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The extensive release of water contaminated with lead (Pb(II)) and antimony (Sb(V)) constitutes a serious threat to the human living environment and public health, necessitating immediate attention. In this study, a novel MnFe@SBA composite was synthesized using the hydrothermal method through the in situ growth of MnFe2O4 on SBA-15. The MnFe@SBA exhibits an amorphous structure with a high specific surface area of 405.9 m2/g and pore sizes ranging from 2 to 10 nm. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that MnFe@SBA removed over 99% of Pb(II) and 80% of Sb(V) within 120 min at initial concentrations of 10 mg/L, whereas both MnFe2O4 and SBA-15 exhibited poor adsorption capacities. Additionally, the MnFe@SBA displayed excellent tolerance towards coexisting cations, including Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Ni2+, and Cd2+, as well as anions such as Cl−, NO3−, CO32−, and PO43−. The adsorption behavior of Pb(II) onto MnFe@SBA was satisfactorily described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm, while the adsorption of Sb(V) was well-fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm. At 318 K, the maximum adsorption capacities of MnFe@SBA for Pb(II) and Sb(V) were determined to be 329.86 mg/g and 260.40 mg/g, respectively. Mechanistic studies indicated that the adsorption of Pb(II) and Sb(V) onto MnFe@SBA involved two primary steps: electrostatic attraction and complexation. In conclusion, the MnFe@SBA is anticipated to serve as an ideal candidate for efficient removal of Pb(II) and Sb(V) from contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study synthesized biochar through a one-pot pyrolysis process using IALG as the raw material. The physicochemical properties of the resulting biochar (IALG-BC) were characterized and compared with those of biochar derived from acid-treated lignin with the ash component removed (A-IALG-BC). This study further investigated the adsorption performances and mechanisms of these two lignin-based biochars for Pb(II). The results revealed that the high ash content in IALG, primarily composed of Na, acts as an effective catalyst during pyrolysis, reducing the activation energy and promoting the development of the pore structure in the resulting biochar (IALG-BC). Moreover, after pyrolysis, Na-related minerals transformed into particulate matter sized between 80 and 150 nm, which served as active adsorption sites for the efficient immobilization of Pb(II). Adsorption results demonstrated that IALG-BC exhibited a significantly superior adsorption performance for Pb(II) compared to that of A-IALG-BC. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of IALG-BC for Pb(II), derived from the Langmuir model, was determined to be 809.09 mg/g, approximately 40 times that of A-IALG-BC. Additionally, the adsorption equilibrium for Pb(II) with IALG-BC was reached within approximately 0.5 h, whereas A-IALG-BC required more than 2 h. These findings demonstrate that the presence of inorganic mineral components in IALG plays a crucial role in its resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop cost-effective heavy metal adsorbents, we employed water-soluble lignin from black liquor to modify activated attapulgite, resulting in the creation of a novel adsorbent called Lignin-modified attapulgite (LATP). In this study, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer techniques were utilized to characterize the structural details of LATP. The results revealed that lignin occupies the micropores of attapulgite, while additional functional groups are present on the attapulgite surface. We conducted adsorption tests using LATP to remove five types of heavy metal ions (Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+), and it was found that LATP exhibited greater removal mass and binding strength for Pb(II) compared to the other ions. For further investigation, batch experiments were performed to evaluate the adsorptive kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics of Pb2+ removal from aqueous solutions using LATP. The results indicated that the adsorption capacity of Pb(II) on LATP decreased with decreasing pH, while the presence of Na+ had no effect on adsorption. The adsorption process reached equilibrium rapidly, and the Langmuir adsorption capacities increased with temperature, measuring 286.40 mg/g, 315.51 mg/g, and 349.70 mg/g at 298 K, 308 K, and 318 K, respectively. Thermodynamic analysis revealed positive values for ΔH0 and ΔS0, indicating an endothermic and spontaneous adsorption process. Furthermore, ΔG0 exhibited negative values, confirming the spontaneous nature of the adsorption. Consequently, LATP demonstrates great potential as an effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II). Therefore, LATP shows great potential as an effective adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) from natural water environments, contributing to the sustainable development of man and nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using peanut shells, a sustainable agricultural waste product, as its raw material, the acid group-modified biochar (AMBC) was prepared through phosphoric acid activation, partial carbonization, and concentrated sulfuric acid sulfonation for efficient removal of lead ion from aqueous solutions. Characterization techniques such as N2 isothermal adsorption–desorption, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, TG-DTA, and acid–base titration were utilized to fully