Seham A. Shaban

Nanotechnology: the next revolution for wastewater treatment (TNT contaminate)

Abstract Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a nitroaromatic explosive, is encountered groundwater contaminant that can pose a human health risk, even at very low aqueous concentrations. In this study, a series of catalytic degradation of dissolved TNT have been investigated using iron nanocatalysts (zero valent and its oxide) and Fe2O3 bentonite nanocomposite. The prepared nano catalysts were characterized via XRD, BET and TEM. The degradation of TNT by Fe-PILC, is almost complete after 30 min, whereas 65, 100 min on using the Fe-zero valent and Fe-oxide, respectively. These results indicate that the reaction rate is a strong function of the number of iron surface active sites, and therefore the Fe-catalysts an important reaction variable.

Alkaline Hydrolysis of TNT in Micellar System

The influence of micellar and Ca(OH)2 water system on the rates of alkaline hydrolysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was studied and evaluated quantitatively via capillary gas chromatography (CGC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The critical micelle concentrations and rate constants of reactions in the micellar phase were determined in micellar solutions of cationic, anionic or nonionic systems. An increase in the rates of alkaline hydrolysis of TNT was observed. Alkaline hydrolysis of TNT using mixture of nonionic surfactant micelles and anionic surfactant showed higher degradation than that with a cationic surfactant.

The Effect of Boron on the Activity of Hydrotreating Co-Mo/Al2O3 Catalyst

A series of aluminum borate with various boria content were prepared. These materials were used as the supports of Co-Mo catalysts. They were characterized with respect to surface area, pore volume, and pore size distribution. The temperature programmed reduction method was used to monitor molybdenum oxide-support interaction. The results showed that the addition of boria concentration (2, 4, and 6 wt%) decreases the reducibility of the catalyst, reduction peak increase with increasing B2O3 content. Hydrodesulfurization of atmospheric gas oil was carried out over these presulfided catalysts in a bench-scale cata-test unit at 320–360°C and LHSV from 1 to 3 h−1. Hydrogen pressure and H2/HC feed ratio were kept constant at 4 MPa and 300 l/l, respectively. All Co-Mo-/AB catalysts are much more active than the conventional Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst on hydrodesulfurization reactions. The dispersion of the active sulfide phase of Co-Mo/Al2O3 catalyst is increased by the incorporation of adequate boria content. An optimum B2O3 content, which gives the highest activity, was found in the vicinity of 4 wt%.

Photocatalytic degradation of TNT in wastewater using Fe doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Catalysts Characterization Laboratory, Petroleum Refining Division, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (EPRI), 1 Ahmed El Zomour St., Nasr City, PO Box 11727, Cairo, Egypt, Tel. +20 2 22736349; Fax +20 2 22747433; emails: sehamshaban@yahoo.com (S.A. Shaban), saharahmed92@hotmail.com (S.M. Ahmed), doaadesouki@hotmail.com (D.S. El-Desouki), nohaaboulgheit@yahoo.com (N.A.K. Aboul-Gheit), samiraepri@hotmail.com (S.M. Abdel-Azim)