The brown teff straw was utilized in this study to produce silica using the sol-gel technique. After pretreatment, the raw material of brown teff straw was characterized. The data were analyzed using the central composite design and response surface technique, and four independent parameters, namely, temperature, NaOH concentration, rotational speed, and extraction time, were evaluated for process optimization. Before extracting silica with an alkaline solution, the silica content in the ash was determined using an AAS spectrometer. The silica content of teff straw ash is around 92.89%. The ash was treated with NaOH solution in the concentrations range of 1 M to 3 M (0.5 M interval). The extraction time varied at intervals of 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115 minutes. Temperatures were changed using magnetic stirrer equipment in the range of 80°C to 100°C (5°C interval). At 350 rpm, 400 rpm, 450 rpm, 500 rpm, and 550 rpm, the rotating speed was adjusted. The best extraction conditions for amorphous silica were 1.50 M NaOH, 109.99 min, 94.98°C, and a rotating speed of 499.57 rpm, with a maximum yield of 85.85%. XRD and FTIR analyses were used to assess the physicochemical characteristics of the extracted silica. The aqueous solutions of methyl orange were used to test the adsorption efficiency of silica. The percent of removal efficiency for methyl orange was 90.48%.
Currently, the growth of tannery industries causes a significant volume of waste disposal to the environment due to harmful Cr(VI). Long-time exposure to Cr(VI) imposes serious hazards on all living organisms. Hence, the treatment of tannery waste to remove Cr(VI) is not a choice but mandatory. Therefore, this study focused on the removal of Cr(VI) from the aqueous solutions via a teff (Eragrostis tef) straw based-activated carbon (TSAC) which was derived from locally available agricultural solid waste, teff straw (TS). The prepared TSAC was characterized using BET, FTIR, SEM, and XRD. A central composite approach-based RSM analysis was undertaken for statistical modeling and optimization for maximized Cr(VI) removal with respect to four important factors, namely, initial concentration of Cr(VI), the dosage of TSAC, pH, and adsorption time. Optimized values for maximizing adsorption of Cr(VI) (95% of removal) were acquired to be initial Cr(VI) concentration: 87.57 mg/L, TSAC dosage: 2.742 g/100 mL, pH: 2.2, and contact time:109 min. The results from the design of the experiment were also analyzed for the significance of the interaction between the selected process parameters. In addition, the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models were found suitable for describing the adsorption data. The adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) on TSAC was 19.48 mg/g. The observed thermodynamic characteristics reveal that Cr(VI) adsorption on TASC is endothermic in nature. From the results, TSAC had shown a potential Cr(VI) efficiency on optimized process conditions that can be exploited effectively as adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastes.
The problem extent of the large concentration of fluoride ions in drinking water is still a central health issue. In the present study, lanthanum doped magnetic Teff straw biochar (LDMTSB) was developed as a novel adsorbent for removing fluoride ions in the groundwater in Rift-Valley regions, especially Hawassa city, Ethiopia. The synthesized LDMTBC was characterized via FTIR, XRD, SEM, and BET. And, this analysis proposed that multiadsorption techniques such as ligand exchange, precipitations, and electrostatic interaction could be evinced throughout the fluoride ions adsorption process by LDMTSB. The constraints that influence the adsorption efficacy, namely, a dosage of LDMTSB, contact time, pH of the solution, and rotational speed, were analyzed and optimized using the response surface methodology approach. Under the optimum situations, LDMTSB dosage: 3.97 g, contact time: 56.36 min, rotational speed: 591.19 rpm, and pH: 3.968 demonstrate high efficacy of LDMTSB with 98.89% fluoride removal capacity. Further, the quadratic model (R2 = 0.9841) was designated for governing the mathematical process. The LDMTSB was successful in the removal of fluoride ions in the groundwater. This study provides a valuable economical solution for the application of Teff straw.
Currently, many scholars are looking for renewable biomass sources for the isolation of nanomaterials that have a sustainable property and are ecofriendly. Thus, effectively synthesize and characterization enset fiber nanocellulose using acid hydrolysis with sonication is focus of study. Additionally, process optimization for isolation of nanocellulose (CNCs) from raw enset fiber using RSM-CCD and characterizations of obtained CNCs was explored. The quadratic model was selected, and optimized values for CNCs yield (77.69%) that were acquired to be H2SO4: 51.6 wt. %, reaction temperature: 47°C, and time: 66.5 min. Chemical composition analysis, XRD, FTIR, PSA, SEM, and TGA were used for characterizing CNCs. The particle size distribution of CNCs is 66 nm. It has a crystalline index of 80.91% and excellent thermal stability. FTIR and chemical composition result indicated the reduction and removal of lignin and hemicellulose components that are usually available in the raw enset fibers. The SEM analysis reveals the structure and arrangement of the fiber bundles inside the raw material to nanocellulose. This property shows its endowing as a possibly consistent load-bearing material. This study could be given a noteworthy thought for designing and emerging CNC isolation, optimization, and industrial application.
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