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Oily sewage discharged from indiscriminate industrial and frequent oil spills have become a serious global problem. There is an urgent need to separate stable oil/water emulsions by efficient and environmentally friendly methods. Membrane separation technology has the advantages of low energy consumption and low cost, thus is an effective solution to the problems of oily wastewater. However, the manufacture of multifunctional membranes with high efficiency, high flux and self-cleaning using renewable materials remains a challenge. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) smart membranes with switchable superhydrophobic-hydrophilic surfaces were prepared by grafting photo-responsive poly-spiropyran (PSP) on wood-based substrates via surface atom transfer radical polymerization. This novel membrane can efficiently separate stabilized water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions due to reversible hydrophilic-hydrophobic transition by switching UV and visible light irradiation. Remarkably, after immobilization, the PSP grafted on the wood substrate exhibited a faster photo response effect than the free spiropyran (SP). More importantly, the prepared 3D smart membranes showed exceptional high flux (4392 L•m

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been attracted increasing attentions due to their carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. Adsorption is widely considered one of the most potential technologies for PAHs removal. In this study, we prepared two kinds of oxygen-rich biochar derived from waste wood to investigate the PAHs adsorption performance, and the molecular simulation was used to build the 16 priority PAHs, 23 nitrated PAHs, 9 oxygenated PAHs adsorption model. The surface adsorption performance of oxygen-rich biochar significantly depends on the pyrolysis conditions. The main out-comings demonstrated that the adsorption of naphthalene (C

Heavy metal pollution is one of the primary challenges of water pollution, and the fabrication of highly effective, green and non-toxic adsorbents for heavy metals is urgently required on the basis of environmental and sustainable development strategies. Here, we report a novel fluorescent wood (FW) with effective adsorption ability (maximum theoretical adsorption capacity of 98.14 mg/g for hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]), good fluorescence properties (absolute quantum yield of 12.8%), non-cytotoxicity (cell viability of >90%) and high detection sensitivity and selectivity for Cr(VI). The FW was formed using a process involving delignification, infiltration with carbon dots, and free-radical polymerization with acrylic acid. Mechanistic analysis confirmed that the reconstructed 3D porous structure of the FW provided many effective sorption sites, such as amino, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. This improved the adsorption ability and stabilized the fluorescence signal, which enhanced the detection ability. These factors give the novel FW considerable potential for use in the removal of Cr(VI) ions from wastewater.

The environmental biodegradability profile of graphene related materials (GRMs) is important to know in order to predict whether these materials will accumulate in soil or will be transformed by primary decomposers. In this study, few-layer graphene (FLG) was exposed to living and devitalized axenic cultures of two white-rot basidiomycetes (Bjerkandera adusta and Phanerochaete chrysosporium) and one soil saprotrophic ascomycete (Morchella esculenta) with or without lignin, for a period of four months. Over this time, the increase of fungal biomass and presence of H2O2 and oxidizing enzymes [laccase/peroxidase and lignin peroxidase (LiP)] in growth media was assessed by gravimetric and spectrophotometric measurements, respectively. Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to compare the structure of FLG before and after incubation. All of the test fungi decreased pH in growth media and released H2O2 and laccase/peroxidase, but only basidiomycetes released LiP. Independent of growth media composition all fungi were found to be capable to oxidize FLG to a graphene oxide-like material, including M. esculenta, which released only laccase/peroxidase, i.e. the most common enzymes among primary decomposers. These findings suggest that FLG involuntarily released into terrestrial environments would likely be oxidized by soil microflora.

Guaiacol (2-methoxyphenol) is an important atmospheric pollutant. It is the major component of wood lignin and is essentially emitted to the atmosphere during biomass burning. Its aging in the tropospheric aqueous phase leads to the generation of the following ring-retaining transformation products, also during nighttime: 4-nitroguaiacol, 6-nitroguaiacol, and dinitroguaiacol. This study presents the first toxicological data of guaiacol and its nitro derivatives and reveals their harmful potential for the ecosystem. Applying V. fischeri bioluminescence acute toxicity test, EC50 values range from 16.7 to 103mgL-1 after a 30-min incubation period, which classifies all investigated compounds as 'harmful' according to the European legislation. The investigation of environmentally relevant mixtures did not show significant joint actions between the four studied compounds. Therefore, their concentration addition can be considered for ecotoxicological purposes. However, a synergistic effect between guaiacol and a minor unidentified first-generation product of its aqueous-phase aging was observed and should be taken into account when assessing the reaction mixture toxicity. These results stress the need for further toxicological testing, including organisms of different trophic levels, to better evaluate the environmental hazard of guaiacol and especially its nitro derivatives.

