The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize an economical and environmentally-friendly adsorbent with high adsorption capacity. For this purpose, the walnut shells (Juglans regia L.) were chemically modified using sulfuric and citric acids, separately. After pyrolysis and synthesis of activated carbon (AC), the optimization of conditions at the preconcentration/removal step was performed using parameters such as pH and contact time for uranium in the model solutions. The measurements were carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). From the shapes of the BET isotherms, it may be stated that activated carbon exhibit type I. It was found that the surface area and total pore volume of the activated carbon were 696.6 m2/g and 0.35 mL/g, respectively. The adsorption capacity was found to be 220 mg/g. It was found that the optimum pH is 6.0 for preconcentration/removal using AC obtained by sulfuric acid as chemically-modifier. The optimized method was applied to determination of U at ng/mL levels in the model solutions.

In this work, single layered Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene nanosheets have been successfully prepared through a facile approach by etching Ti3AlC2 with alkaline solution treatment (KOH with minimum amounts of water). The structure and morphology of the produced nanosheets were evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis and the chemical composition was determined using an energy dispersion X-ray (EDX) spectrometer. Methylene Blue (MB) as a target pollutant adsorption and photocatalytic degradation tests were subsequently performed to assess the functionalities of hydroxyl-terminated MXene. MB removal using Ti3C2(OH)2 MXene in the dark in 20 minutes achieved an absorption-desorption balance of 51.2%, and then MB was degraded within 80 minutes under UV light irradiation with great efficiency. Our results presented that the powder of as produced exhibited good photocatalytic activity for three cycles photodegradation. The first-order rate constant (k) was calculated to be 0.0372 1/min. About 97% degradation of Methylene Blue dye in the solution was confirmed within 80 min of exposure to ultraviolet light.

This study analyzed the potential use of Mahagoni wood charcoal (MWC) and Mahagoni bark charcoal (MBC) as biosorbent for reactive red 120 (RR 120) dye removal from aqueous solutions. The effect of different operating parameters such as contact time (1–210 min), pH (3–11), adsorbent dose (1–20 g/L), and initial RR 120 concentration (5–70 mg/L) on adsorption processes was studied under batch adsorption experiments. The maximum removal of RR 120 by MWC (78%) and MBC (88%) was achieved when the optimum conditions were initial RR 120 concentration (5 mg/L), pH (3), adsorbents dose (10 g/L) and equilibrium contact time (150 min). The RR 120 adsorption data of MWC and MBC were better described by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, respectively. The MWC and MBC showed maximum adsorption capacities of 3.806 and 5.402 mg/g, respectively. Kinetic adsorption data of all adsorbents (MWC and MBC) followed the pseudo-second-order model and this adsorption process was controlled by chemisorption with multi-step diffusion. A lower desorption rate advocated that both strong and weak binding forces could exist between RR 120 molecules and adsorbents. The study results revealed that the utilization of either MWC and or MBC as an adsorbent for treating RR 120 is effective and environmentally friendly.

Management of solid wastes is considered as an economic and environmental issue in the building stone industry. The current study uses raw and calcined calcareous sludge, generated in the stone cutting factories, in order to remove sulfur dioxide. Sludge characterization has been performed, using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. The removal experiments of sulfur dioxide have conducted under different humid contents and adsorbent doses. The results showed that the higher the adsorbent dosage and humidity content, the greater the SO2 adsorption.. The calcination process at temperatures of 400, 500, 600, and 700℃ revealed that with rising calcination temperature and humidity content, the adsorbent capability is enhanced considerably. This method could be developed for the management of stone sludge produced from the stone cutting industry through its conversion into an effective and low-cost adsorbent for desulfurization process.

Conserving water resources and protecting them from pollution are of high account in the natural cycle of our life. This study has tried to determine the refining potential and capacity of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in order to remove the cadmium from water, studying the influence of factors such as initial concentration of cadmium, contact time, absorbent mass, and pH. Results have shown that the best efficiency of cadmium, more than 99%, was obtained in the optimum conditions (i.e. retention time of 30 hours, adsorbent dose of three plants (12 stems), and pH=6.6). By increasing the initial concentration of cadmium from 0.28 to 8.28 mg/L, the elimination efficiency did not change; moreover, by increasing the absorbent mass, the elimination efficiency increased from 98.4 to 99.8 and the lowest retention time was obtained for the balance. All experiments have been repeated three times, showing in the end that water hyacinth is able to absorb cadmium up to 8.28 mg/L. This process follows Freundlich isotherm (R2=0.98). Results of this study indicate that this plant can grow well at high levels of cadmium and the growth of water hyacinth is better in the presence of cadmium than control conditions (city water). Finally, it can be concluded that it is necessary to provide a reliable, cheap, and fast method to eliminate pollution. Eichhornia crassipes, a promising plant with great functionality, can be used as a refiner in order to eliminate the heavy metals in wastewater (sewage) effluents, particularly industrial sewage.