understand the properties of the AMBC. It was found that there were high densities of acidic oxygen-containing functional groups (-SO3H, -COOH, Ph-OH) on the surface of the AMBC. The optimal adsorption performance of the AMBC for Pb(II) in water occurred when the initial concentration of Pb(II) was 100 mg/L, the pH was 5, the dosage of the adsorbent was 0.5 g/L, and the contact time was 120 min. Under the optimal conditions, the removal ratio of Pb(II) was 76.0%, with an adsorption capacity of 148.6 mg/g. This performance far surpassed that of its activated carbon precursor, which achieved a removal ratio of 39.7% and an adsorption capacity of 83.1 mg/g. The superior adsorption performance of AMBC can be caused by the high content of acidic oxygen-containing functional groups on its surface. These functional groups facilitate the strong binding between AMBC and Pb(II), enabling effective removal from water solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic heavy metals are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and show a significant danger to human health. Carbon nanotubes have been extensively used in treating the contamination of groundwater due to their porous multi-layer nature. Batch tests revealed that oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (O-MWCNTS) offer better removal of Pb(II). The removal rate of Pb(II) was 90.15% at pH 6 within 24 h, which was ~58% more than that of Cd(II). The removal rate decreased to 55.59% for Pb(II) and to 16.68% for Cd(II) when the initial concentration of Pb(II)/Cd(II) ranged from 5 to 15 mg·g−1. The removal rate in the competitive tests was about 60.46% for Pb(II) and 9.70% for Cd(II). The Langmuir model offered better description of the adsorptive data for both ions. And the Qm of Pb(II) was 5.73 mg·g−1, which was 2.39 mg·g−1 more than that of Cd(II) in a single-icon system, while Qm was 7.11 mg·g−1 with Pb(II) and 0.78 mg·g−1 with Cd(II) in competitive water. And thermodynamic tests further indicated that the activating energy of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was 83.68 and 172.88 kJ·mol−1, respectively. Lead and cadmium adsorbed on the surface of O-MWCNTS are antagonistic in the competitive system. Based on XPS analyses, it was concluded that the absorbed lead/cadmium species on O-MWCNTS were (-COO)2Pb, (-COO)Pb(-O)/(-COO)2Cd, and (-COO)Cd(-O). Additionally, they offered theoretical evidence supporting the practicality of using nanocomposite membranes as a means to remove cadmium and lead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing population, industrialization, and agriculture, water contamination not only affects people but entire ecosystems. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), because of their large surface area and porosity, show great potential as adsorbents for removing pollutants, such as heavy metals, from contaminated water. The current research aims at examining copper (II) benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate (Cu-BTC) MOFs and understanding the mechanism for their adsorption of Pb(II) from aqueous solution. The Cu-BTC samples were characterized using FTIR and XRD, and their surface area and porosity were determined based on N2 adsorption isotherms. The concentration of Pb(II) in the solutions was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Both kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data were collected and then analyzed using numerical models. The analyses led to the findings that the limiting steps in the adsorption of Pb(II) on Cu-BTC are (a) pore diffusion of Pb(II) and (b) the availability of the active sites on Cu-BTC MOFs. It was further revealed that the former step is more dominant in the adsorption of Pb(II) when the lead concentration is low. The latter step, which is directly proportional to the surface areas of the MOFs, affects the adsorption to a greater extent when the lead concentration is high. The results also show that adsorption of Pb(II) ions on Cu-BTC is mainly a multi-layer heterogeneous process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industry, the concentration of lead (Pb) in water bodies is gradually increasing, the forms of Pb pollution in water are becoming increasingly diversified, and the environmental and human health hazards caused by Pb pollution are receiving increasing attention. A HCO–(Fe3O4)x composite adsorbent prepared by the coprecipitation method of Fe3O4 mixed in cerium-rich grinding and polishing sludge was used to remove Pb from water. The effects of Ce/Fe molar ratio, pH, dosing amount, and time on the adsorption of HCO–(Fe3O4)x for Pb removal were investigated and the adsorption isotherm model, adsorption kinetics, and adsorption mechanism were studied. The results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of HCO–(Fe3O4)x on Pb(II) was 35.93 mg·g−1 at a Ce/Fe molar ratio of 1.5:1, pH 4–5, and temperature of 25 °C, and the removal rate could reach 96.05%; the process of Pb(II) adsorption by HCO–(Fe3O4)x was in accordance with the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model and the pseudo-second-order reaction kinetic model; chemisorption was dominant. Characterization results, such as EDS, XRD, and XPS, showed that the composite preparation of HCO with Fe3O4 increased the specific surface area of HCO–(Fe3O4)x and generated amorphous iron oxides, such as FeCe2O4, FeOOH, Fe3O4, and Fe2O3, which provided conditions for the formation of Fe-O-Pb and Ce-O-Pb complexes during the adsorption process, thus facilitating the