This study aims to investigate the biodegradation of 4,5-dichloro-2-(n-octyl)-3[2H]-isothiazolone (DCOIT) by a brown-rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum as well as the involved mechanism. In the present study, the retentions of DCOIT in treated Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) (MP) chips were determined periodically after incubation with G. trabeum. Then a Fenton-like reaction, known as the chelator-mediated Fenton (CMF) chemistry was used to degrade DCOIT that mimics the degradation pathway of DCOIT by typical brown-rot fungi, and the degradation intermediates were further analyzed. The results demonstrated that DCOIT was rapidly depleted in the early stages of incubation by G. trabeum. The CMF treatment was shown to oxidatively decompose DCOIT by producing reactive oxygen species. This evidence suggests that the CMF chemistry employed by brown-rot fungi contributes to the rapid depletion of DCOIT during G. trabeum exposure, although this does not rule out other possible mechanisms for the biodegradation of DCOIT. The new findings give new insights into the mechanism for the biodegradation of organic biocides, and potentially provide an efficient approach for the removal of organic pollutants in the contaminated water.

The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil and water using plant biomass is considered to be a green technological approach, although the harmless disposal of biomass accumulated with heavy metals remains a challenge. A potential solution to this problem explored in this work involves combining phosphate pretreatment with pyrolysis. Pb(II) was accumulated in celery biomass with superior sorption capacity and also in ordinary wood biomass through biosorption. The Pb(II)-impregnated biomass was then pretreated with phosphoric acid or calcium dihydrogen phosphate (CaP) and pyrolyzed at 350 or 450°C. Pb(II) from biomass was in turn almost totally retained in chars, and the percentage of DTPA-extractable Pb(II) was reduced to less than 5% of total Pb(II) in chars through CaP pretreatment. Pb(II) stabilization was further confirmed through a sequential extraction test, which showed that more than 95% of Pb(II) was converted into stable species composed mainly of lead phosphates according to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) analyses. Overall, phosphate-pretreated pyrolysis can stabilize both Pb(II) and degradable biomass, so as to control efficiently the hazards of heavy metal-contaminated biomass.

Two low cost solid organic materials, sawdust and peat, were tested in laboratory batch microcosm and flow-through column experiments to determine their suitability for application in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) supporting biodegradation of trichloroethene (TCE). In microcosms with peat, TCE (∼30μM) was sequentially and completely degraded to cis-dichloroethene (cDCE), vinyl chloride, and ethene through reductive dechlorination. In microcosms with sawdust, reductive dechlorination of TCE stopped at cDCE and high methane production (up to 3000μM) was observed. 16S rRNA gene copy numbers of Dehalobacter and Archaea were higher (1000 and 10 times, respectively) in sawdust microcosms than those in peat microcosms. Dehalococcoides and vcrA gene copy numbers were 10 times higher in peat microcosms than in sawdust microcosms. These gene copy number differences are consistent with the extent of TCE degradation and production of methane in the microcosms. Flow-through column experiments showed that hydraulic conductivity reduction with time was consistently greater in the sawdust column compared to the peat column. The greater conductivity reduction was likely due to biofouling and methane gas bubble formation. The experimental observations indicate that peat has potential to be a better solid organic material than sawdust to support reductive dechlorination of TCE in PRB applications.

Thirty-six biochars produced from distinct feedstocks at different temperatures were evaluated for their potential to remove mercury (Hg) from aqueous solution at environmentally relevant concentrations. Concentrations of total Hg (THg) decreased by >90% in batch systems containing biochars produced at 600 and 700 °C and by 40-90% for biochars produced at 300 °C. Elevated concentrations of SO4(2-) (up to 1000 mg L(-1)) were observed in solutions mixed with manure-based biochars. Sulfur X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) analyses indicate the presence of both reduced and oxidized S species in both unwashed and washed biochars. Sulfur XANES spectra obtained from biochars with adsorbed Hg were similar to those of washed biochars. Micro-X-ray fluorescence mapping results indicate that Hg was heterogeneously distributed across biochar particles. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure modeling indicates Hg was bound to S in biochars with high S content and to O and Cl in biochars with low S content. The predominant mechanisms of Hg removal are likely the formation of chemical bonds between Hg and various functional groups on the biochar. This investigation provides information on the effectiveness and mechanisms of Hg removal that is critical for evaluating biochar applications for stabilization of Hg in surface water, groundwater, soils, and sediments.

