Adsorption of Rare Earth Ce3+ and Pr3+ Ions by Hydrophobic Ionic Liquid

This study reports the use of hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL) based on D-galactose for the recovery of Ce (III) and Pr (III) ions from solutions. The equilibrium data were obtained by optimization of batch parameters, and various isotherms and kinetic models were utilised to predict the mechanistic process of sequestration of ions. The Arrhenius activation energies are found to be between 5–40 kJ, suggesting the physisorption process of ions onto IL. The present process is understood to be rapid and exothermic in nature according to thermodynamic experiments. The loading capacity was found to be 179.3 g L−1 and 141.5 g L−1, respectively, for Ce (III) and Pr (III) ions at pH 5 with a contact time of 30 min and dose being 0.1 g L−1. The higher uptake capacity is attributed to the presence of a highly electronegative fluorine atom in the IL. These results highlight the potential application of IL in the sequestration of Ce (III) and Pr (III) ions from any water sources.

Fast and Effective Confiscation of Methylene Blue Dye from Aqueous Medium by Luffa aegyptiaca Peel

Background: Dye contamination of natural water system is a severe problem due to the considerable enhancement in industrial activities. As the dyes are highly visible, non-biodegradable, and toxic in nature, they are considered as a severe source of water pollution. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an inexpensive, simple, effective, and easy technique for their elimination from wastewater. Methods: Luffa aegyptiaca peel (LuAP), kitchen waste was exploited as a low-priced biosorbent for the adsorptive elimination of cationic methylene blue (MB) dye. The influence of several batch parameters, i.e., adsorbent dose, pH of the solution, different initial dye concentration, adsorbate/adsorbent contact time, and temperature were optimized for maximum adsorption of MB from aqueous media. Furthermore, thermodynamics, kinetics, and isotherm studies were also carried out in order to comprehend the dominant mechanism for the adsorptive elimination of MB. Results: The kinetic data for the adsorption of MB onto the LuAP followed closely by the pseudo-second-order (PSO) equation, and the adsorption equilibrium data were observed to be well demonstrated by Langmuir isotherm. The equilibrium was attained in 180 min with maximum sorption capacity of 52.63 mg/g at an adsorbent dose 3 g/L, pH of 7, and temperature 303 K. Thermodynamic study reveals that the removal of MB by LuAP is spontaneous and endothermic. Conclusion: It has been concluded that LuAP can be efficiently utilized for the confiscation of cationic MB dye from polluted water.