigated and various experimental parameters such as concentration of lixiviant, stirring rate, sample particle size, liquid/solid proportion, and temperature of the reaction have been optimized. It has been found that the dissolution rate of EAFD increases with rise in temperature, acidic strength, rate of stirring, liquid to solid proportion and with reduction in EAFD particle size. From the analysis of leaching kinetic data by means of graphical and statistical methods, it has been evaluated that the leaching kinetics of EAFD is dictated by surface diffusion reaction. Apparent energy of activation for the leaching reaction of EAFD with sulfuric acid is found to be 13.1 kJ mol–1 within the temperature range of 308 to 358 K.

Reaction Kinetics of magnesite ore in dilute ethanoic acid

The leaching of naturally occurring magnesite in dilute ethanoic acid is achieved to optimize the reaction conditions affecting the reaction kinetics. In the current study effect of various reaction parameters (The particle size of ore, concentration of leaching agent, the reaction temperature and rate of stirring) on the dissolution of magnesium carbonate ore with aqueous solutions of acetic acid is probed. It is inferred that the rate of leaching reaction of magnesium carbonate ore in the aqueous solutions of acetic acid rises with a rise in temperature of reaction medium, acetic acid solution strength and decreases with the increase in particle size of the magnesite ore samples. The analysis of kinetic data done by the application of graphical and statistical approaches reveals that the leaching kinetics of magnesite ore in dilute solutions of acetic acid follows a surface chemically controlled mechanism. The calculated value of energy of activation for the dissolution reaction of magnesium carbonate in acetic acid is 46.39 kJ mol–1.

Synthesis and characterization of amorphous precipitated silica from alkaline dissolution of olivine

The high worldwide demand for amorphous precipitated silica (APS) materials, millions of tons worth billions of dollars, makes it worthwhile to further expand the techniques for synthesizing new, cheap, and environmentally friendly resources. In this research, amorphous precipitated silica was synthesized from alkaline dissolution of olivine using a mixture of NaOH and KOH and characterized; this combination resulted in better kinetics than those of the separate components. Experimental parameters (concentration of alkali, liquid/solid ratio, reaction time, and temperature) were optimized to provide maximum recovery of APS from olivine dissolution, which was then characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) N2 adsorption–desorption measurements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The APS possessed suitable morphology for use as an additive in polymers and in catalysis: a particle size below 10 nm, pore width of 5.59 nm, BJH adsorption cumulative pore volume of 0.96 cm3 g−1, BET surface area of 670.8 m2 g−1, and Langmuir surface area of 859.3 m2 g−1. The apparent activation energy of olivine dissolution with a mixture of NaOH/KOH was 43.6 kJ mol−1. The steps involved in creation of APS from olivine resulted in opportunities for carbon dioxide absorption, which could contribute to the production of valuable materials through decarbonation of exhaust gases.

H 2 O 2 rejuvenation-mediated synthesis of stable mixed-morphology Ag 3 PO 4 photocatalysts

Ag3PO4 photocatalyst has attracted interest of the scientific community in recent times due to its reported high efficiency for water oxidation and dye degradation. However, Ag3PO4 photo-corrodes if electron accepter such as AgNO3 is not used as scavenger. Synthesis of efficient Ag3PO4 followed by a simple protocol for regeneration of the photocatalyst is therefore a prerequisite for practical application. Herein, we present a facile method for the synthesis of a highly efficient Ag3PO4, whose photocatalytic efficiency was demonstrated using 3 different organic dyes: Methylene Blue (MB), Methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamine B (RhB) organic dyes for degradation tests. Approximately, 19 % of Ag3PO4 is converted to Ag0 after 4.30 hours of continuous UV-Vis irradiation in presence of MB organic dye. We have shown that the Ag/Ag3PO4 composite can be rejuvenated by a simple chemical oxidation step after several cycles of photocatalysis tests. At an optimal pH of 6.5, a mixture of cubic, rhombic dodecahedron, nanosphere and nanocrystals morphologies of the photocatalyst was formed. H2O2 served as the chemical oxidant to re-insert the surface metallic Ag into the Ag3PO4 photocatalyst but also as the agent that can control morphology of the regenerated as-prepared photocatalyst without the need for any other morphology controlling Agent (MCA). Surprisingly, the as- regenerated Ag3PO4 was found to have higher photocatalytic reactivity than the freshly made material and superior at least 17 times in comparison with the conventional Degussa TiO2, and some of TiO2 composites tested in this work.