adsorption removal of Pb(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent using deep eutectic solvent-coated magnetic graphene oxide (EgLiCl-mGO) was proposed for simultaneous preconcentration of Pb(II) and Cd(II). The nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and alternative gradient force magnetometer. Parameters that could affect the preconcentration recoveries of the target ions were investigated via the one-factor-at-a-time method. The optimum conditions are pH of 4 ± 0.5, EgLiCl-mGO amount of 1.0 × 10−2 g, adsorption time of 5 min, eluent of HNO3 (1 mL, 2 mol L−1), and desorption time of one minute. The swelling property of the adsorbent versus pH was studied. The linearity of the dynamic range for Pb(II) (5.0 × 10−6–4.0 × 10−4 g L−1) and Cd(II) (5.0 × 10−6–15 × 10−5 g L−1) was recorded. The limits of detection were Pb(II): 1.2 × 10−6 g L−1 and Cd(II): 47 × 10−8 g L−1. The preconcentration factor of 50 was calculated for both ions and the relative standard deviations were 1.27% for Pb(II) and 0.94% for Cd(II). Reusability, effect of interference ions, selectivity, isotherm adsorption, kinetic adsorption, and thermodynamic adsorption were established. The adsorbent was successful at preconcentrating the ions in legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic dyes and heavy metals often coexist in industrial effluents, and their simultaneous removal is a grand challenge. Herein, a hydrochar and MgAl layered double hydroxide (HC–MgAlLDH) nanocomposite was prepared via a facile one-step hydrothermal route, and applied to remove anionic Congo red (CR), cationic Methylene blue (MB) and Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. The nanocomposite was formed by interweaving amorphous HC and crystalline MgAlLDH nanoplates and possessed more functional groups, lower zeta potential and larger specific surface area than uncomposited MgAlLDH. Batch removal experiments showed that the components HC and LDH dominated the CR and MB removals, respectively, whereas Pb(II) removal was conjointly controlled by the two components. The maximum Langmuir removal capacities of the nanocomposite to sole CR, MB, or Pb(II) were 348.78, 256.54 or 33.55 mg/g. In binary and ternary systems, the removal capacities of CR and MB only slightly decreased, while the capacity of Pb(II) increased by 41.13–88.61%. The increase was related to the coordination of Pb(II) with the sulfur-containing groups in dyes and the precipitation of PbSO4. Therefore, the simultaneous removal of CR, MB and Pb(II) was involved in a synergistic effect, including electrostatic adsorption, π–π interaction, coordination and precipitation. The present work shows that the HC–MgAlLDH nanocomposite has great potential for wastewater integrative treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, dithiocarbamate-modified biochar (BC-HDTC) was successfully synthesized with nitric acid (HNO3), thionyl chloride (SOCl2), branched PEI and carbon disulfide (CS2). The effective anchoring of amine and dithiocarbamate groups onto the surface of the biochar was proven by SEM, FTIR, XPS, N2 adsorption–desorption experiment. The batch experiments demonstrated BC-HDTC can selectively remove 98% Pb(II) within multi-metals solution when pH = 5, T = 30 °C. The impact of variations on the BC-HDTC were researched (pH, contact duration, Pb(II) original concentration).The sorption kinetics (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion model) and isotherm modeling (Langmuir, Freundlich, and tempkin models) of Pb(II) on BC-HDTC were investigated. The adsorption process was depicted to attain equilibrium in less than 20 min and to fit the Langmuir isotherms and pseudo-2nd-order kinetics satisfactorily. The complexation of functional groups of HDTC (amine/imine and dithiocarbamate) with Pb(II) as well as the ion exchange between Na(I) and Pb(II) are the main adsorption mechanisms. Pb(II) onto BC-HDTC was endothermic and spontaneous, according to thermodynamic parameters. After 4 consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles, Pb removal efficiency of BC- HDTC remained over 90%. This work revealed the significant potential for Pb(II) contamination of BC-HDTC, a valuable and reusable adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pb(II) is a significant contaminant that is known to have negative effects on both humans and animals. Recent industrial operations have exacerbated these consequences, and their release of several contaminants, including lead ions, has drawn attention to the potential effects on human health. Therefore, there is a lot of interest in the rapid, accurate, and selective detection of lead ions in various environmental samples. Sensors-based nanomaterials are a significant class among the many tools and methods developed and applied for such purposes. Therefore, a novel green synthesized cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles and functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite was designed and successfully synthesized for the fabrication of nanoparticles and nanocomposite-coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) nanosensors to detect the low concentrations of Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions at different temperatures. The structural and morphological properties of synthesized nanoparticles and nanocomposite were characterized using different tools such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analyzer (ζ-potential), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The QCM