Decolorization of crystal violet over TiO2 and TiO2 doped with zirconia photocatalysts

Titania based catalyst and TiO2 doped with zirconia were prepared by modified sol-gel method. The synthesized catalysts samples were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM and FTIR techniques. Photocatalytic activity was tested in the reaction of crystal violet (CV) dye decolorization/decomposition under UV light irradiation. The effect of several operational parameters, such as catalyst dosage, initial dye concentrations, duration of UV irradiation treatment and number of reaction cycles were also considered. The obtained results indicated faster dye decolorization with the increase of the catalyst amount and a decrease of initial CV concentrations. An influence of doping with zirconia on the physico-chemical properties of bare titania was studied. The doping procedure had affected photocatalytic properties of the final catalytic material, and had improved photocatalytic performances of doped catalyst on crystal violet decolorization/degradation in comparison to bare titania

Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of basic bismuth nitrate [Bi6O5(OH)3](NO3)5·2H2O: a potential highly efficient sorbent for textile reactive dye removal

A new method of synthesis was developed for the preparation of basic bismuth nitrate [Bi6O5(OH)3](NO3)5·2H2O (ECBBN). Electrochemical synthesis of the material was carried out by galvanostatic electrodeposition from an acidic Bi(III) solution on a Ti substrate and further thermal treatment in air at 200 °C. Characterization of ECBBN was conducted by employing SEM–EDX, N2 adsorption, XRD and FTIR, and its pI was also determined. The analyses showed that the material obtained was pure [Bi6O5(OH)3](NO3)5·2H2O. Morphologically, ECBBN aggregates were composed of crystals, some smaller than 50 nm. Electrochemically synthesized sorbent (ECBBN) was used for the removal of the textile dye Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) from deionized water and model solutions of polluted river water, and it showed considerably superior sorption performance compared to other inorganic sorbents synthesized by conventional methods reported in the literature. A kinetic study suggests that the sorption process is both under reaction and diffusion control. Equilibration of the sorption process was attained in several minutes, i.e. the sorption process is very fast. The sorption equilibrium data were well interpreted by the Langmuir, Redlich–Peterson and Brouers–Sotolongo isotherm. Using Langmuir isotherm, the maximum sorption capacity of ECBBN was reached at pH 2 and was 1049.19 mg g−1

Synthesis and characterization of new Ti–Bi2O3 anode and its use for reactive dye degradation

This paper reports the synthesis, characterization and application of a Ti–Bi2O3 anode for the electrochemical decolorization of the textile dye Reactive Red 2. The anode was synthesized by electrodeposition on a Ti substrate immersed in an acidic bismuth (III) solution at constant potential, followed by calcination in air at 600 °C. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the electrodeposited material was predominantly metallic bismuth, which was oxidized to pure α-Bi2O3 during the calcination in air. SEM micrographs revealed that the Bi2O3 coat at the anode surface was inhomogeneous and porous. Reactive Red 2 was completely electrochemically decolorized at the synthesized anode in the presence of H2O2. The applied current density, H2O2 and Na2SO4 concentration, medium pH and initial dye concentration affected the dye decolorization rate. The optimal process parameters were found to be as follows: an applied current density of 40 mA cm−2 using a mixture of 10 mmol dm−3 H2O2 and 10 mmol dm−3 Na2SO4 at pH 7. The dye decolorization rate was shown to decrease as its initial concentration increased. The decolorization reactions were found to follow pseudo-first order kinetics

Procedure for definition of end-effector orientation in planar surfaces robot applications

Design of user-friendly and at the same time powerful robot programming methods is the subject of significant efforts undertaken by the international robotics community. For the purpose of facilitating robot programming, with regard to the most common present-day applications in industry, it would be useful to develop programming procedures for frequently used manipulator tasks which could be easily implemented and used as ready-made application software. Important class of industrial robot applications involves end-effector trajectories in planar surfaces. Development of robot programming language procedure intended for determination of object plane normal with respect to frame of interest, as well as programming of end-effector orientation is presented in this paper. This procedure can be used as integral part of task oriented robot programing applications as well as a procedure for explicit programming languages, and it is illustrated in practical example with the robot Lola 15

Removal of copper(II) ion from aqueous solution by high-porosity activated carbon

The removal of copper(II) ion from aqueous solution by the granular activated carbon, obtained from hazelnut shells (ACHS) (Corylus avellana L. var. lunga istriana), was investigated. The ACHS was prepared from ground dried hazelnut shells by specific method carbonisation and water steam activation at 950 degrees C for 2 h. The granular activated carbon produced from hazelnut shells has a high specific surface area (1 452 m(2).g(-1)) and highly developed microporous structure (micropore volume: 0.615 cm(3).g(-1)). In batch tests, the influences of solution pH, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature on the sorption of copper(II) ion on ACHS were studied. The results indicate that sorption of copper(II) ion on ACHS strongly depends on pH values. The adsorption data can be well described by the Langmuir isotherm and Redlich-Peterson model. The monolayer adsorption capacity of the ACHS-copper(II) ion, calculated from the Langmuir isotherms, is 3.07 mmol.g(-1). The time-dependent adsorption of copper(II) ion could be described by the pseudo second-order and Elovich kinetics, indicating that the rate-limiting step might be a chemical reaction. The intra-particle diffusion model indicates that adsorption of copper(II) ions on ACHS was diffusion controlled

Immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor on Lifetech (TM) supports for applications in degradation of industrial dyes

In this study, immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor on eight Lifetech (TM) supports, with different characteristics (pore size, length of the spacer arm and functional groups), was studied and optimized for intended use in bioremediation for decolorization of industrial wastewaters. Out of six tested amino-functionalized supports, the most promising carrier was proved to be porous Lifetech (TM) ECR8309F with primary amino groups and a C2 spacer arm. Onto this support, laccase is attached by forming electrostatic interactions so that the most active preparation has shown the activity of 66876 U/g support. On the other hand, during immobilization of laccase on epoxy-functionalized Lifetech (TM) ECR8285F, via hydrophobic interactions and covalent bonding confirmed by a desorption assay, immobilization yield of 60 % and the activity of 118929 U/g were accomplished. Furthermore, immobilized enzyme on this support showed high capacity for decolorization of dyes (Lanaset (R) Violet B, Lanaset (R) Blue 2R, bromothymol blue and bromocresol green), by combination of both adsorption and enzyme degradation. Decolorization was in the range of 88 to 96 % after 4 h, with more than 80 % achieved after only 45 min. Also, this preparation demonstrated high operational stability during seven consecutive reuses in all examined dye reaction systems