Developing low-cost and high-performance biosorbent for water purification continues drawing more and more attention. In this study, cellulose-chitosan composite hydrogels were fabricated via a co-dissolution and regeneration process using a molten salt hydrate (a 60 wt% aqueous solution of LiBr) as a solvent. The addition of chitosan not only introduced functionality for metal adsorption but also increased the specific surface area and improved the mechanical strength of the composite hydrogel, compared to pure cellulose hydrogel. Batch adsorption experiments indicated that the composite hydrogel with 37% cellulose and 63% chitosan exhibited an adsorption capacity of 94.3 mg/g (1.49 mmol/g) toward Cu²⁺ at 23 °C, pH 5, and initial metal concentration of 1500 mg/L, which was 10 times greater than the adsorption capacity of pure cellulose hydrogel. Competitive adsorption from a mixed metals solution revealed that the cellulose-chitosan composite hydrogel exhibited selective adsorption of the metals in the order of Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺ > Co²⁺. This study successfully demonstrated an innovative method to fabricate biosorbents from abundant and renewable natural polymers (cellulose and chitosan) for removing metal ions from water.

The removal of pesticide residues in soil is a research hotspot. The metolachlor (MET) adsorption by walnut shell biochar (BC) modified with montmorillonite (MBC), illite (IBC), and kaolinite (KBC), as well as the original BC (OBC) was investigated. The characteristics of samples were studied by scanning electron microscopy and mapping analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and chemical stability analysis. The effects of the dosage, ionic strength, and pH, and determined the adsorption kinetics and isotherms for MET with the BCs were analyzed. In addition, response surface methodology regression model analysis was conducted and the adsorption mechanisms were investigated. The results showed that the thermal stability and chemical stability of MBC, IBC, and KBC were higher than those of OBC, and MBC had the greatest stability. The MET adsorption rates of OBC, MBC, IBC, and KBC were 62.15%, 92.47%, 87.97%, and 83.31%, respectively. The kinetic fitting results and adsorption mechanisms showed that the modification of BC with minerals enhanced the physical adsorption of MET. The maximum MET adsorption capacities by OBC, MBC, IBC, and KBC were 39.68 mg g⁻¹, 68.49 mg g⁻¹, 65.79 mg g⁻¹, and 65.36 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Hydrogen bonds, π–π bonds, coordination bonds, and hydrophobic interactions were the key adsorption mechanisms. Therefore, the mineral-modified BCs were characterized by high adsorption rates and stability. This approach can make BC more efficient, with higher performance as a low cost soil amendment.

Biochar has been used to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions. In this study, a sulfurized wood biochar (SWB) by direct impregnation with elemental sulfur was produced and evaluated along with pristine wood biochar (WB) for adsorption characteristics and mechanism of mercury. Mercury adsorption by WB and SWB was well described by Langmuir model and pseudo second order model and the maximum adsorption capacities of WB and SWB were 57.8 and 107.5 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Intraparticle diffusion model showed that mercury adsorption was fast due to boundary layer and slow adsorption due to diffusion into biochar pores. Although, mercury adsorption by both WB and SWB was predominantly influenced by the pH, temperature, salt concentration, and biochar dosage, the SWB showed a relatively stable mercury adsorption compared to WB under different conditions, suggesting the strong affinity of SWB for mercury. The XPS analysis showed different adsorption mechanisms of mercury between WB and SWB. In particular, mercury adsorption in WB was due to Hg-Cπ bond formation and interaction with carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, whereas in SWB it is primarily due to mercury interaction with C-SOₓ-C and thiophenic groups in addition to Hg-Cπ bond formation and interaction with carboxyl groups. The SEM-EDS mapping also demonstrated that mercury in SWB was related to carbon, oxygen and sulfur. Overall, the sulfurized biochar was effective for removing mercury from aqueous solution, and its direct production through pyrolysis with elemental sulfur impregnation of wood chips could make it an economic option as absorbent for treating mercury-rich wastewater.

Dyeing wastewaters are toxic and carcinogenic to both aquatic life and human beings. Adsorption technology, as a facile and effective method, has been extensively used for removing dyes from aqueous solutions for decades. Numerous researchers have attempted to seek or design alternative materials for dye adsorption. However, using various novel adsorbents to remove dyes has not been extensively reviewed before. In this review, the key advancement on the preparation and modification of novel adsorbents and their adsorption capacities for dyes removal under various conditions have been highlighted and discussed. Specific adsorption mechanisms and functionalization methods, particularly for increasing adsorption capacities are discussed for each adsorbent. This review article mainly includes (1) the categorization, side effects and removal technologies of dyes; (2) the characteristics, advantages and limitations of each sort of adsorbents; (3) the functionalization and modification methods and controlling mechanisms; and (4) discussion on the problems and future perspectives about adsorption technology from adsorbents aspects and practical application aspects.

Graphene with atomic layer of sp²-hybridized carbon atoms in a hexagonal structure has attracted multidisciplinary attention since its discovery. Due to the inherent advantages of large specific surface area and abundant functional groups, its derivative graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterials have achieved large-scale development in effective pollution treatment. In the past few years, novel GO-based nanomaterials through coupling with other nanomaterials have been synthesized with significant process and applied for efficient elimination of different kinds of pollutants. This paper aims to summarize recent research results on the excellent removal ability of GO-based nanomaterials for various heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The synthesis, adsorption process characteristics and interaction mechanism of the adsorbent are emphasized and discussed. The effects of various environmental conditions are outlined. At last, a brief summary, perspective and outlook are presented. This review is intended to provide some thrilling information for the design and manufacture of GO-based nanomaterials for the elimination of heavy metal ions from wastewater in environmental pollution management.