Highly Efficient Nano-Structured Polymer-Based Membrane/Sorbent for Oil Adsorption from O/W Emulsion Conducted of Petroleum Wastewater

Wastewater disposal has been an important issue from an environmental perspective in terms of the serious damages and harms its contaminants may cause. Treatment of the wastewater, through the pollutants removal, either before disposal or for the reuse in certain industrial or agricultural purposes, is an essential process. In response to this environmental claim, a novel nano-structured, macro-porous, polymer-based membrane/sorbent was prepared, in terms of its highly open and porous structure with nano-structured sorbent interconnecting walls and based on high internal phase emulsion polymerization. This sorbent was used to remove the oil from polluted wastewater in a laboratory-scale through the application of a new method called flotation–nano-filtration. In order to avoid the water flux decline and simultaneously enhance the oil removal efficiency from the wastewater, the polymeric material, after being prepared and used in sheet form (membrane), was ultimately introduced to the wastewater system as small pieces, as with the intention of physically increasing the area of surface for the oil removal. The material performance studies applied several variables, namely, the physical sectioning of the material surface area, sorbent concentration, mixing speed, and mixing time. An efficiency of 99.75% for the oil removal from the polluted water was successfully achieved at 75 minutes mixing time, a sorbent concentration of 0.158 g/200 mL (each piece with dimensions of 2 mm × 3 mm × 1 mm), and 300 rpm mixing speed. The sorbent structure before and after the oil removal process was examined using scanning electron microscope and x-ray diffraction analysis.     

Removal of Oil Products from Water Using a Combined Process of Sorption and Plasma Exposure to DBD

The paper presents the results of studies of a combined process involving the sorption of engine oil on a sorbent (diatomite) followed by regeneration of the sorbent by plasma-oxidative destruction of oil in DBD of atmospheric pressure in oxygen. The process parameters (gas flow rate, sorbent mass, power, treatment time), which provide the possibility of fivefold regeneration of the sorbent and 100% degree of oil decomposition, are revealed. It was found that the kinetics of oil degradation obeys the pseudo-first kinetic order equation with a rate constant of 0.017 s^?1. The energy efficiency of the decomposition was 0.169 molecules of oil per 100 eV of input energy. It is shown that treatment of the sorbent for 5 min leads to the complete decomposition of oil. The products of oil decomposition are carboxylic acids, aldehydes and CO₂. Complete removal of acids and aldehydes requires the time of about 40 min. The possible participation of ozone in the oxidative degradation of oil is discussed.     

Graphene oxide reinforced polyamide nanocomposite coated on paper as a novel layered sorbent for microextraction by packed sorbent

ABSTRACT

In this work, a novel layered sorbent for microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was introduced, which has been prepared by coating graphene oxide/polyamide (GO/PA) nanocomposite (NC) onto cellulose paper through solvent exchange method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to investigate the surface characteristic and morphology of PA and GO/PA NC coated on cellulose paper. The prepared MEPS device was used for extraction of organophosphorous pesticides (OPPs) including chlorpyrifos, fenthion, fenithrothion, ethion, edifenphos and phosalone in environmental aqueous samples followed by detection using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID). Important parameters affecting the MEPS method including pH of sample solution, extraction draw-discard cycles, sorbent layers, desorption solvent volume and desorption draw-eject number were studied and optimised using central composite design (CCD). Based on the method validation, limits of detection (LODs) were in the range of 0.2–1 µg L^?1. The calibration graphs for chlorpyrifos, fenthion and edifenphos are linear in the concentration range of 1 to 500 µg L^?1; for ethion and phosalone are linear in the range of 1–1000 µg L^?1 and for fenithrothion is linear in the range of 3–1000 µg L^?1. The method precision (RSD %) with six replicates determinations was in the range of 3 to 9.4 % and 3.9 to 11.9% for distilled water and spiked river water sample, respectively, at the concentration level of 300 µg L^?1 . The developed method was applied successfully to determine OPP compounds in river, dam and tap water samples; accordingly, the relative recoveries (RR%) were obtained in the range of 77.8 to 113.3%.     

