Functionalization of a Natural Biopolymer with Aliphatic Polyamines and its Sorption Properties for Vanadium Removal from Aqueous Solutions

A low-cost natural adsorbent, Moringa oleifera, was investigated as a potential alternative for currently costly methods of removing vanadium from contaminated aqueous solutions. The unmodified bark was characterized using techniques such as N2-BET, SEM, XRD and FTIR spectroscopy, CHNS elemental determination and AA spectroscopy. Results showed a relatively small surface area, motivating surface functionalization to enhance adsorption capacity. Chemical modification was performed using four aliphatic polyamines: ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA) and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). The modified bark was characterized and then investigated to determine its efficiency in removing VO2+ from aqueous solutions. The bark had a mesoporous amorphous structure and was enriched with N and S groups. FTIR absorption frequencies also revealed that polyamines were indeed immobilized on the adsorbent surface. The polyamine density was calculated and was in the order of EDA>DETA>TETA>TEPA, whereas the adsorption efficiency with VO2+ was in the order DETA>EDA>TETA>TEPA. Adsorbent amination was enhanced by up to 26 % and adsorption performance improved by up to 155 %. It was, therefore, concluded that chemical modification of M. oleifera using polyamines enhances adsorption of VO2+ from aqueous solutions. This can, thus, preconcentrate VO2+ in the bark leading to its use as a good water purifier.Keywords: Adsorption, functionalization, Moringa oleifera, polyamine, vanadiu

Multi-element determinations of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) coal slurries using ICP-OES

a b s t r a c t A slurry nebulisation technique was applied for elemental analysis of bituminous coals SARM 18, SARM 19 and four coals from three different seams in Witbank, South Africa, by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Major elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, S, Si and Ti) and trace elements (Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sr, V, Zn and Zr) in coal were determined. Various slurry preparations were evaluated using two dispersants (glycerol and Triton X-100) and by varying the concentration of dispersants, between 0.1% and 1.0% (v/v). The effect of initially solubilising the ground coal in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) was investigated by varying the volume of DMF added. The effect of wet grinding with DMF was investigated. Wet grinding with DMF was shown to drastically reduce particle sizes (50.0% < 0.28 lm and 90.0% < 6.17 lm) as compared to dry grinding (50.0% < 5.25 lm and 90.0% < 11.1 lm). The reduced particle sizes and increased transport efficiency of the coal slurries led to improved analytical recoveries of elements in the reference coal, SARM 18. The best analytical recoveries for all elements were achieved using 0.1% Triton X-100 with 10.0% DMF. Results obtained by ICP-OES after wet grinding of the coal with DMF, using 0.1% Triton X-100, also gave excellent recoveries (Al, 100%; Ca, 103%; Cr, 106%; Fe, 102%; Mg, 100%; Mn, 104%; Ni, 109%; Si, 102%; Ti, 95.0%; and V, 108%). The results obtained with 10.0% DMF and 0.1% Triton X-100 were in agreement with certified values for all selected elements according to paired t-test at the 95.0% confidence level. Selected elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Si, Ti and V) were also analysed with X-ray fluorescence for comparison with results obtained from ICP-OES. Analysis by ICP-OES of microwave digested coal was also carried out. It is suggested that the DMF slurry technique could be used for routine analysis of bituminous coals

The Use of Dowex-M43 Ion-exchange Resin in the Determination of Pt and Pd in Converter Matte by ICP-OES

The method of choice for the separation of platinum group metals (PGMs) from base metals and easily ionizable elements (EIEs) is usually ion-exchange. This paper describes an anion-exchange procedure using Dowex-M43 for the separation of EIEs in geological samples (converter matte) from PGMs and Au.Aqueous commercial standards were used to study the adsorption capacity of the Dowex-M43 resin for both Pd and Pt metals (0–1000 μgmL–1). The concentrations of Pd and Pt were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results from the analysis of solutions prepared from commercial standards after ion-exchange treatment showed quantitative recoveries of both Pt (97%) and Pd (99%) from Dowex-M43 resin using 0.1 mol L–1 thiourea solution. Good agreement was observed between results obtained in this method and those obtained with the use of the conventional acid dissolution method for the determination of Pd and Pt in converter matte.Keywords: Anion-exchange, converter matte, ICP-OES, platinum group metal

Kinetic and equilibrium studies for cadmium biosorption from contaminated water using Cassia fistula biomass

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of the water resources is one of the serious environmental issues. The present study aims to (1) evaluate the biosorption potential of Cassia fistula biomass for the removal of Cd from contaminated water and validate the experimental results with kinetic and equilibrium sorption models, (2) assess the removal of Cd from groundwater samples in the presence of other competing ions in the solution. The C. fistula biomass was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller technique and scanning electron microscopy to understand the role of its physical properties in Cd biosorption and removal. The effects of biosorbent dose, initial Cd concentrations, contact time and presence of competing cations in groundwater samples at constant pH and temperature (27 ± 1.5 °C) were studied. At equilibrium (90 min), Cd removal (98–16%) and biosorption (6.26–0.34 mg/g) were recorded depending on the experimental conditions. The Langmuir model yielded a better approximation of the experimental data at equilibrium (Formula presented.) rather than Freundlich model. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model explained well the kinetic behavior of Cd biosorption. Results revealed a decline in the Cd removal (12.7 and 6% at 0.25 and 1.0 g/100 mL, respectively) in the presence of cations in the water samples. The results proved that C. fistula is a very effective and environment friendly alternative adsorbent for the removal (98%) of Cd from the aqueous system