A wood-based activated carbon (AC) was oxidized using different oxidants. The resultant adsorbents were applied to adsorb nitrogen (N) containing compounds that appeared in light cycled oil. Appropriate oxidation treatment can increase oxygen functional groups on the surface of AC without much damage to its pore structure. Oxygen functional groups play a key role in enhancing adsorptive selectivity of carbons. Lactone groups can facilitate the selective removal of 1-ring N compounds. Phenolic groups, total CO2-releasing groups and total O groups show an improvement in the adsorption of 2-ring N compounds. Aldehyde groups favor the adsorption of 3-ring and 4-ring N compounds. However, excessive oxidation can result in the collapse of pore structure and closure of pore channels. For instance, the carbon oxidized by a mixture of concentrated H2SO4 and HNO3 has an extremely low adsorption performance.

Iron (Fe) dissimilatory reduction might impact chromium (Cr) mobility in the rice rhizosphere, but it is poorly understood. We assessed rhizosphere microbes' role in Cr immobilization and bioavailability by conducting the pot experiment to test different biochar sources (PMB - pig manure and PSB - pine sawdust) and phosphorus (P) levels impact on Cr mobility. Results showed that PMB application increased root biomass (23-65 %) and decreased root Cr concentration (46-74 %) regardless P treatment. However, P addition reduced root and shoot biomass in control and PMB treatments by 33-43 % and 25-26 %. Therefore, low P input is recommended in Cr-contaminated soil. Moreover, Geobacter was the key microbial groups which may be involved in promoting Cr release by increasing Fe dissolution. Finally, Geobacter and Fe dissimilatory reduction play a central role in Cr translocation and they should be considered in strategies to reduce rice Cr uptake by biochar application.

Lignin-rich wood nanofibers (WNFs) were investigated as adsorbents for heavy metals. Lignin-free cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) produced from bleached cellulose fibers were used as a reference. Two raw materials were used to produce WNFs: groundwood pulp as industrially produced wood fibers and sawdust as an abundantly available low-value industrial side stream. WNFs and reference CNFs were produced using a reactive deep eutectic solvent to obtain nanofibers with abundant sulfate groups on their surfaces. With a similar amount of sulfate groups, WNFs had a higher adsorbent performance compared to CNFs and, at low metal concentrations (0.24 mmol/l), the removal of both metals was almost quantitate with WNFs. However, it was noted that, at pHs 4 and 5, the sodium present in the buffer solution interfered with the adsorption, leading to lower adsorption capacities compared to the capacity at pH 3. In addition, in the case of lead, the adsorption capacity dramatically decreased at a high metal concertation, indicating that a high lead concentration results in the saturation of adsorption sites of sulfated nanofibers, leading to a decreased adsorption capacity. Nevertheless, it was observed that WNFs had a higher tolerance to high metal concentrations than CNFs.

Wood is one of the most widely used construction materials but it is thermally degradable and combustible, which poses serious safety concerns. In this research, the high temperature and fire behavior of hydrothermally modified western hemlock, impregnated with carbon nanomaterials pre-adsorbed with alkali lignin, was examined by cone calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The hydrothermal treatment made the wood less hydrophilic, allowing the formation of a dense protective layer of carbon-rich additives on the external wood surface at low loading (5 wt%) after aqueous-phase vacuum impregnation. Results revealed that the unique combination of these two processes reduced the total heat release by up to 32%, diminished flame spread by 31%, decreased the average carbon dioxide yield by 12%, lowered the total mass loss by 10%, and significantly slowed the pyrolytic reactions of wood. This research has important implications for the development of valued-added wood products with superior fire safety from relatively low cost timbers, such as western hemlock.

