Methods of Obtaining and Physicochemical Properties of Modified Carbonaceous Sorbents

The variety of practical problems solved in recent years with the help of sorption methods requires expanding the range of used adsorbents. Active carbons are very promising porous adsorbents. Due to a whole complex of valuable properties of a highly developed porous structure, a variety of the chemical nature of the surface, special electrophysical properties, as well as chemical, thermal and radiation resistance, various active carbons are widely used for the absorption of gaseous and dissolved substances. The peculiar nature of carbon adsorbents contributes to the fact that solutes on coal can be adsorbed by completely different; mechanisms, their sorption may be due to the different nature of the forces involved in the adsorption process. The purpose of the work is to obtain multipurpose sorbents; to study methods of modification of carbonaceous sorbents from ash waste, as well as their physicochemical properties

Importance of site-specific factors for the immobilization of contaminants using biochar and wood-based activated carbon

<p>The use of environmentally friendly low-cost sorbents such as biochar and wood-based activated carbon as soil amendment has shown promising results in immobilizing organic and inorganic contaminants. They can be suitable soil remediation options at sites with residual contamination, where the contaminated hotspot has been removed. The effectiveness of biochar and activated carbon application is site dependent. Specifically, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pH, and ionic strength in the pore water are important factors which can influence the extent of contaminant immobilization. Although there has been significant progress in developing alternative carbonaceous sorbents, the efficiency of these materials in a diverse range of soil and pore water conditions remains an open question. To address this knowledge gap, the present study investigates the influence of pore water chemistry on sorption of organic and inorganic contaminants to biochar and wood-based activated carbon. Sorption of selected non-polar, polar and ionizable polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and inorganic Cadmium (Cd) to biochar and a wood-based activated carbon was studied under different pore water chemistry conditions. Batch sorption experiments were conducted using an experimental design approach (Box Behnken Design) with three different levels of DOC, pH, and ionic strength, yielding background solutions mimicking a wide spectrum of pore water chemistries. Sorption K<sub>D</sub> values [L/kg] were calculated from aqueous contaminant concentrations after equilibration. Results were analyzed using a response surface methodology (RSM) approach on Minitab 19 and fitted to a model equation using linear, squared and two-way interactions terms.</p><p>Our results show that the ionizable PAC (phenyl phenol) and Cd were most affected by changes in pore water chemistries. For phenyl phenol, the presence of a phenolic group can cause H-bonding and electrostatic attraction and repulsion, while pH-dependent changes in speciation, precipitation and electrostatic attraction can occur for Cd. Sorption of all PACs negatively correlated with DOC, indicating competition of DOC with PACs for sorption sites. Sorption of non-polar (acenaphthene), polar N substituted (carbazole) and ionizable (phenyl phenol) PACs was hindered under acidic conditions, due to precipitation of DOC. For Cd, higher pH and low DOC levels favored sorption. This can be attributed to a lower Cd solubility in the presence of leached phosphate at higher pH, and a predominance of Cd(OH)<sub>2</sub> in the neutral to alkaline regime. Our findings highlight the importance of considering a combination of site- and contaminant-specific factors when planning to apply carbonaceous sorbents for contaminant immobilization, with pH and DOC generally being more important than ionic strength.</p>

Evaluation of Sorbent Sampling and Analysis Procedures for Acetone in Workplace Air: Variations of Concentration and Relative Humidity

This study experimentally evaluates the performance of different sorbent tubes for sampling acetone vapor in workplace air. A dynamic atmosphere system produced an acetone alone and a mixture with other analytes containing ~73, 483, and 1898 µg acetone mass loading at 25, 50, and 75% relative humidity (RH) at 25°C. Sorbent samples were analyzed in accordance with OSHA Method 69 (Carbosieve S-III) and NMAM 1501, modified to use Anasorb 747 sorbent. Both methods were modified to include the additional analytes. Additional extraction procedures with and without 1% dimethylformamide and anhydrous magnesium sulfate were included in the modified NMAM 1501 using Anasorb 747. Silica gel sorbent tubes analyzed according to NMAM 2027 were included. There were significant reductions in the recovery of acetone from both Anasorb 747 and Carbosieve S-III collected from air at 75% RH, relative to collection at 25 or 50% RH at very low loading compared with that of samples collected at mid to high loading. Silica gel provided a consistent recovery of acetone at all RHs and in the presence of other chemical interferences at 75% RH. The likely cause of mass dependence may arise from the humidity effect on acetone adsorption onto both beaded active carbon and carbon molecular sieve either in sampling or in analysis. The present study confirms not only previous observations but also adds to the literature showing carbonaceous sorbents are not well suited for sampling ketones at high humidity and low concentration.

Efficient carbonaceous sorbent based on the waste sludge of oil extraction industry for purifying wastewater from petroleum products

The opportunity to use the oil extraction industry waste kieselghur sludge as a raw stuff for carbonaceous sorbent for purifying wastewater from petroleum and petroleum products has been researched. It has been demonstrated that the thermal modification of the waste sludge results in oxidation of organic matter and the formation of a carbon layer on the surface of kieselghur (diatomite), as well as the formation of the obtained material’s porous structure. The maximum values of oil-absorption and petroleum-absorption of the carbonaceous sorbent samples, obtained at various temperatures of the initial waste product treatment, have been determined. The highest petroleum saturation (2 g/g) is observed in the first 5 minutes of the sorbent’s contact with the pollutant and is characteristic of the material, obtained at temperature 500°С. The highest oil saturation (3.6 g/g) is shown by the sorbent, obtained at temperature 450°С. This value was achieved after 30 minutes of the sorbent’s contact with oil. The efficiency of clarifying water-oil emulsion with the concentration 1.5 g/dm3 by using carbonaceous sorbents of various thermal pre-history has been determined. The highest degree of emulsion clarification – 91% was achieved at using the sorbent, obtained as a result of the waste sludge modification at temperature 450°С.