Solar photocatalysis using TiO 2-reduced graphene oxide (T-RGO) nanocomposite as catalyst is explored for the removal of the last traces of diclofenac (DCF) pollutant from water. T-RGO nanocomposites of different compositions were synthesised by a modified process involving solvothermal treatment of titanium isopropoxide and graphene oxide (GO) in isopropanol medium. The prepared catalysts have been characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence emission spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and N 2 adsorption-desorption measurements. The degradation of DCF is highly facile under solar irradiation in the presence of T-RGO with more than 98% of the 25 mg/L DCF aqueous solution getting degraded in 60 min followed by complete mineralisation in 100 min. Relevant reaction parameters such as catalyst loading, RGO content in the composite, concentration of DCF and the influence of pH on the degradation of the pollutant were identified and optimised. Reaction intermediates were identified by using LC-MS technique. The degradation followed Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism and pseudo first order kinetics. The stability and reusability of the catalyst are established. The efficiency of the catalyst in various real water matrices has also been proved thereby affirming its potential for commercial applications.
In this study, a new series of coconut shell based granular activated carbons (GAC) are prepared by impregnating with zirconium ions as zirconyl chloride and activated under superheated steam. These carbons are designated with activation temperature/ conditions as GAC 383 (activated at 383K), GACO 383 (HNO3 oxidised), GACZR 1273 (ZrOCl2 activated at 1273K) and GACOZR 1273 (HNO3 oxidised, ZrOCl2 activated at 1273K). Surface characteristics of these carbons are evaluated using Boehm titration methods, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction techniques (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The pore volume and the respective specific surface area of each carbon are determined by BET, I plot, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherms using N2 adsorption data at 77K. Analysis shows that zirconium ion enhances the surface area and porosity of granular activated carbon. The adsorption characteristics of newly prepared GAC are tested by solid-liquid equilibria using phenol as adsorbate. Equilibrium phenol adsorption data fitted to standard isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) equations. Adsorption constants and parameters indicate that zirconium impregnated granular activated carbons are relatively more efficient for the removal of phenol than the native carbon used.
The current study discusses application of the lanthanum ions (La 3+ ) as an activating agent incorporated /immobilized into coconut shell-based granular activated carbon (GAC) for porosity development; subsequently, the carbon material is used for the adsorption of phenol from aqueous solutions. The new carbons were characterized using FTIR, XRD, CHNO, burn off, and carbon yield. The surface functional groups were determined by Boehm titration. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of the carbons is 953 m 2 g −1 (GACLa1073), 997 m 2 g −1 (GAC383), and 973 m 2 g −1 (GACO383). Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and John-Sivanandan Achari (J-SA) isotherm models on the equilibrium isotherm data were examined for the new carbon-phenol system. It is found that the Langmuir isotherm fits better with a monolayer adsorption capacity, highest for GACLa1073 (387.59 mg g −1 ) followed by GAC383 (303.03 mg g −1 ) and GACO383 (197.62 mg g −1 ). Kinetic studies reveal that the adsorption system follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Isotherm analysis by the phase change method of John-Sivanandan Achari (J-SA) isotherm gives a better insight into adsorption phenomena, which is accompanied by regeneration studies of carbon with >75% for GACLa1073 after three cycles.
K E Y W O R D Sadsorption, granular activated carbon, John-Sivanandan Achari isotherm, kinetics, lanthanum ions Int J Chem Kinet. 2019;51:215-231.
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