A Statistical Modeling and Optimization for Cr(VI) Adsorption from Aqueous Media via Teff Straw-Based Activated Carbon: Isotherm, Kinetics, and Thermodynamic Studies

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.

Гибридный металлополимер как потенциальная активная среда оптоакустического генератора

A hybrid material was studied, consisting of polydimethylsiloxane and silver nanoparticles distributed throughout its volume, its optical and thermodynamic characteristics were calculated for different volume fractions of silver content. It is theoretically shown that this material with a volume fraction of silver of about 30% can be used as an active medium for an optoacoustic transducer with an operating frequency range of about 10 MHz.

Superionic Solid Electrolyte Li7La3Zr2O12 Synthesis and Thermodynamics for Application in All-Solid-State Lithium-Ion Batteries

Solid-state reaction was used for Li7La3Zr2O12 material synthesis from Li2CO3, La2O3 and ZrO2 powders. Phase investigation of Li7La3Zr2O12 was carried out by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) methods. The thermodynamic characteristics were investigated by calorimetry measurements. The molar heat capacity (Cp,m), the standard enthalpy of formation from binary compounds (ΔoxHLLZO) and from elements (ΔfHLLZO), entropy (S0298), the Gibbs free energy of the Li7La3Zr2O12 formation (∆f G0298) and the Gibbs free energy of the LLZO reaction with metallic Li (∆rGLLZO/Li) were determined. The corresponding values are Cp,m = 518.135 + 0.599 × T − 8.339 × T−2, (temperature range is 298–800 K), ΔoxHLLZO = −186.4 kJ·mol−1, ΔfHLLZO = −9327.65 ± 7.9 kJ·mol−1, S0298 = 362.3 J·mol−1·K−1, ∆f G0298 = −9435.6 kJ·mol−1, and ∆rGLLZO/Li = 8.2 kJ·mol−1, respectively. Thermodynamic performance shows the possibility of Li7La3Zr2O12 usage in lithium-ion batteries.

Entropy Effects in Intermolecular Associations of Crown-Ethers and Cyclodextrins with Amino Acids in Aqueous and in Non-Aqueous Media

The analysis of the ratios of entropy and enthalpy characteristics and their contributions to the change in the Gibbs energy of intermolecular interactions of crown ethers and cyclodextrins with amino acids is carried out. Two different types of macrocycles were chosen for examination: crown ethers with a hydrophilic interior and cyclodextrins with a hydrophobic inner cavity and a hydrophilic exterior. The thermodynamics of complex formation of crown ethers and cyclodextrins with amino acids in water and aqueous-organic solvents of variable composition was examined. The contributions of the entropy solvation of complexes of 18-crown-6 with glycine, alanine, phenylalanine to the change in the entropy of complexation in water-ethanol and water-dimethyl sulfoxide solvents was calculated and analyzed. It was found that the ratios of the entropy and enthalpy solvation of the reagents for these systems have similar trends when moving from water to aqueous-organic mixtures. The relationship between the thermodynamic characteristics and structural features of the complexation processes between cyclodextrins and amino acids has been established. The thermodynamic enthalpy–entropy compensation effect was revealed, and its features for complexation of cyclodextrins and 18-crown-6 were considered. It was concluded that, based on the thermodynamic parameters of molecular complexation, one could judge the mode of the formation of complexes, the main driving forces of the interactions, and the degree of desolvation.