Namal Priyantha

Enhancing adsorption capacity of toxic malachite green dye through chemically modified breadnut peel: equilibrium, thermodynamics, kinetics and regeneration studies.

Breadnut skin, in both its unmodified (KS) and base-modified (BM-KS) forms, was investigated for its potential use as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of toxic dye, malachite green (MG). Characterization of the adsorbents was carried out using scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. Batch adsorption experiments, carried out under optimized conditions, for the adsorption of MG were fitted using five isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Temkin and Sips) and six error functions to determine the best-fit model. The adsorption capacity was greatly enhanced when breadnut skin was chemically modified with NaOH, leading to an adsorption capacity of 353.0 mg g−1, that was far superior to most reported adsorbents for the removal of MG. Thermodynamics studies indicated that the adsorption of MG was spontaneous on KS and BM-KS, and the reactions were endothermic and exothermic, respectively. Kinetics studies showed that both followed the pseudo-second order. Regeneration experiments on BM-KS indicated that its adsorption capacity was still maintained at>90% even after five cycles. It can be concluded that NaOH-modified breadfruit skin has great potential to be utilized in real-life application as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of MG in wastewater treatment.

Sorption characteristics of peat of Brunei Darussalam V: removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solution by peat

AbstractPeat collected from Panaga, Brunei Darussalam, shows strong affinity towards the adsorption of Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solution. The adsorption capacity of Bruneian peat under optimized conditions of shaking time, settling time, and medium pH is determined to be 10.1 mg g−1 at equilibrium. Adsorption of CR on Bruneian peat follows monolayer adsorption with small contribution to multilayer formation qualifying the validity of the Redlich–Peterson model, which is further supported by error function determination. In addition, changes in peat structure and surface were studied using scanning electron microscopic and X-ray fluorescence techniques. Kinetics studies were in agreement with the pseudo-second-order model and the adsorption reaction proceeds according to intra-particle diffusion.

Sorption characteristics of peat from Brunei Darussalam for the removal of rhodamine B dye from aqueous solution: adsorption isotherms, thermodynamics, kinetics and regeneration studies

AbstractThis work reports the application of peat as cheap and effective adsorbent for the removal of rhodamine B dye (RhB) from aqueous solution. The effects of contact time, settling time and pH were studied to obtain the optimum conditions for adsorption studies. Optimum contact time was 4 h with 1 h settling time and ambient pH was used throughout the study. Adsorption isotherms, namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Redlich–Peterson and Sips, were employed in this study together with error functions to predict the most suitable isotherm model for the adsorption process. The Sips isotherm was found to be the best fit model. The maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) obtained for the adsorption at 298, 313, 324, 334 and 344 K are 162.87, 166.22, 172.45, 186.82 and 201.19 mg g−1, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters indicate that the adsorption was spontaneous, feasible and endothermic in nature. Pseudo second order kinetic model fitted well to the adsorption of RhB on peat. Regener...

Effective adsorption of toxic brilliant green from aqueous solution using peat of Brunei Darussalam: isotherms, thermodynamics, kinetics and regeneration studies

Peat, a natural adsorbent, has been successfully used for the removal of the hazardous water-soluble cationic dye, brilliant green (BG). Characterization of peat was carried out by determining its physical and chemical compositions such as moisture, ash, carbon%, hydrogen%, nitrogen%, and sulphur% (CHNS), crude protein and crude fat. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used for the determination of the percentage of elements present in peat. Functional groups present in peat were analyzed using Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). Changes in the surface morphology of peat before and after treatment with BG were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The optimization time required for establishment of an adsorption equilibrium is determined to be 2.0 h. The ambient pH of BG was used throughout the study. Adsorption isotherm models such as Langmuir, Freundlich, Halsey, Temkin, Redlich–Peterson (R–P) and Sips were simulated to fit with the experimental equilibrium data. Based on linear regression, simulated isotherm models and error analyses, the R–P isotherm fitted well for the adsorption of BG by peat. Adsorption kinetics was found to follow the pseudo second order model, with a rate constant of 0.39 g mmol−1 min−1. BG-loaded peat was successfully regenerated using 0.01 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution for up to 5 consecutive cycles, while maintaining high adsorption ability of 98% even after the 5th cycle.

Biosorption and Desorption of Lead(II) by Hydrilla verticillata

ABSTRACT The potential of nonliving biomass of Hydrilla verticillata to adsorb Pb(II) from an aqueous solution containing very low concentrations of Pb(II) was determined in this study. Effects of shaking time, contact time, biosorbent dosage, pH of the medium, and initial Pb(II) concentration on metal-biosorbent interactions were studied through batch adsorption experiments. Maximum Pb(II) removal was obtained after 2 h of shaking. Adsorption capacity at the equilibrium increased with increasing initial Pb(II) concentration, whereas it decreased with increasing biosorbent dosage. The optimum pH of the biosorption was 4.0. Surface titrations showed that the surface of the biosorbent was positively charged at low pH and negatively charged at pH higher than 3.6. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the biosorbent confirmed the involvement of hydroxyl and C˭O of acylamide functional groups on the biosorbent surface in the Pb(II) binding process. Kinetic and equilibrium data showed that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and both Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models. The mean adsorption energy showed that the adsorption of Pb(II) was physical in nature. The monolayer adsorption capacity of Pb(II) was 125 mg g−1. The desorption of Pb(II) from the biosorbent by selected desorbing solutions were HNO3 > Na2CO3 > NaOH > NaNO3.

Biosorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species from aqueous solution by Cabomba caroliniana: kinetic and equilibrium study

This study reports the potential ability of non-living biomass of Cabomba caroliniana for biosorption of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. Effects of contact time, biosorbent dosage, pH of the medium, initial concentration of metal ion and protonation of the biosorbent on heavy metal–biosorbent interactions were studied through batch sorption experiments. Cr(III) was sorbed more rapidly than Cr(VI) and the pH of the medium significantly affected the extent of biosorption of the two metal species differently. Surface titrations showed that the surface of the biosorbent is positively charged at low pH while it is negatively charged at pH higher than 4.0. Protonation of the biosorbent increased its capacity for removal of Cr(III), while decreasing that of Cr(VI). FT-IR spectra of the biosorbent confirmed the involvement of –OH groups on the biosorbent surface in the chromium removal process. Kinetic and equilibrium data showed that the sorption process of each chromium species followed pseudo second-order kinetic model and both Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models. A possible mechanism for the biosorption of chromium species by non-living C. caroliniana is suggested.

Amperometric sensor for Propanil

The metalloporphyrin 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinatoiron(III) chloride shows catalytic activity for reduction of 3,4-dichloropropionanilide, the active ingredient of the herbicide Propanil. An amperometric sensor can therefore be constructed by coating the porphyrin catalyst as a thin layer on a glassy carbon electrode. The sensor provides reproducible responses at low concentrations with a lower detection limit (SN = 3) of 8 × 10−5 M. The useful lifetime of the sensor is about seven weeks.

Removal of Sulfate, Phosphate and Colored Substances in Wastewater Effluents using Feldspar

Feldspar, among many natural substances such as termitemount-clay, saw-dust, kaolinite and dolomite, offers asignificant removal ability for sulfate, phosphate, and coloredsubstances. Optimization of experimental parameters such assolution pH and flow rate reveals, that the maximum efficiency forremoval of phosphate, sulfate, and colored substances is about42, 52, and 73% respectively. X-ray diffraction, adsorptionisotherm and recovery studies suggest, that the removal processof anions occurs via ion exchange in conjunction with surfaceadsorption. Furthermore, reaction rate studies indicate thatthe removal of the selected pollutants by feldspar follows first-order kinetics. Although the percent removal, under the optimized conditions, is higher for laboratory prepared solutions, efficiency is a little less for industrial effluentsdue to interferent effects.

Investigation of kinetics of Cr(VI)-fired brick clay interaction

Fired brick clay is an excellent sorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions from waste water, owing to the availability of pores and interlayer spacing. Consequently, heat treatment of brick clay significantly affects the extent of interaction between the brick clay sorbent and adsorbates. The interaction between Cr(VI), available as Cr(2)O(7)(2-), and brick clay particles fired at temperatures between 200 °C and 600 °C follows pseudo second order kinetics, and the method of initial rates leads to the estimation of the average rate of the interaction process. Kinetics modeling suggests that the mass transfer of the interaction be mainly controlled by time-dependent intraparticle diffusion, as well as immobilization of Cr(VI) species within interlayer structure of the brick clay matrix and interparticle diffusion, both of which are time-independent.

Interaction of Cr(vI) species with thermally treated brick clay

PurposeThe purpose this research is to investigate the interaction of Cr(VI) species, present as Cr2O72−, at ambient temperature with brick clay pre-fired at different temperatures.MethodsA multi-technique approach was used for this investigation. Experiments such as surface titrations, Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, mass-firing temperature investigation, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray fluorescence spectra, and X-ray diffraction were conducted in this investigation.ResultsFired brick clay, which bears a negative charge according to surface titration measurements, shows affinity towards Cr(VI) species despite the negative charge of the source of Cr(VI). The Cr(VI)—brick clay heterogeneous system, which shows the strongest interaction with brick clay fired at 200°C, obeys both the Langmuir and the Freundlich adsorption isotherms with high regression coefficients. Investigation on surface charge, constituents of brick clay, acid treatment of clay particles, and the effect of firing temperature suggests that the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) by reducing agents present in brick clay makes a significant contribution for adsorption of chromium species followed by subsequent removal. Scanning electron microscopic images support the adsorption of chromium species, and further, many metal ions are released as a result of Cr(VI)—brick clay interaction according to X-ray fluorescence studies.ConclusionIt is concluded that fired brick clay shows strong adsorption capacity on Cr(VI), having the maximum interaction with brick clay fired at 200°C. It is proposed that this methodology be extended for treatment of effluents containing Cr(VI) species.