In this study, an adsorptive electrospun polyamide membrane (ESPA) and electrospun polyamide–weathered basalt composite membrane (ESPA-WB) were prepared by an electrospinning process at room temperature. Hence, the WB structure was built as a polymeric membrane separation film in combination with the ESPA matrix as a composite nano-filtration membrane. Then, the ESPA and ESPA-WB membranes were characterized using BET surface area analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To avoid cracks forming during the sintering process, the WB should be added in certain percentages. The microstructures of the prepared membranes were investigated to evaluate their efficiency for basic and acidic dyesʼ removal and their permeation flux. Compared with the ESPA, the ESPA-WB membrane combines the characteristics of WB and ESPA, which greatly enhances the performance of both methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes removal from synthetic wastewater. The outcomes of this study indicated that the dye uptake in the case of ESPA-WB is higher than that of ESPA, and it decreases with an increase in dye concentrations. The obtained membrane ESPA-WB showed both an excellent anti-dye fouling and a good rejection property for both dyes (i.e. 90% rejection for MB and 74% for MO) with no sign of contamination by the applied dyes. It was found that the structure of the ESPA-WB membrane contains a large number of several adsorption sites which leads to an increase in the removal rate of dyes. Hence, this study demonstrated a non-conventional strategy to prepare an effective adsorptive nano-composite membrane that can be applied as a highly recyclable one for the removal of organic dyes. Graphic abstract

Trichloroethylene (TCE) contaminated soil has received extensive attention in the environmental issues. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) is considered as an excellent reduction catalyst due to fast degradation of chlorinated solvents. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate TCE removal from soil by surfactant modified nanoscale zero-valent iron (SNZVI). In this respect, fixed 500 g soil having a diameter range 0.5-1 mm was polluted with 10 mL TCE and put inside glass column of 2.5 cm diameter × 300 cm length. The NZVI solution was prepared from reduction of FeCL 3 by NaBH 4 and coating with 2.5 g nonionic surfactant (Tween 85) to produce iron nanoparticle concentration of 0.1 g/L. The prepared iron nanoparticle was poured into contaminated soil and left to stir at a constant rate for 24 days. The reductive dechlorination of TCE was measured as a function of increasing chloride ion. It was found that the TCE dechlorination in the presence of iron surfaces displayed pseudo first-order kinetics. The TCE degradation rate constant (K obs ) is 4 × 10 −4 h −1 . Also, about 30% of TCE was removed within initial 6 days. The obtained specific rate constant (K SA ) was 6.081 × 10 −4 L · h −1 · m −2 and is lower than other studies carried into aqueous phase by about 23 orders of magnitude. Finally, the SNZVI was found to be effective and fully removed to TCE within 456 hours.

I N this article, we focused on using low-cost bio-adsorbents such as chitosan from shrimp & crabs shells waste, and amorphous carbon thin film ACTF from microcrystalline cellulose waste, to prepare a new composite (ACTF/C) for removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. ACTF/C composite was prepared via a novel ultrasonic co-precipitation method instead of traditional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. The morphological and structural descriptions are performed using XRD, FTIR, TEM, TGA, SAED and SEM analysis. The analysis results showed that the ACTF/C composite was prepared successfully. The effects of several parameters such as adsorbent doses (0.05-0.2 g/100 ml), temperatures (25-45 o C), initial solution pH of solution (3-9) , dye concentrations (10,25, 50, and 100 ppm) and contact time (20-80 min) on the adsorption process were examined. The kinetics, thermodynamic analyses, and adsorption isotherm models were examined to estimates the empirical results. The empirical facts are properly equipped with the Langmuir isotherm (R 2 = 0.997), giving an absorption capacity of more than 85mg/g. From kinetic details, we found that adsorption of methylene blue day across ACTF/C composite is represented by the pseudo-secondorder model. In general, these outcomes suggest that the new ACTF/C composite provides great potential to get rid of methylene blue dye from contaminated water.

Membrane separators are promising alternatives in recent times, due to their high efficiency and applicability in various fields. For example, membranes are currently widely used in water treatment and in reverse osmosis desalination plants but are used on a small scale in the ultrafiltration membrane filters [1]. On the other hand, the solar powered small-scale ultrafiltration membrane systems are currently being used in remote areas which are difficult to drinking safe water, or in natural disasters or in the emergency situations. Key considerations must be taken during development the new membranes, include the cost and scalability, high chemical/thermal stability, high selectivity and high permeability [2]. The membrane must also be designed to separate multicomponent mixtures, resist fouling, and have excellent mechanical and chemical stability [3].

Kaolinite is a widely available and inexpensive substance that has been successfully employed to decontaminate different hazardous contaminants from wastewater by adsorption. In this study, halloysite-like nanotubes (HNTs) were prepared via intercalation followed by ultrasonic rolling of the kaolinite layers. Then, maghemite nanoparticles were co-precipitated within the HNTs matrix to produce a maghemite/HNTs nanocomposite (MG@HNTs). XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, and a BET analyzer were used to characterize the MG@HNTs nanocomposite, which was then utilized to eliminate Cd(II) from aqueous solutions (water and wastewater). Using a batch methodology, the impact of various adsorption parameters on Cd(II) removal was explored. MG@HNTs nanocomposite exhibited a high adsorption capacity (qe) of 264.47 mg g−1 for Cd (II). The kinetic data well conformed to pseudo-2nd-order, while the adsorption isotherms conformed to the Langmuir model. The desorption study demonstrated that the MG@HNTs nanocomposite could be successfully regenerated and recycled five times, without losing its original removal efficiency. Furthermore, MG@HNTs exhibited effective implementation to remove cadmium from real water samples, including tap and industrial wastewater. This study confirmed the successful application of MG@HNTs as an efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable adsorbent at a high level of feasibility for the uptake of hazardous contaminants from industrial wastewater.