In this study, two types of modified cassava starch samples (MCS and MWS) prepared from commercially available native cassava starch (NCS) and native cassava starch extracted using the wet method (NWS) were investigated for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions. MCS and MWS samples were synthesized under acidic conditions using Pluronic 123 as the structure-directing agent and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as the chemical modifying agent. Modified starch samples were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and a nitrogen (N2) gas adsorption–desorption analyser. MCS and MWS showed enhanced thermal stabilities upon acid hydrolysis and chemical modification. The effects of contact time and initial Pb(II) concentration were studied through batch adsorption experiments. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The equilibrium adsorption data were analysed and compared by the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The coefficient correlation (R2) was employed as a measure of the fit. The Langmuir model fitted well with equilibrium adsorption data, giving a maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 370.37 and 294.12 mg/g for MWS and MCS, respectively. Modified samples exhibited a higher desorption efficiency of over 97%. This study demonstrated that modified starch could be utilized for Pb(II) removal from industrial wastewater.
Previous research has explored different aspects of reference groups, health consciousness, consumer attitude towards organic foods, and purchase intentions, but no research evidence is available on theoretical relationships among those said constructs. This research aims to investigate the impact of reference groups' recommendations of health advice on health consciousness, attitude towards organic foods, and finally on purchase intention of organic foods. Besides, it investigates the mediation role of health consciousness on the relationship between reference groups' recommendations and attitudes towards organic foods.This research is a positivistic study and uses a questionnaire to collect the data using a convenience sample of 126. A structural equation analysis is used to analyze the data based on SPSS and Amos 23. According to the findings, reference groups' recommendation of health advice has a significant positive impact on health consciousness and also on attitude towards organic foods. Finally, attitude towards organic foods impacts purchase intention of organic foods. Further, it is found that health consciousness partially mediates the relationship between reference groups' recommendations on health advice and attitude towards organic foods. The present research has bridged the theoretical and empirical gaps that existed in the literature on the said relationships. The research provides a significant original contribution to organic food marketing by shedding light on how to increase the purchase intention of organic foods.
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