Development of Eco-friendly Adsorbent Pellets from Low Fire Clay and Potato Starch for Potential Use in Methylene Blue Removal in Aquaculture

Mesoporous clay-starch ceramic pellets have been prepared using silica-rich low fire clay and potato starch as a pore-forming agent. The ceramic pellets prepared using 30% starch, showed the highest porosity and lowest compressive strength among all the different pellets. Batch mode studies using the pellets showed higher methylene blue adsorption capacity with an increase in time and increased initial dye concentration. The adsorption capacity was found to decrease with increasing pellet dose, while pH had a negligible effect on methylene blue removal which makes them a suitable adsorbent in both acidic and basic mediums. Adsorption isotherm analysis of the process was followed by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm whereas the kinetics analysis fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. A low-cost, simple device was made from a stainless-steel wire mesh with mesoporous ceramic pellets enclosed in it, which can easily be dipped and taken out of an aquarium and can remove methylene blue from water.

Development of Mesoporous Geo-Adsorbent Pellets from Low Fire Clay and Cellulose for Removal of Methylene Blue in Aquaculture

Porous ceramic pellets have been prepared using low fire clay and cellulose as a pore forming agent. The pore size and BET analysis, water absorption capacity and compressive strength of the pellets have been determined. The methylene blue uptake of pellets increased on increasing the percentage of initial cellulose content. Batch mode studies showed that the methylene blue adsorption decreased with increasing dose of pellets, increased with increasing initial dye concentration, while solution pH and presence of co-ions had negligible effect on removal of methylene blue, making them suitable for dye removal over a wide range of pH. The adsorption process followed both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms, whereas the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. An inexpensive and simple device consisting of the mesoporous pellets enclosed in a tea ball wire mesh, which can be conveniently dipped and taken out of water in an aquarium and can remove methylene blue, has been developed.

Analyzing the Structural Properties of Fire Clay Bricks After Adding Cigarette Filters

Cigarette filters are one of the most littered objects in the world that damage the environment. Incorporation in construction bricks offers the prospect of limiting damage and solves the recyclability problem for a typical non-biodegradable waste. This paper aims to explore that prospect, by adding cigarette filters in the production of two samples of fired clay bricks with the cigarette filters comprising 5% and 10% of the volume. The mixing and molding processes were done manually which had an effect on the bricks when tested, The results of testing were corresponding with those of previous studies (outside Egypt), however, only one sample of 5% Cigarette butts volume bricks complied with the Egyptian standards for bricks used in non-load bearing uses. The industrial production of these bricks is highly recommended as it will surpass the required Egyptian standards, save a significant amount of natural resources and eliminate cigarette waste.