To develop a new adsorbent for removal of nitrate and to enhance the adsorbent separation from aqueous solution, surface modification of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) was performed through chemical coprecipitation of magnetic nanoparticles on TiO 2 surface. Morphological, structural and magnetic properties of modified adsorbents (TiO 2 /nZVI) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared radiation (FTIR) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). To determine the ionic strength effect and optimal removal conditions, the effect of contact time (60-210 min), pH (4-10) and adsorbent dosage (0.5-1.5 g/L) on adsorption efficiency were studied, using response surface method. Obtained results showed that the nitrate removal efficiency decreased with increasing ionic strength. The TiO 2 /nZVI nanocomposites exhibited a ferromagnetic behavior and its saturation magnetization was 795.28 memu/g. The maximum nitrate removal (98.226%) achieved by modified TiO 2 was about 14.65% higher than the unmodified nanoparticles. The optimized adsorption parameters were: adsorbent dosage 0.982 g/L, pH 4.185 and the contact time 150.091 min.
The present study used modified nanofiltration (NF) membranes to remove the emerging contaminant of amoxicillin (AMX) from synthetic wastewater. For this purpose, Merpol surfactant and polyvinylpyrrolidone were added to the casting solutions to prepare flat sheet asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) NF membranes through phase inversion process. Then, the effect of adding Merpol surfactant at different concentrations on the morphology, hydrophilicity, and pure water flux (PWF) of the membranes, as well as the separation of AMX from aqueous solutions was investigated. The characteristics of the prepared membranes were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), contact angle (CA) measurement and performance tests. The obtained results approved the improved hydrophilicity of the PES membranes after adding Merpol surfactant to the casting solution. The findings also revealed a gradual increase in the average size of the membrane pores in sub-layer and thinner top layer, proportional to the increase of surfactant content in the solution. The results also confirmed the increase of PWF under the influence of surfactant increase. As a result, for the membrane containing 8 wt% Merpol additive, the lowest CA (52.08°), the highest PWF (76.31 L/m 2 h), and maximum AMX excretion (97%) were achieved.
In the original publication of the article, the affiliation of the authors Maryam Omidvar and Zahra Hejri are incorrect; the corrected affiliation is given in this erratum article.
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