Adsorptive Removal of Erythrosin B Dye onto Terminalia Catappa Endocarp Prepared Activated Carbon: Kinetics, Isotherm and Thermodynamics Studies

The effectiveness of activated carbon prepared from Terminalia catappa (almond) endocarp via thermal and chemical activation for the adsorption of Erythrosin B (EB) dye was investigated. The thermally activated sample was impregnated with 60% by weight phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in 1:2 weight basis of activating agent to Terminalia catappa (almond) endocarp. Physico-chemical analyses results revealed the potential suitability of the prepared acid activated almond endocarp (AAAE) as an adsorbent. Further results obtained show that particle size, adsorbent dosage, pH, time, ion concentration and temperature had significant effect on the percentage of EB dye adsorbed. Freundlich model best fitted the experimental data compared to the results obtained for Langmuir and Dubnin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption kinetic data was modelled using the pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and Elovich kinetic models. The kinetics of the adsorption process best followed the Elovich model. Thermodynamic parameters: Gibb’s free energy (ΔG∘), enthalpy change (ΔH∘) and entropy change (ΔS∘) were determined to evaluate the feasibility of the process and the effect of temperature on the system. The negative free energy obtained confirms the feasibility of the adsorption process. The adsorption of EB on the acid activated almond endocarp was found to be exothermic. Keywords: Adsorption; Almond endocarp; Erythrosin B; Isotherm; Kinetics; Adsorption thermodynamic

ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF DYES FROM SYNTHETIC WASTEWATER USING ACTIVATED CARBON FROM TAMARIND SEED

Activated carbon prepared from seed (Tamarindus indica) was utilized for the removal of orange G and safranin O dyes from aqueous solution. Chemical activation using orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) was employed for the preparation of activated carbon. The effect of various factors namely; particle size, pH, adsorbent dosage, ion concentration, and contact time was studied to identify the adsorption capacity of the tamarind seed. The percentage of dye adsorbed was found to be dependent on these factors. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models are fitted into the graphs, but the Freundlich isotherm model is best-fitted into the experimental data. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, and Bhattacharya-Venkobachor kinetic models were also fitted into the graphs, but pseudo-second order is best fitted into the experimental data. The thermodynamic parameters such as enthalpy, entropy, and free energy were evaluated using the Van’t Hoff equations. The negative free energy (∆G) and negative enthalpy (∆H) indicate the feasibility and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. The positive entropy (∆S) shows the increased randomness of the solid/solution interface during the adsorption process. The chemical functional groups, crystalline nature, and the surface morphology of the carbon adsorbents were studied by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Characteristics of the activated carbons were determined using standard methods

Location Analysis and Application of GIS in Site Suitability Study for Biogas Plant

Proper livestock waste management and development of robust system for the treatment of the bio-waste has been emphasized and investigated by several searchers. Utilization of bio-waste for bio-energy production is advantageous for sustainable environment and socio-economic viewpoints. This study therefore is essential in providing critical strategy needed in situating bio-energy plants, consideration was made in the application of geospatial technology owing to it wide adoption and numerous advantages. Data for site analysis of biogas plant was obtained from GIS organizations and agency, the biomass generation and sites data was obtained from field survey. The biomass potential was based on paunch content generated in the various 43 abattoirs in the study area. The ArcGIS 10 software was used for all GIS operations and subsequent map production. The final suitability index map was obtained by overlaying the land use suitability map with the biomass spatial density layer. The suitable areas were divided into 4 classes: the Most Suitable, Highly Suitable, Moderate Suitable and Not Suitable. The study indicates that suitable sites are predominant in the East and central region of the study area, this study is essential in developing framework for siting biogas plant

Purification and characterisation of lectin isolated from Nigeria achatina achatina snail

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are highly specific for sugar moieties of other molecules. They perform recognition on the cellular and molecular level and play numerous roles in biological recognition phenomena involving cells, carbohydrates, and proteins. Blood groups are inherited characters which give rise to antigen-antibody reaction. A total of 120 samples of local (Nigeria) Achatina achatina snail specie were collected, authenticated at the Zoology Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and 80mls of pooled crude lectin extract was obtained. Purifications were performed on 20mls of the crude extract in three steps viz, Ammonium sulphate precipitation and Dialysis (Partial purifications), Con A Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography column (Complete purification). The affinity purified lectin was used for all the actual tests conducted in this research. The crude, partially and complete/affinity purified lectin extracts were subjected to Haemagglutination tests, Protein Assay and Specific Sugar determinations. The molecular weight was assessed by Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) method. The results of the research showed as follows: On complete/affinity purification, 15mls of pure sample containing only the high molecular weight lectin was obtained. The respective haemagglutination tests on the crude, partially and affinity purified lectin showed on standardisation, preferential agglutination with Blood group A type. The Protein contents of the lectin was deduced to be as follows: The crude extract contains 13.5mg/dl, Dialysed precipitate – 5.7mg/dl, Dialysed supernatant – 5.0mg/dl and the Affinity purified Lectin – 0.422mg/dl. Galactose N-acetyl amine (Gal NAc) residue was determined to be its specific sugar. The SDS-PAGE analysis showed the molecular weight of the lectin to be 250 KDaltons. This research has therefore succeeded in the Purification, Characterisation and illustration of the lectinic properties of the local Nigeria snail - Achatina achatin