Microwave-assisted dilute acid pretreatment of different agricultural bioresources for fermentable sugar production

Microwave-assisted pretreatment can be used for fermentable sugar production from lignocellulosic biomass. In this study, the optimum hydrolysis conditions of barley husk, oat husk, wheat bran, and rye bran were determined in power level, treatment time, solid-to-liquid ratio and dilute acid ratio as follows: 700 W, 6.92 min, 1:18.26 w/v, and 3.67% for barley husk, 600 W, 6.96 min, 1:17.22 w/v, and 3.47% for oat husk, 600 W, 6.92 min, 1:16.69 w/v, and 1.85% for wheat bran, and 460 W, 6.15 min, 1:17.14 w/v, and 2.72% for rye bran. The fermentable sugar concentrations were 37.21 (0.68 g/g), 38.84 (0.67 g/g), 49.65 (0.83 g/g), and 36.27 g/L (0.62 g/g) under optimum conditions, respectively. The results showed that microwave-assisted pretreatment is a promising technology which can be successfully implemented for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass for high sugar yield. On the other hand, hydrolysates included some inhibitors such as organic acids, furans, and phenolic compounds. Lignocellulosic biomass used in this study can be employed as good feedstocks for value-added product production in the fermentation process, after the inhibitors have been detoxified/removed with different detoxification methods.     

Electrospun Nanofibers Sorbents for Pre-Concentration of 1,1-dichloro-2,2 bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene with Subsequent Desorption by Pressurized Hot Water Extraction

Electrospun polystyrene (PS) nanofibers (130–500 nm) incorporating a potassium salt of imidazole-1-carbodithioate were evaluated as potential sorbents for the pre-concentration of a model organochlorine pesticide; 1,1-dichloro-2,2bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE). The efficiencies of DDE (0.25–1.0 μg L^?1) adsorption by the nanofiber sorbent followed by desorption employing pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) were investigated and monitored using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Parameters such as time, temperature and pressure of extraction, sample volume, DDE concentration and sorbent mass were optimized. The maximum adsorption of DDE (0.50 μg L^?1) on electrospun PS and carbodithioate incorporated PS nanofibers was at 43.7 and 94.6%, respectively, in 20 min. Incorporation of carbodithiote doubled the adsorption efficiency of PS and achieved LOD of 0.000234 μg L^?1 for DDE. The optimal DDE desorption on the PHWE system was 93.8% in 10 min. It would seem that the use of electrospun nanofibers as sorbent material with subsequent desorption by PHWE has great potential and thus warrants further investigations. This approach as it uses water as an extraction solvent for an organochlorine pesticide provides an opportunity to eliminate organic solvents, especially for procedures aimed at monitoring organic pollutants in the environment.     

Conditions for the optimal analysis of volatile organic compounds in air with sorbent tube sampling and liquid standard calibration: demonstration of solvent effect

The combined use of sorbent tubes (ST) and thermal desorption (TD) has become the common practice for the trace-level analysis of gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this research, the potential bias in VOC analysis due to the solvent introduced into the system as a liquid standard (LS) is examined in three stages by analyzing LSs of 19 VOCs in methanol solvent against a three-bed ST (Tenax TA, Carbopack B, and Carboxen 1000). In experimental stage 1, LS made at four concentration levels (between 10 and 150 ng μL^?1) were each analyzed at four injection volumes (1, 2, 5, and 10 μL) based on a vaporization method. In experimental stage 2, calibration was also conducted by direct injection over an extended concentration range at two volumes, 1 and 10 μL. In experimental stage 3, the response factors (RF) of a single analyte mass were compared across the four injection volumes and between two injection methods. These results were analyzed to explore the complex relationship between variables such as LS volume, target/solvent chemical type, sorbent strength, and prepurge condition. There was no change in the ST/TD performance up to 2 μL of LS. However, as the injection volume increased up to 5 μL, a notable shift in RF and retention time occurred (e.g., for benzene and methyl ethyl ketone). At the maximum injection volume (10 μL), a significant reduction in sensitivity is evident for all compounds, e.g., 50 % drops relative to 1 μL injection. As such, the TD performance tends to deteriorate with increasing volume of methanol initially loaded on the ST. Although the dominant fraction of solvent was removed by two prepurge steps, residue caught in the strong sorbent fraction is still found to exert an effect on the subsequent analysis, e.g., delayed retention, sensitivity reduction, or disappearance of certain compounds.     