results revealed that the green synthesized CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite-coated QCM nanosensors exhibited high sensitivity, stability, and rapid detection of Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions at different temperature. The lowest detection limit for Pb(II) ions in the aqueous solutions could reach 125 ng, which resulted in a frequency shift of 27.49 ± 0.81, 23.63 ± 0.90, and 19.57 ± 0.86 Hz (Δf) for the QCM detector coated with green synthesized CoFe2O4 nanoparticles thin films, and 25.85 ± 0.85, 33.87 ± 0.73, and 6.87 ± 0.08 Hz (Δf) for the QCM detector coated with CoFe2O4/Ca-Alg nanocomposite thin films in a real-time of about 11, 13, and 13 min at 25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C, respectively. In addition, the resonance frequency change results showed the superiority of functionalized CoFe2O4/Ca-alginate nanocomposite coated QCM nanosensor over CoFe2O4 nanoparticles towards Pb(II) ions detecting, which attributed to the beneficial properties of alginate biopolymer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents Pb(II) recovery/removal from water solutions using two different commercial ion-exchange resins, i.e., Dowex G-26 with sulfonic functional group and Puromet™ MTS9570 with sulfonic and phosphonic functional groups. Overall, 100% Pb(II) recovery/removal by both resins was obtained at solution pH 3.5, resin dosage 25 g/L, adsorption time 30 min, room temperature, and initial Pb(II) concentration 1000 mg/L. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms were used to model the experimental data. The mechanism of the adsorption process was investigated using kinetic and thermodynamic models. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption of Pb(II) from acidic solution onto both resins was a spontaneous and endothermic process in nature. Regeneration of the resins loaded with lead ions was tested for three cycles to evaluate the resin recyclability. Good stability of G-26 and performance degradation of MTS9570 resin was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilising waste amine-oxime (WAO) resin through microwave semi-carbonization, a carbon adsorbent (CA) was obtained to remove Pb(II). After microwave treatment, the pore size of the skeleton structure, three-dimensional porous network, and lamellar pore structure of WAO was improved. The distribution coefficient (Kd) of Pb(II) onto CA is 620 mL/g, and the maximum adsorption capacity of Pb(II) is 82.67 mg/g after 20 min of WAO microwave treatment. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms conform to the quasi-second-order kinetic equation and Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, respectively. The surface of MT-WAO is negatively charged and the adsorption mechanism is mainly electrostatic interaction. Pb(II) elution in hydrochloric acid solution is more than 98%, and its recovery is high at 318 K and for 1 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel efficient complexing resins—poly(vinylbenzyl pyridinium salts) fabricated through poly(vinylbenzyl halogene-co-divinylbenzene) quaternization of N-decyloxy-1-(pyridin-3-yl)ethaneimine and N-decyloxy-1-(pyridin-4-yl)ethaneimine—were tested as adsorbents of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II) from aqueous solutions. The structure of these materials was established by 13C CP-MAS NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. The textural properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy and low-temperature N2 sorption. Based on the conducted sorption studies, it was shown that the uptake behavior of the metal ions towards novel resins depended on the type of functionalities, contact time, pH, metal concentrations, and the resin dosage. The Langmuir model was investigated to be the best one for fitting isothermal adsorption equilibrium data, and the corresponding adsorption capacities were predicted to be 296.4, 201.8, 83.8, 38.1, and 39.3 mg/g for Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II), respectively. These results confirmed that owing to the presence of the functional pyridinium groups, the resins demonstrated proficient metal ion removal capacities. Furthermore, VBBr-D4EI could be successfully used for the selective uptake of Pb(II) from wastewater. It was also shown that the novel resins can be regenerated without significant loss of their sorption capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional porous bacterial cellulose/graphene oxide (BC/GO) composite hydrogel (BC/GO) was synthesized with multi-layer graphene oxide (GO) as the modifier and bacterial cellulose as the skeleton via an ultrasonic shaking process to absorb lead ions effectively. The characteristics of BC/GO were investigated through TEM, SEM, FT-IR, NMR and Zeta potential experiments. Compared to bacterial cellulose, the ultrasonic method and the carboxyl groups stemming from GO helped to enhance the availability of O(3)H of BC, in addition to the looser three-dimensional structure and enriched oxygen-containing groups, leading to a significantly higher adsorption capacity for Pb(II). In this paper, the adsorption behavior of BC/GO is influenced by the GO concentration, adsorption time, and initial concentration. The highest adsorption capacity for Pb(II) on BC/GO found in this study was 224.5 mg/g. The findings implied that the pseudo-second-order model explained the BC/GO adsorption dynamics and that the data of its adsorption isotherm fit the Freundlich model. Because of the looser three-dimensional structure, the complexation of carboxyl groups, and the enhanced availability of O(3)H, bacterial cellulose exhibited a much better adsorption capacity.

