Dynamics and Kinetics of Cupric Ion Removal from Wastewaters by Tunisian Solid Crude Olive-Oil Waste

Abstract

The present paper aims to develop a low cost, efficient, and environmentally-friendly process to purify (industrial) waters contaminated by copper by the use of oil mill wastes, through kinetic, thermodynamic, and equilibrium investigations. To do so, the raw adsorbent was characterized using different analytical techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Then, the interaction between copper and olive residues were examined during batch adsorption tests at various operating parameters, such as pH, initial concentration, contact time, and particle size. Kinetic data were best fitted with Broeurs-Sotolongo kinetic model. Additionally, it was found that film and intraparticle diffusion steps controlled simultaneously the mass transfer of copper onto olive mill solid waste. Among the eight tested models, Broeurs-Sotolongo isotherm suited the most the sorption, with regards to the function errors analysis. It was deduced that the adsorption of copper does not involve chemical bonds with high energy which allows easier regeneration steps and higher number of biosorbent regeneration cycles without any need for applying high temperature in the desorption reaction systems. The adsorption capacity (18.93 mg/g) calculated on the basis of this model was close to the experimental value (18.4 mg/g) but more interestingly it brought up that 50% of the generated amounts of olive wastes in Tunisia could eliminate 1.84 kTons of copper from industrial waters.

Olive mill wastewater: From a pollutant to green fuels, agricultural and water source and bio-fertilizer – Hydrothermal carbonization

“…The XRD showed also sharp peaks attributed to the quartz (SiO2; COD 4115457), calcium oxalate (CaC2O4; COD 9000827), calcite (CaCO3; COD 1010928; COD 1010962) and potassium chloride (KCl; COD 1000050) structures (Khiari et al, 2019). It could be noted that potassium was present in the form of KCl crystalline structure in feedstock then became more abundant after hydrothermal carbonization, especially at 200°C.…”

Kenaf stems: Thermal characterization and conversion for biofuel and biochar production

“…Biochar, the solid by-product of pyrolysis, is a porous carbonaceous residue with a high content in fixed carbon (>75%) [1][2][3], developed porosity [4,5], high ash content [6], etc.. The 3 obtained biomass derived char can be directly used as solid fuel in boilers where other biomasses are burnt, or as pre-material for activated carbon production [7][8][9][10]. It can be used also in ferroalloy, aluminum and cement industries, as carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, etc [11].…”

Olive Mill Wastewater: From a Pollutant to Green Fuels, Agricultural Water Source, and Bio-Fertilizer. Part 2: Water Recovery

“…However, the wastewater chemical composition needs to be controlled due to the presence of a variety of pollutants including heavy metals, organic compounds, bacteria, etc. [5,6]. These contaminants may generate problems for agricultural production affecting crop quantity and quality [7,8].…”