Umesh Mishra

Removal of chromium(VI) from aqueous solutions using rubber leaf powder: batch and column studies

AbstractChromium metal is found in industrial wastewater at a much higher concentration than the prescribed limit set by different regulatory authorities. Since chromium(VI) is very toxic and carcinogenic, it requires removal at source, that is, before its discharge to the water bodies. The present study is carried out for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by using locally available rubber leaf as a low-cost adsorbent in batch and continuous column mode. The effects of pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature on removal of Cr(VI) were studied in batch process. Different kinetic and isotherm models were examined and the model parameters were determined. The column studies were conducted to investigate the effects of flow rate, bed height, and initial metal ion concentration on removal efficiencies. The experimental data reflects reasonably with Thomas and Yoon–Nelson models in continuous mode.

Isolation, screening and characterization of a novel extracellular xylanase from Aspergillus niger (KP874102.1) and its application in orange peel hydrolysis

In the present work, a potent xylanase producing fungal strain Aspergillus niger (KP874102.1) was isolated through cultural and morphological observations from soil sample of Baramura forest, Tripura west, India. 28S rDNA technique was applied for genomic identification of this fungal strain. The isolated strain was found to be phylogenetically closely related to Aspergillus niger. Kinetic constants such as Km and Vmax for extracellular xylanase were determined using various substrate such as beech wood xylan, oat spelt xylan and CM cellulose through Lineweaver-Burk plot. Km, Vmax and Kcat for beech wood xylan are found to be 2.89mg/ml, 2442U and 426178Umlmg-1 respectively. Crude enzyme did not show also CM cellulose activity. The relative efficiency of oat spelt xylan was found to be 0.819 with respect to beech wood xylan. After acid hydrolysis, enzyme was able to produce reducing sugar with 17.7, 35.5, 50.8 and 65% (w/w) from orange peel after 15, 30, 45 and 60min incubation with cellulase free xylanase and maximum reducing sugar formation rate was found to be 55.96μg/ml/min. Therefore, the Aspergillus niger (KP874102.1) is considered as a potential candidate for enzymatic hydrolysis of orange peel.

Continuous fixed-bed column study and adsorption modeling: removal of lead ion from aqueous solution by charcoal originated from chemical carbonization of rubber wood sawdust.

The efficiency of chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust for the removal of lead ion from the aqueous stream was investigated by column process. Chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust was prepared by treating the sawdust with H2SO4 and HNO3. Maximum removal of lead ion in column process was found as 38.56 mg/g. The effects of operating parameters such as flow rate, bed depth, concentration, and pH were studied in column mode. Experimental data confirmed that the adsorption capacity increased with the increasing inlet concentration and bed depth and decreased with increasing flow rate. Thomas, Yoon-Nelson, and Adams-Bohart models were used to analyze the column experimental data and the relationship between operating parameters. Chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscope was also utilized for morphological analysis of the adsorbent. Furthermore X-ray fluorescence spectrum analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were also used for the confirmation of lead adsorption process.

Effective Remediation of Lead Ions from Aqueous Solution by Chemically Carbonized Rubber Wood Sawdust: Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamic Study

Rubber wood sawdust was carbonized into charcoal by chemical treatment which was used for removal of lead ion from aqueous solution. The work involves batch experiments to investigate the pH effect, initial concentration of adsorbate, contact time, and adsorbent dose. Experimental data confirmed that the adsorption capacities increased with increasing inlet concentration and bed height and decreased with increasing flow rate. Adsorption results showed a maximum adsorption capacity of 37 mg/g at 308 K. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin model adsorption isotherm models were applied to analyze the process where Temkin was found as a best fitted model for present study. Simultaneously kinetics of adsorption like pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models were investigated. Thermodynamic parameters were used to analyze the adsorption experiment. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmed the batch adsorption of lead ion onto chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust.

Treatment of Copper Contaminated Municipal Wastewater by Using UASB Reactor and Sand-Chemically Carbonized Rubber Wood Sawdust Column

The performance of a laboratory scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and its posttreatment unit of sand-chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust (CCRWSD) column system for the treatment of a metal contaminated municipal wastewater was investigated. Copper ion contaminated municipal wastewater was introduced to a laboratory scale UASB reactor and the effluent from UASB reactor was then followed by treatment with sand-CCRWSD column system. The laboratory scale UASB reactor and column system were observed for a period of 121 days. After the posttreatment column the average removal of monitoring parameters such as copper ion concentration (91.37%), biochemical oxygen demand (BODT) (93.98%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (95.59%), total suspended solid (TSS) (95.98%), ammonia (80.68%), nitrite (79.71%), nitrate (71.16%), phosphorous (44.77%), total coliform (TC) (99.9%), and fecal coliform (FC) (99.9%) was measured. The characterization of the chemically carbonized rubber wood sawdust was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectrum (XRF), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Overall the system was found to be an efficient and economical process for the treatment of copper contaminated municipal wastewater.

Calcium Pretreated Hevea brasiliensis Sawdust for Copper Removal: Batch and Column Study

Calcium pretreated Hevea brasiliensis sawdust has been used as an effective and efficient adsorbent for the removal of copper ion from the contaminated water. Batch experiment was conducted to check the effect of pH, initial concentration, contact time, and adsorbent dose. The results conclude that adsorption capacity of adsorbent was influenced by operating parameters. Maximum adsorption capacity found from the batch adsorption process was 37.74 mg/g at pH of 5.6. Various isotherm models like Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin were used to compare the theoretical and experimental data, whereas the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models were applied to study the kinetics of the batch adsorption process. Dynamic studies were also conducted in packed-bed column using different bed depths and the maximum adsorption capacity of 34.29 was achieved. Characterizations of the adsorbent were done by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.