Application of a new nanoporous sorbent for extraction and pre-concentration of lead and copper ions

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L^?1 copper (II) and 3–700 μg L^?1 lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L^?1, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g^?1, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.     

Adsorption of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions using nano-montmorillonite: kinetics,isotherm and mechanism evaluations

With increasing industrial development, heavy metal pollution, e.g., cadmium (Cd) pollution, is increasingly serious in soil and water environments. This study investigated the sorption performance of nano-montmorillonite (NMMT) for Cd ions. Adsorption experiments were carried out to examine the effects of the initial metal ion concentration (22.4–224 mg/L), pH (2.5–7.5), contact time (2–180 min) and temperature (15–40 °C). A simulated acid rain solution was prepared to study the desorption of Cd adsorbed on NMMT. After the adsorption or desorption process, the supernatant was analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometry method. The Cd removal rate increased as the pH and contact time increased but decreased as the initial metal ion concentration increased. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated to be 17.61 mg/g at a Cd²⁺ concentration of 22.4 mg/L. The sorption process can be described by both the Langmuir and Freundlich models, and the kinetic studies revealed that the pseudo-second-order model fit the experimental data. The Cd desorption rate when exposed to simulated acid rain was less than 1%. NMMT possesses a good adsorption capacity for Cd ions. Additionally, ion exchange was the main adsorption mechanism, but some precipitation or surface adsorption also occurred.     

Sol–gel derived ion-imprinted silica-supported organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent for selective removal of lead(II) from aqueous solution

The current paper presents a novel Pb(II) ion-imprinted silica-supported organic–inorganic hybrid sorbent functionalized with Schiff base by coupling a surface imprinting technique with a sol–gel process for the selective removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the Pb(II)-imprinted hybrid sorbent. The adsorption equilibrium was finished with 30 min. The experiment value of maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 54.9 mg g^?1. There were not significantly influence on the adsorption capacity of Pb(II) in the range of pH 3.5–6.5. The equilibrium data were fitted very well to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-first-order kinetics model. Under competitive adsorption conditions, the Pb(II)-imprinted hybrid sorbent was 3.09, 4.73, 3.34 and 4.96 times more selective than the corresponding non-imprinted sorbent for the systems of Pb(II)/Cu(II), Pb(II)/Cd(II), Pb(II)/Ni(II) and Pb(II)/Zn(II), respectively. The thermodynamic results demonstrated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto the Pb(II)-imprinted hybrid sorbent took place by a spontaneous and endothermic process with further increase in the degree of freedom at the solid–solution interface.     

Design of novel order mesostructured superacid catalyst from rice husk for the conversion of linseed oil to methyl esters

A novel ordered mesoporous catalyst was prepared from rice husk (MRH catalyst) through condensation–evaporation method in alkaline media. The process used cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a structure-directing agent (template) and sulfonated biochar obtained from partial rice husk carbonization (SBRH) as precursor. Various parameters such as temperature and CTAB/SBRH mass ratios were investigated to improve the mesoporous structure. The chosen catalyst was based on its degree of order of the mesoporous channels, and its activity was also tested in the methanolysis of linseed oil to methyl esters which was considered as a valuable blending composition for commercial jet fuels. The results showed that the temperature and CTAB/SBRH mass ratio should be of 70 °C and 0.3/1, respectively. The catalyst samples were characterized by many techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ammonia-temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD). The methyl ester composition of the as-synthesized biofuel was determined using gas chromatography supported by mass spectroscopy detector (GC–MS). The results of the characterizations showed that the catalyst possessed superacidic sites (NH₃-TPD) caused by –SO₃H groups (confirmed by FT-IR analysis) and ordered mesoporous structure (XRD). The mesoporous channel distribution was also observed by TEM images. The methanolysis yield reached 93.5% (calculated through GC–MS analysis) at mild conditions with high purity of methyl ester products strongly proving the catalyst activity and selectivity.     