In this study, novel composite titanium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) beads were synthesized from titanium based metal organic framework MIL-125 and chitosan (CS) and used to remove Pb(II) from wastewater. The MIL-125-CS beads were prepared by combining the titanium-based MIL-125 MOF and chitosan using a template-free solvothermal approach under ambient conditions. The surface and elemental properties of these beads were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, as well as thermal gravimetric analysis. Moreover, a series of experiments designed to determine the influences of factors such as initial Pb(II) concentration, pH, reaction time and adsorption temperature was conducted. Notably, it was found that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto the MIL-125-CS beads reached equilibrium in 180 min to a level of 407.50 mg/g at ambient temperature. In addition, kinetic and equilibrium experiments provided data that were fit to the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Furthermore, reusability tests showed that MIL-125-CS retained 85% of its Pb(II)-removal capacity after five reuse cycles. All in all, we believe that the developed MIL-125-CS beads are a promising adsorbent material for the remediation of environmental water polluted by heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illite-smectite clay is a new mixed mineral of illite and montmorillonite. The ability of nano illite/smectite clay to remove Pb(II) from slightly polluted aqueous solutions has been investigated. The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration of Pb(II), nano illite/smectite clay dosage, and temperature on the adsorption process were studied. The nano illite/smectite clay was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that Pb(II) was adsorbed efficiently by nano illite/smectite clay in aqueous solution. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the kinetic of the adsorption, and the adsorption capacity of nano illite/smectite (I-Sm) clay was found to be 256.41 μg·g-1 for Pb(II). The adsorption patterns followed the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters, including the Gibbs free energy (DG), enthalpy (DH), and entropy (DS) changes, indicated that the present adsorption process was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in the temperature range of 298-333 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An easy, but effective, method has been proposed to detect and quantify the Pb(II) in the presence of Cd(II) based on a Bi/glassy carbon electrode (Bi/GCE) with the combination of a back propagation artificial neural network (BP-ANN) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) without further electrode modification. The effects of Cd(II) in different concentrations on stripping responses of Pb(II) was studied. The results indicate that the presence of Cd(II) will reduce the prediction precision of a direct calibration model. Therefore, a two-input and one-output BP-ANN was built for the optimization of a stripping voltammetric sensor, which considering the combined effects of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on the SWASV detection of Pb(II) and establishing the nonlinear relationship between the stripping peak currents of Pb(II) and Cd(II) and the concentration of Pb(II). The key parameters of the BP-ANN and the factors affecting the SWASV detection of Pb(II) were optimized. The prediction performance of direct calibration model and BP-ANN model were tested with regard to the mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), average relative error (ARE), and correlation coefficient. The results proved that the BP-ANN model exhibited higher prediction accuracy than the direct calibration model. Finally, a real samples analysis was performed to determine trace Pb(II) in some soil specimens with satisfactory results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chelating matrix, SiNP, has been prepared by immobilizing 1.5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carbaldehyde on silica gel modified with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. This new chelating material was well characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, cross polarization magic angle spinning solid state 13C-NMR, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm, BET surface area, BJH pore size, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The new product exhibits good chemical and thermal stability as determined by thermogravimetry curves (TGA). The new prepared material was used as an adsorbent for the solid-phase extraction (SPE) of Pb(II), Cd(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions using a batch method, prior to their determination by flame atomic adsorption spectrometry. The adsorption capacity was investigated using kinetics and pH effects. Common coexisting ions did not interfere with separation and determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential application of biochar in water treatment is attracting interest due to its sustainability and low production cost. In the present study, H 3 PO 4 -modified porous biochar (H-PBC), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-modified porous biochar (E-PBC), and NaOH-modified porous biochar (O-PBC) were prepared for Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in an aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as-obtained samples, and their capacities for Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption were determined. SEM showed that H-PBC retained the hierarchical porous structure of pristine biochar. FT-IR showed that H-PBC possessed abundant oxygen-containing and phosphorus-containing functional groups on the surface. BET analysis demonstrated that the surface areas of H-PBC (344.17 m 2 /g) was higher than O-PBC (3.66 m 2 /g), and E-PBC (1.64 m 2 /g), respectively. H-PBC, E-PBC, and O-PBC all exhibited excellent performance at Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption with maximum adsorption capacity of 64.94 mg/g, 47.17 mg/g, and 60.24 mg/g, and 243.90 mg/g, 156.25 mg/g, and 192.31 mg/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than the adsorption capacity (19.80 mg/g and 38.31 mg/g) of porous biochar (PBC). Pseudo-second order models suggested that the adsorption process was controlled by chemical adsorption. After three regeneration cycles, the Ni(II) and Pb(II) removal efficiency with H-PBC were still 49.8% and 56.3%. The results obtained in this study suggest that H-PBC is a promising adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

The photocatalysis process over N-doped TiO2 under visible light is examined for Pb(II) removal. The doping TiO2 with N element was conducted by simple hydrothermal technique and using urea as the N source. The doped photocatalysts were characterized by DRUVS, XRD, FTIR and SEM-EDX instruments. Photocatalysis of Pb(II) through a batch experiment was performed for evaluation of the doped TiO2 activity under visible light, with applying various fractions of N-doped, photocatalyst mass, irradiation time, and solution pH. The research results attributed that N doping has been successfully performed, which shifted TiO2 absorption into visible region, allowing it to be active under visible irradiation. The photocatalytic removal of Pb(II) proceeded through photo-oxidation to form PbO2. Doping N into TiO2 noticeably enhanced the photo-catalytic oxidation of Pb(II) under visible light irradiation. The highest photocatalytic oxidation of 15 mg/L Pb(II) in 25 mL of the solution could be reached by employing TiO2 doped with 10%w of N content 15 mg, 30 min of time and at pH 8. The doped-photocatalyst that was three times repeatedly used demonstrated significant activity. The most effective process of Pb(II) photo-oxidation under beneficial condition, producing less toxic and handleable PbO2 and good repeatable photocatalyst, suggest a feasible method for Pb(II) remediation on an industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesizing functional nanomaterials from naturally abundant clay has always been of vital importance for resource utilization, however, the lack of new methods to effectively utilize low-grade clay presents a significant challenge. Herein, a calcium oxalate/sepiolite nanocomposite (SMN-x) was prepared by using the water bath heating method to convert the associated calcium carbonate in low-grade sepiolite into calcium oxalate. The developed composite was subsequently used to remove Pb(II) from the aqueous solutions. The SMN-3 adsorbent prepared by heating in a water bath at 90 °C for 3 h (with a high specific surface area of 234.14 m2·g−1) revealed the maximum Pb(II) adsorption capacity of 504.07 mg·g−1 at pH 5, which was about five times higher than that of sepiolite (105.57 mg·g−1). Further, the SMN-3 adsorbent possessed a much higher selectivity for Pb(II) as compared to the other metal ions. Moreover, the residue was noted to be stable and safe. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms conformed to the quasi-second-order kinetic and Langmuir models. During the adsorption process, ion exchange was noted to the main mechanism, however, it was also accompanied by electrostatic attraction. This study provides a novel strategy for the sustainable development of simple and efficient adsorbents by utilizing low-grade clay minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the successful synthesis of magnetic nanocomposite of calcium ferrite with nitrogen doped graphene oxide (CaFe2O4-NGO) for the effective removal of Pb(II) ions and photocatalytic degradation of congo red and p-nitrophenol. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) techniques confirmed the presence of NGO and CaFe2O4 in the nanocomposite. The Mössbauer studies depicted the presence of paramagnetic doublet and sextet due to presence of CaFe2O4 NPs in the nanocomposite. The higher BET surface area in case of CaFe2O4-NGO (52.86 m2/g) as compared to CaFe2O4 NPs (23.45 m2/g) was ascribed to the effective modulation of surface in the presence of NGO. Adsorption followed the Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity of 780.5 mg/g for Pb(II) ions. Photoluminescence spectrum of nanocomposite displayed four-fold decrease in the intensity, as compared to ferrite NPs, thus confirming its high light capturing potential and enhanced photocatalytic activity. The presence of NGO in nanocomposite offered an excellent visible light driven photocatalytic performance. The quenching experiments supported ●OH and O2●− radicals as the main reactive species involved in carrying out the catalytic system. The presence of Pb(II) had synergistic effect on photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. This study highlights the synthesis of CaFe2O4-NGO nanocomposite as an efficient adsorbent and photocatalyst for