Application of tobacco hairy roots for the removal of malachite green from aqueous solutions: Experimental design, kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies

Tobacco hairy roots (THR) were used to evaluate its potential for the biosorption and removal of malachite green (MG) from aqueous solutions. A 32 full factorial design was applied to study the effects of pH and THR concentration on the biosorption capacity. Under the optimal conditions (pH of 7.0 and THR concentration of 1 g L−1), dye removal efficiency was around 92%. Experimental data obtained from kinetic studies demonstrated good concordance with the pseudo-second-order model. Equilibrium studies were developed and the data were evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips models, being the Sips model the most adequate (maximum biosorption capacity of 277.2 mg g−1). Thermodynamically, the biosorption of MG on THR proved to be endothermic, spontaneous, and favorable. Desorption was feasible under acidic conditions and the biosorbent could be reused three times. THR was tested in simulated effluent and the removal percentage was 87%, demonstrating that this material is a promising biosorbent which can be used to treat colored wastewaters.Fil: Escudero, Leticia Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Química Analítica para Investigación y Desarrollo; ArgentinaFil: Agostini, Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Dotto, Guilherme L.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria; Brasi

Archaeometric analysis of ceramic production in Tiwanaku state ( c

The chemical and mineralogical characterization of seven ceramic fragments produced within Tiwanaku state (c.500-1000 ce) is reported. The instrumental techniques used included X-ray elemental and mineralogical chemical analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and light microscopy. The results indicate there are several clay types, although they show similarities, such as the use of a plant-based temper. The red colour of the decoration is hematite, and manganese oxides such as jacobsite are present in the black. The white colour is a mixture of gypsum and clay, and the orange is a mixture of hematite and clay. The use of colours, the quality of the clays and the temperatures reached during pottery firing point to expertise in ceramic production and to complex decision-making processes. The multi-elemental archaeometric approach documented here could become an important tool to shed a light on ancient ceramic technology and the internal variance of Tiwanaku pottery.Alfred Kordelin Foundation (Finland) project UTA-Mayor 4752-19 Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT) CONICYT FONDECYT 114052