Synthesis of molecular imprinted polymer nanoparticles followed by application of response surface methodology for optimization of metribuzin extraction from urine samples

A molecular imprinted polymer was prepared with precipitation polymerization technique and applied as a sorbent for selective extraction and enrichment of metribuzin herbicide prior to high performance liquid chromatography. Optimization of critical variables affecting the efficiency of molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE), such as sorbent mass, sample pH and flow rate of sample, volume, concentration, and flow rate of elution solvent was done by employing central composite design (CCD) of the response surface methodology. Two separate models were developed for the adsorption and recycling steps. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that, experimental data were excellently fitted to the proposed response models. The optimum operating conditions were: a sorbent mass of 25 mg, sample pH 6.19, sample flow rate of 2.15 mL/min, and a 5 mL portion of methanol/acetic acid with 92.7:7.3 (v/v) ratio and flow rate of 2.1 mL/min for the extraction process. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range was obtained from 20 to 120 µg/L (R²?=?0.999) and the lowest detectable concentration (LOD) and the lowest quantitative concentration (LOQ) were calculated as 5.75 and 19.86 µg/L, respectively. Finally, the designed MISPE method was successfully applied to determine trace amount of metribuzin in real samples. The diluted urine samples were spiked with metribuzin at 4 levels and extracted with recoveries ranging from 93.82 to 97.84% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 4.8%.     

Separation of Pt(IV) from Industrial Wastewater Using Rice Husk Adsorbent and Its Derivatives

Some novel adsorbents were prepared by rice husk (RH). The esterified rice husk (RHS) was prepared by treating RH with anhydride of succinic acid to introduce carboxylic function to rice husk. This RHS was used to anchor various polyamines, viz., ethylenediamine (ED) and diethylenetriamine (DT) to prepare new adsorbents. These adsorbents were used to separate Pt(IV) from synthetic as well as industrial wastewaters. Adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry. The selectivity order for Pt(IV) removal found was: RHS-DT > RHS-ED > RH > RHS. The Freundlich isotherm provided the high correlation (0.9750–0.9938) for the adsorption with low SSE (0.00215–0.00785) value of Pt(IV) for all the adsorbents. Among the kinetic models, pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to best fit with high correlation for all the adsorbents. The results of thermodynamic parameters suggest that the Pt(IV) adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The maximum percentage of desorption of Pt(IV) metal ion was obtained when the reagent HCl–thiourea mixture was used as desorbing agent.     

Trace analysis of Pt (IV) metal ions in roadside soil and water samples by Fe3O4/graphene/polypyrrole nanocomposite as a solid-phase extraction sorbent followed by atomic absorption spectrometry

A novel Fe₃O₄/graphene/polypyrrole nanocomposite has been successfully synthesised via a simple chemical method and applied as a new magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) sorbent for the separation and pre-concentration of trace amounts of Pt (IV) in environmental samples followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometric (FAAS) detection. The nanocomposite has been characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Seven important parameters, affecting the extraction efficiency of Pt (IV), including pH, adsorption time, desorption solvent type and concentration, desorption time, elution volume and sample volume, were investigated. Under the optimised conditions, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 50–1500 μg L^?1 (R = 0.993). The detection limit and pre-concentration factor (PF) for Pt (IV) were found to be 16 μg L^?1 and 112.5, respectively. Under the optimised solid-phase extraction (SPE) conditions, the adsorption isotherm and the adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite for Pt (IV) were studied. Pt (IV) adsorption equilibrium data were fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity of the magnetic sorbent was calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model as 416.7 mg g^?1. The precision of the method was studied as intraday and interday variations. A relative standard deviation percentage (RSD%) value less than 3.0 indicates that the method is precise. Also, the accuracy of the method was tested by the analysis of the standard reference material (NIST SRM 2556) and by recovery measurements on spiked real samples. It was also shown that the optimised method was suitable for the analysis of trace amounts of Pt (IV) in roadside soil, tap water and wastewater samples.     