remediating pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanorods of [Pb(L)Br2]n (1) (L = 1,2-bis (pyridin-3-ylmethylene)hydrazine) underwent ultrasound irradiation and were synthesized as a novel three-dimensional fishbone-like Pb(II)–organic coordination supramolecular compound. The morphology and nanostructure of the synthesized compound were determined through SEM, FTIR, elemental analyses, and XRD. Compound 1 was structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and revealed six-coordinated Pb (II) ions bonded to two N atoms from two L ligands and four bromine anions, forming a one-dimensional fishbone-like coordination polymer, which extended into a 3D supramolecular structure through weak intermolecular interactions. The bulk thermal stability of compound 1 was examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Moreover, PbO nanoparticles with sizes of 40–80 nm were obtained through the thermolysis of 1 at 180 °C using oleic acid as a surfactant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a natural biological adsorbent, shell powder is inexpensive, highly efficient, and does not leave any chemical residue; thus, it can be used to remove contaminants from water. In this study, we used mussel shells as a raw material to prepare an adsorbent. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface morphology of the mussel shell powder before and after calcination, and X-ray diffraction measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements were performed to analyze the structure and composition of calcined mussel shell powder. Characterization of the shell powder before and after calcination revealed a change from calcium carbonate to calcium oxide, as well as the formation of a surface porous structure. Using Pb(II) as a representative contaminant, various factors affecting the adsorption were explored, and the adsorption mechanism was analyzed. It was found that the adsorption is consistent with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the pseudo second-order model. The calcined mussel shell powder exhibits excellent adsorption for Pb(II), with an adsorption capacity reaching 102.04 mg/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of the magnetic CuFe2O4-loaded corncob biochar (CuFe2O4@CCBC) materials was obtained by combining the two-step impregnation of the corncob biochar with the pyrolysis of oxalate. CuFe2O4@CCBC and the pristine corncob biochar (CCBC) were characterized using XRD, SEM, VSM, BET, as well as pHZPC measurements. The results revealed that CuFe2O4 had a face-centered cubic crystalline phase and was homogeneously coated on the surface of CCBC. The as-prepared CuFe2O4@CCBC(5%) demonstrated a specific surface area of 74.98 m2·g−1, saturation magnetization of 5.75 emu·g−1 and pHZPC of 7.0. The adsorption dynamics and thermodynamic behavior of Pb(II) on CuFe2O4@CCBC and CCBC were investigated. The findings indicated that the pseudo-second kinetic and Langmuir equations suitably fitted the Pb(II) adsorption by CuFe2O4@CCBC or CCBC. At 30 °C and pH = 5.0, CuFe2O4@CCBC(5%) displayed an excellent performance in terms of the process rate and adsorption capacity towards Pb(II), for which the theoretical rate constant (k2) and maximum adsorption capacity (qm) were 7.68 × 10−3 g·mg−1··min−1 and 132.10 mg·g−1 separately, which were obviously higher than those of CCBC (4.38 × 10−3 g·mg−1·min−1 and 15.66 mg·g−1). The thermodynamic analyses exhibited that the adsorption reaction of the materials was endothermic and entropy-driven. The XPS and FTIR results revealed that the removal mechanism could be mainly attributed to the replacement of Pb2+ for H+ in Fe/Cu–OH and –COOH to form the inner surface complexes. Overall, the magnetic CuFe2O4-loaded biochar presents a high potential for use as an eco-friendly adsorbent to eliminate the heavy metals from the wastewater streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes a novel electrochemical sensor fabricated by an injection molding process. This device features a conductive polymer electrode encased in a plastic holder and electroplated in situ with a thin antimony film. The antimony film sensor was applied to the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The deposition of Sb on the sensor was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and microscopy. The experimental variables (concentration of the antimony plating solution, deposition potential and time, stripping waveform) were investigated, and the potential interferences were studied and addressed. The limits of detection were 0.95 μg L−1 for Pb(II) and 1.3 for Cd(II) (at 240 s of preconcentration) and the within-sensor percentage relative standard deviations were 4.2% and 4.9%, respectively, at the 25 μg L−1 level (n = 8). Finally, the sensor was applied to the determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in a phosphorite sample and a lake water sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abandoned lead and zinc (Pb-Zn) mines around the world produce large amounts of acid mine drainage (AMD) containing Pb(II), which is toxic and accumulates in the environment and in living organisms. Bentonite-steel slag composite particles (BSC) are a new type of acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment material that can remove heavy metal ions and reduce acidity. To date, there have been no reports on the treatment of Pb(II)-containing AMD using BSC. Therefore, the effects of pH, reaction time, temperature, and Pb(II) concentration on the adsorption of