The limitation and regulation of formaldehyde emissions (FE) now shows great importance in wood-based materials such as plywood and particle board manufactured for building and furnishing materials. The widely used formaldehyde-based adhesives are one of the main sources of FE from the wood products. In this work, a new kind of long-term effective formaldehyde scavenger in the microcapsule form was prepared by using an intra-liquid desiccation method. The characterizations of the capsule (UC) were performed including the morphologies, the yields, the loading efficiency as well as its sustained-release of urea in aqueous conditions. The prepared UC could be integrated in urea-formaldehyde resins by simply physical blending, and the mixtures were available to be applied as the adhesives for the manufacture of plywood. The bonding strength (BS) and the FE of the bonded plywood in both short (3h) and long (12 week) period were evaluated in detail. It was found that the FE profile of the plywood behaved following a duple exponential law within 12 week. The addition of UC in the adhesive can effectively depress the FE of the plywood not only in a short period after preparation but also in a long-term period during its practical application. The slow released urea would continuously suppress the emission of toxic formaldehyde in a sustained manner without obviously deteriorating on the BS of the adhesives.

© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Heavy metals are serious pollutants in aquatic environments. A study was undertaken to remove Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn individually (single metal system) and together (mixed metals system) from water by adsorption onto a sodium titanate nanofibrous material. Langmuir adsorption capacities (mg/g) at 10-3M NaNO3 ionic strength in the single metal system were 60, 83, 115 and 149 for Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd, respectively, at pH 6.5 and 250 for Pb at pH 4.0. In the mixed metals system they decreased at high metals concentrations. In column experiments with 4% titanate material and 96% granular activated carbon (w/w) mixture at pH 5.0, the metals breakthrough times and adsorption capacities (for both single and mixed metals systems) decreased in the order Pb>Cd, Cu>Zn>Ni within 266 bed volumes. The amounts adsorbed were up to 82 times higher depending on the metal in the granular activated carbon+titanate column than in the granular activated carbon column. The study showed that the titanate material has high potential for removing heavy metals from polluted water when used with granular activated carbon at a very low proportion in fixed-bed columns.

We established a four-biofilter setup to examine the effects of moisture content (MC) on biofilter performance, including NH3 removal and N2O generation. We hypothesized that MC increase can improve NH3 removal, stimulate N2O generation and alter the composition and function of microbial communities. We found that NH3 removal efficiency was greatly improved when MC increased from 35 to 55%, but further increasing MC to 63% did not help much; while N2O concentration was low at 35–55% MC, but dramatically increased at 63% MC. Decreasing MC from 63 to 55% restored N2O concentration. Examination of amoA communities using T-RFLP and real-time qPCR showed that the composition and abundance of ammonia oxidizers were not significantly changed in a “moisture disturbance-disturbance relief” process in which MC was increased from 55 to 63% and then reduced to 55%. This observation supported the changes of NH3 removal efficiency. The composition of nosZ community was altered at 63% MC and then was recovered at 55% MC, which indicates resilience to moisture disturbance. The abundance of nosZ community was negatively correlated with moisture content in this process, and the decreased nosZ abundance at 63% MC explained the observation of increased N2O concentration at that condition.

Many dryland areas are being converted into intensively managed irrigation crops, what can disrupt the hydrological regime, degrade soil and water quality, enhance siltation, erosion and bank instability, and affect biological communities. Still, the impacts of irrigation schemes on the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are poorly understood. Here we assess the effects of irrigation agriculture on breakdown of coarse organic matter in soil and water. We measured breakdown rates of alder and holm oak leaves, and of poplar sticks in terrestrial and aquatic sites following a gradient of increasing irrigation agriculture in a semi-arid Mediterranean basin transformed into irrigation agriculture in 50% of its surface. Spatial patterns of stick breakdown paralleled those of leaf breakdown. In soil, stick breakdown rates were extremely low in non-irrigated sites (0.0001-0.0003day-1), and increased with the intensity of agriculture (0.0018-0.0044day-1). In water, stick breakdown rates ranged from 0.0005 to 0.001day-1, and increased with the area of the basin subject to irrigation agriculture. Results showed that irrigation agriculture affects functioning of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, accelerating decomposition of organic matter, especially in soil. These changes can have important consequences for global carbon budgets. © 2013 Elsevier B.V., This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the projects CSD2009-00065, CGL2009-13410-C02-01/02 and BFU2010-22053. We also acknowledge financial support in terms of predoctoral grants from the Basque Government (M. Arroita).

Alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) is a widely used wood preservative. This study evaluated leachate volume generation and contaminant leaching from ACQ-treated lumber during rainfall events in comparison to untreated lumber. The influences of wood preservation with ACQ, lumber size, and weather on leachate generation ratio and contaminant concentrations in wood leachate were investigated with four red pine lumber piles exposed to natural weather conditions. The average volumetric ratio of leachate to rainfall was significantly higher for the large-lumber piles (0.62) compared with the small-lumber piles (0.35). Less leachate was generated in the ACQ-treated lumber piles (0.42) than the untreated lumber piles (0.55). Leachate volume could be predicted with rainfall depth, air temperature, and wetted lumber surface area. Lumber size did not make a statistically significant difference in leachate quality except for zinc concentration. The average copper concentrations were 4034 μg/L in the leachate from the ACQ-treated lumber piles and 87 μg/L in the leachate from the untreated lumber piles. Moreover, ACQ treatment significantly increased leaching of arsenic and total dissolved solids. Copper concentration in leachate from ACQ-treated lumber can be predicted with rainfall intensity, the time interval between two consecutive leachate-generating events, rain copper concentration, and rain pH

We investigated the potential of white-rot and litter-decomposing fungi for the treatment of soil and wood from a sawmill area contaminated with aged chlorinated phenols, dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/F). Eight screening assays with emphasis on application of non-sterile conditions were carried out in order to select the strains with capability to withstand indigenous microbes and contamination. Nine fungi were then selected for degrading pentachlorophenol (PCP), and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol (2,3,4,6-TeCP) and mineralizing radiolabelled pentachlorophenol ((14)C-PCP) in non-sterile soil or wood during 15 weeks of incubation. Soil indigenous microbes and fungal inoculated soil (fungal inoculum+indigenous microbes) achieved similar degradation of PCP and 2,3,4,6-TeCP and mineralization of (14)C-PCP. However, the mineralization rate of (14)C-PCP by indigenous microbes was much slower than that boosted by fungal inoculum. The litter-decomposing fungus (LDF) Stropharia rugosoannulata proved to be a suitable fungus for soil treatment. This fungus mineralized 26% of (14)C-PCP and degraded 43% of 2,3,4,6-TeCP and 73% of PCP. Furthermore, S. rugosoannulata attained 13% degradation of PCDD/F (expressed as WHO-Toxic Equivalent). In wood, white-rot fungi grew and degraded chlorophenols better than LDF. No efficient indigenous degraders were present in wood. Interestingly, production of toxic chlorinated organic metabolites (anisoles and veratroles) by LDF in wood was negligible.

Due to relatively high concentrations of Cd, biomass combustion fly ashes often fail to meet Danish legislative requirements for recycling as fertilizer. In this study, the potential of using electrodialytic remediation for removal of Cd from four different biomass combustion fly ashes was investigated with the aim of enabling reuse of the ashes. The ashes originated from combustion of straw (two ashes), wood chips, and co-firing of wood pellets and fuel oil, respectively. A series of laboratory scale electrodialytic remediation experiments were conducted with each ash. The initial Cd concentration in the ashes varied between 8.8. mg Cd/kg (co-firing ash) and 64. mg Cd/kg (pre-washed straw ash), and pH varied from 3.7 (co-firing ash) to 13.3 (wood ash). In spite of such large variations between the ashes, the electrodialytic method showed to be sufficiently robust to treat the ashes so the final Cd concentration was below 2.0. mg Cd/kg DM in at least one experiment done with each ash. This was obtained within 2 weeks of remediation and at liquid to solid (L/S) ratios of L/S 16 for the pre-washed straw ash and L/S 8 for the straw, co-firing and wood ash. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sporicidal (inactivation of bacterial spores) effectiveness and operation of a fogging device utilizing peracetic acid/hydrogen peroxide (PAA). Experiments were conducted in a pilot-scale 24 m(3) stainless steel chamber using either biological indicators (BIs) or bacterial spores deposited onto surfaces via aerosolization. Wipe sampling was used to recover aerosol-deposited spores from chamber surfaces and coupon materials before and after fogging to assess decontamination efficacy. Temperature, relative humidity, and hydrogen peroxide vapor levels were measured during testing to characterize the fog environment. The fog completely inactivated all BIs in a test using a 60 mL solution of PAA (22% hydrogen peroxide/4.5% peracetic acid). In tests using aerosol-deposited bacterial spores, the majority of the post-fogging spore levels per sample were less than 1 log colony forming units, with a number of samples having no detectable spores. In terms of decontamination efficacy, a 4.78 log reduction of viable spores was achieved on wood and stainless steel. Fogging of PAA solutions shows potential as a relatively easy to use decontamination technology in the event of contamination with Bacillus anthracis or other spore-forming infectious disease agents, although additional research is needed to enhance sporicidal efficacy.