Magnetic solid-phase extraction to preconcentrate trace amounts of gold (III) using nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles

In this research, nickel ferrite (NiFe₂O₄) magnetic nanoparticles were synthesised by a simple method and applied as sorbent for magnetic solid-phase extraction of trace amounts of Au(III) from water samples. Detection in this technique was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The effects of sample pH, amount of sorbent, extraction time, desorption solvent and its volume on the extraction process were optimised. The effects of interfering ions on the recovery of the analyte were also evaluated in model solutions. The best results were obtained at pH 6.5 with 5 mL of eluent solution (0.1 mol L^?1 sodium thiosulphate) and an extraction time of 30 min. Under optimal conditions, the sorption capacity was 34.6 mg g^?1. Also, enhancement factor (for 100 mL of sample solution) was found to be 19.3. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 4.4–800.0 µg L^?1 gold concentration and the limit of detection was 1.32 µg L^?1. The relative standard deviation of the method (for n = 8) was 1.57%. The method was successfully applied to the extraction of Au(III) from water samples.     

Removal of rhodamine B from aqueous solution via adsorption onto microwave-activated rice husk ash

The adsorption of rhodamine B (RhB) onto microwave-activated rice husk ash (ARHA) was conducted to demonstrate the capability of an inexpensive abundant biomaterial as an alternating bio-sorbent for the removal of dye residue from wastewater. Experimental data show that ARHA achieved the maximum adsorption capacity of 21.89 mg/g at pH 5.5 and 303 K. The absorption process was followed pseudo-second-order kinetic model and adsorption equilibrium data were well described by the Freundlich model. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the RhB adsorption onto ARHA was endothermic and spontaneous.     

Synthesis and characterization of high surface area nanosilica from rice husk ash by surfactant-free sol–gel method

A nanosilica powder was obtained by thermal treatment of rice husk ash using the sol–gel method without adding any extra surfactant, and was characterized by several techniques. Fourier transform infrared measurements revealed the similarity of the absorption curves of both standard nanosilica and synthesized nanosilica. From the nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis followed that the nanosilica showed very high surface area of 653 m²/g, total pore volume of 0.64647 mL/g, and narrow pore radius of about 1.98 nm. Scanning electron microscopy of the nanosilica sample dried at 120 °C showed separated particles, while the particles of the sample sintered at 700 °C were aggregated. The analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs and showed that about 69 % of particles had their sizes in the range of 20–25 nm. X-ray diffraction measurements showed the amorphous nature of the synthesized silica. Applying the Debye–Scherrer formula provided the value of the mean crystallite size around 26 nm which agreed with the one determined from TEM. The purity of the prepared nanosilica was higher than 95 % silica which was confirmed by means of energy dispersive X-ray analysis.     

Evaluation of the inhibitive effect of essential oil of Lavandula multifida L., on the corrosion behavior of C38 steel in 0.5 M H2SO4 medium

The essential oil of the aerial parts of Lavandula multifida L., collected in Errachidia region (three samples) in southeast Morocco, was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The oil was predominated by carvacrol (57.9–59.0%). L. multifida oil was tested as corrosion inhibitor of C38 steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ using weight loss measurements, electrochemical polarization, and EIS methods. The results obtained by measurements of weight loss showed that inhibition efficiency increases with inhibitor concentration to attain 72.2% at 2 g/l of oil at 298 K. Polarization curves revealed that L. multifida oil acts as mixed type inhibitor. The temperature effect on the corrosion behavior of steel in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ without and with the inhibitor at 2 g/l was studied in the temperature range from 303 and 343 K. The adsorption of inhibitor on the C38 steel surface was found to be a spontaneous process and to obey Langmuir’s adsorption isotherm. The associated activation energy has been determined.     