Pb(II) onto BSC were studied. Moreover, the BSC before and after the reaction, as well as the precipitation after the reaction, were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses. The effect of pH on the adsorption process is similar to that of the formation of soluble and insoluble hydrolysates of Pb(II) on pH. The adsorption mechanism includes ion exchange, complexation, precipitation, and synergistic adsorption–coagulation effect. Adsorption kinetics are best-fit with the pseudo-second order kinetics model ( R 2 > 0.98). Furthermore, the total adsorption rate is controlled by liquid film diffusion and in-particle diffusion, the liquid film diffusion rate being higher than the in-particle diffusion rate. The isothermal adsorption of Pb(II) onto BSC fit well with Langmuir and Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) isotherms ( R 2 > 0.995), and both single layer adsorption and local multilayer adsorption were observed. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic, and that the degree of freedom increases with time. In summary, this study provides a theoretical basis for the use of BSC in treating AMD containing Pb(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentiometric plasticizer-free solid-contact Pb2+-selective electrodes based on copolymer methyl methacrylate-n-butyl acrylate (MMA-BA) as membrane matrix and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as intermediate ion-to-electron transducing layer have been developed. The disposable electrodes were prepared by drop-casting the copolymer membrane onto a layer of MWCNTs, which deposited on golden disk electrodes. The obtained electrodes exhibited a sub-ppb level detection limit of 10−10 mol·L−1. The proposed electrodes demonstrated a Nernstian slope of 29.1 ± 0.5 mV/decade in the linear range from 2.0 × 10−10 to 1.5 × 10−3 mol·L−1. No interference from gases (O2 and CO2) or water films was observed. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of the fabricated electrodes was compared to that of plasticizer-free Pb2+-selective electrodes without MWCNTs as intermediated layers. The plasticizer-free MWCNTs-based Pb2+-selective electrodes can provide a promising platform for Pb(II) detection in environmental and clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to remove toxic heavy metals, such as Pb(II), from the environment is an important objective from both human-health and ecological perspectives. Herein, we describe the fabrication of a novel carboxymethylcellulose-coated metal organic material (MOF-5–CMC) adsorbent that removed lead ions from aqueous solutions. The adsorption material was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We studied the functions of the contact time, pH, the original concentration of the Pb(II) solution, and adsorption temperature on adsorption capacity. MOF-5–CMC beads exhibit good adsorption performance; the maximum adsorption capacity obtained from the Langmuir isotherm-model is 322.58 mg/g, and the adsorption equilibrium was reached in 120 min at a concentration of 300 mg/L. The adsorption kinetics is well described by pseudo-second-order kinetics, and the adsorption equilibrium data are well fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.988). Thermodynamics experiments indicate that the adsorption process is both spontaneous and endothermic. In addition, the adsorbent is reusable. We conclude that MOF-5–CMC is a good adsorbent that can be used to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite adsorption materials combine the advantages of various adsorptive materials and compensate for the defects of single adsorbents. Magnetic montmorillonite (MMMT) shows good adsorption properties for Pb(II). In order to further improve the adsorption properties of MMMT, in this work, Zn-BDC, a kind of metal–organic framework (MOF), was modified onto the surface of MMMT by in situ polymerization. The composite material MMMT@Zn-BDC was characterized by Zetasizer, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, VSM, and XPS. The influence of adsorption conditions on the adsorption capacity of MMMT@Zn-BDC for Pb(II) was examined, including the adsorbent dosage, pH of Pb(II) solution, initial concentration of Pb(II), and the temperature and adsorption time. Also, the adsorption mechanism was studied. The results of this study show that MMMT@Zn-BDC adsorbs Pb(II) via chemisorption. In addition, MMMT@Zn-BDC exhibits good potential for adsorbing Pb(II), including its high adsorption capacity (724.64 mg/g) and good recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA)-grafted metal-organic framework material (MIL-101) was synthesized. The introduction of TEPA increased the abundance of functional groups on the MIL-101. As a powdery adsorbent, MIL-101-TEPA can be difficult to separate. In order to solve this problem, we combined MIL-101-TEPA with sodium alginate (SA) and injected the mixture into a CaCl2 solution to solidify the powder into beads with a particle size of 3 mm. The easily recovered adsorbent was applied to the adsorption of Pb(II) from water. The structure and characterization of the adsorbent were investigated through scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We also optimized the adsorption conditions. The results of the study showed that the adsorption process was chemisorptive and endothermic in nature. The maximum adsorption capacity of the composite beads was 558.6 mg/g. Meanwhile MIL-101-TEPA@CA showed good repeatable utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]