The goal of this research was to employ copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Cu/ZnONPs) as an adsorbent to remove the potentially toxic azo dye Congo red (CR). The Cu/ZnONPs were made using a chemical coprecipitation method, and their characteristics were examined using XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR methods. The response surface methodology (RSM) central composite design (CCD) is used to optimize the operational parameters’ agitation time, adsorbent dosage, solution pH, and initial concentration of CR solution during the adsorption process. The agitation period of 29.48 min, the Cu/ZnONP dosage of 0.301 g/L, the solution pH of 6.96, and the CR initial concentration of 90 mg/L resulted in a maximum CR adsorption of 94.14% and a desirability of 0.976. The kinetic findings fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, and the equilibrium data agreed with the Langmuir isotherm (maximum uptake capacity qmax = 250 mg/g). During the thermodynamic experiments, endothermic, spontaneous, and physical adsorptions were observed.
Biodiesel is marketed as a long-term renewable fuel that may partially replace fossil fuels in transportation while also helping to reduce global warming. The current study is focused on using waste animal fat as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) are used as catalysts, with methanol as an alcohol. Temperature at 60°C, reaction time 2 hrs for acid catalyst, and 55°C, reaction time 90 min for base catalyst with a methanol to oil ratio of 5 : 1 are the experimental and optimized process conditions. With the H2SO4 catalyst, the biodiesel yield was 65.7%, while with the KOH catalyst, it was 48.8%. The ASTM standards are used to compare and study the physicochemical characteristics. This study offers an environmentally friendly solution to a global problem of atmospheric pollution, and at the same time, it shows a commercial alternative to reduce the ecological impact caused by waste animal fat.
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