Extraction and preconcentration of ultra trace amounts of beryllium from aqueous samples by nanometer mesoporous silica functionalized by 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde prior to ICP OES determination

A new functionalized nanometer mesoporous silica (MCM-41) using 2,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (4-OHsal) was applied as an effective sorbent for solid phase extraction (SPE) of beryllium ions from aqueous solution followed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric detection (ICP OES). The influences of some analytical parameters on the quantitative recoveries of the analyte ion were investigated in batch method. In order to perform the batch mode of SPE, known amount of sorbent was added to a test tube containing sample solution buffered at pH 7.2. After manual shaking and centrifugation the aqueous phase was decanted and beryllium was desorbed by adding 1.0 mL of 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ to the sedimented sorbent. The sorbent was separated by centrifugation and the concentration of beryllium in the supernatant was determined by ICP OES. The maximum sorption capacity of the modified MCM-41 was found to be 34 mg g^?1. The sorbent exhibited good stability, reusability and fast rate of equilibrium for sorption/desorption of beryllium ions. The present method was used for preconcentration and determination of beryllium for water samples. Under optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) obtained was 0.3 ng L^?1. The accuracy of the procedure was evaluated by analysis of the certified reference material (NIST 1640).     

Adsorption and desorption behavior of tetravalent zirconium onto a silica-based macroporous TODGA adsorbent in HNO3 solution

To understand the separation behavior of Zr(IV) in the partitioning process for high level liquid waste, a silica-based macroporous adsorbent (TODGA/SiO₂-P) was prepared by impregnating N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl-3-oxapentane-1,5-diamide (TODGA) into a macroporous silica/polymer composite particles support (SiO₂-P). Adsorption and desorption behavior of Zr(IV) from nitric acid solution onto silica-based TODGA/SiO₂-P adsorbent were investigated by batch experiment. It was found that TODGA/SiO₂-P showed strong adsorption affinity to Zr(IV) and this adsorption process reached equilibrium state around 6 h at 298 K. Meanwhile, HNO₃ concentration had no significant effect on the adsorption of Zr(IV) above 1 M. From calculated thermodynamic parameters, this adsorption process could occur spontaneously at the given temperature and was confirmed to be an exothermic reaction. This adsorption process could be expressed by Langmuir monomolecular layer adsorption mode and the maximum adsorption capacity were determined to be 0.283 and 0.512 mmol/g for Zr(IV) at 298 and 323 K, respectively. In addition, more than 90 % of Zr(IV) adsorbed onto adsorbent could be desorbed with 0.01 M diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid solution within 24 h at 298 K.     

Parameter optimization in microwave-assisted distillation of frankincense essential oil

The essential oil of Boswellia species is extracted by the conventional method of hydrodistillation (HD). In this study, we aimed to compare this reference to microwave-assisted distillation (MAD) at different power densities. The results showed that microwave extraction can result in a substantial reduction (48 min against 180 min for reference) of the batch time when the power density of 2 W/g is applied. Also, the energy consumed by the new process is 2.7 times less than HD. The essential oil produced by MAD has a chemical composition different from that of reference treatment. Although microwave treatment increased the proportions of the main components (α-thujene and α-pinene), the opposite tendency was observed for o-cymene, estragole, methyl eugenol, and δ-guaiene. A 26.5% decrease in oil extracted by MAD at 1 W/g is required to achieve 50% inhibition of the DPPH radical compared to HD. In conclusion, MAD is a promising technology for producing olibanum oil with new qualitative attributes.