In this study, chromated copper arsenate-treated wood (CCA-W) and alkaline copper quaternary compounds-treated wood (ACQ-W) were subjected to fast pyrolysis at 500 °C for ca. 2 s to produce bio-oil and char. The physicochemical properties of the pyrolytic products as well as the distribution of heavy metals – arsenic, copper and chrome – during fast pyrolysis were investigated. The water content, viscosity, pH and higher heating value (HHV) of bio-oil from CCA-W were 24.8 wt%, 13.5 cSt, 2.1 and 16 MJ/kg, respectively, whereas those of bio-oil from ACQ-W were 27.9 wt%, 16 cSt, 3.0 and 14.1 MJ/kg, respectively. The yields of bio-oil from CCA-W and ACQ-W were 43.3% and 46.6%, respectively, significantly lower than that of control (61.6%). In the pyrolytic products of CCA-W, the concentrations of arsenic, copper and chromium were determined to be 36.4 wt%, 74.0 wt% and 75.4 wt% in char, respectively, 34.5 wt%, 10.3 wt% and 9.0 wt% in bio-oil, respectively, and 29.0 wt%, 15.7 wt% and 15.5 wt% in gas, respectively. In addition, most of the copper appeared in the char (98.8 wt%) and only a trace amount of copper was detected in the bio-oil (0.2 wt%) produced by ACQ-W.

The measurements of formaldehyde emission (FE) from solid wood, plywood, flooring and blockboard used for building and furnishing materials were obtained using the European small-scale chamber (EN 717-1) and gas analysis (EN 717-2) methods to identify the major sources of formaldehyde among construction and wood products in the Czech Republic. The differences in the FE values reported for various wood products were a function of their structural differences. These results showed that the wood species, plywood type and thickness significantly affected the FE measured by EN 717-2 (P

Synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from sawdust of Algarroba wood was performed as a function of the temperature under CO2 and N2 flow. Characterization was performed by adsorption–desorption N2 isotherms, FTIR, XPS and SEM. Functional acid or basic groups were detected on the surface of AC. For both studied atmospheres, the maximum value of surface area was obtained at 800 °C. A monotonic correlation between temperature and mean pore diameter was detected being the higher the activation temperature the lower the mean pore width of AC. Ultramicroporous AC with pore diameters of 6.7 A and 5.3 A were obtained at 900 °C under CO2 and N2 flow, respectively. It can be concluded that pore diameter and the functionalization of the AC surface can be controlled easily controlling the temperature of activation, independently of the gas atmosphere. The present results suggest that waste biomass is a potential source for the synthesis of carbon materials with potential novel applications.

The effect of permanganate oxidation on the formation and degradation of wood odorant β-cyclocitral in water was investigated. Oxidation experiments were conducted for β-cyclocitral prepared from pure chemicals and extracted from Microcystis aeruginosa. The data were simulated with appropriate kinetic rate models. The formation and degradation of β-cyclocitral during the oxidation of β-carotene were also monitored and modeled. The degradation of β-cyclocitral prepared from pure chemicals followed second-order kinetics with a rate constant of 91.7 ± 2.4M(-1)s(-1), and that of the β-cyclocitral precursor, β-carotene, followed first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 0.0054 ± 0.0004 min(-1). During the oxidation of β-carotene, β-cyclocitral was produced. The formation and degradation can both be simulated by first-order kinetics with respect to β-carotene and β-cyclocitral concentrations, respectively. The degradation rate of β-cyclocitral produced from β-carotene was found to be much slower than that for β-cyclocitral obtained from pure chemicals, very likely due to a mass transfer limitation. The kinetic models were further employed to simulate the oxidation of β-cyclocitral in the presence of β-carotene and for β-cyclocitral extracted from M. aeruginosa, respectively. The models well predict/fit the experimental data, with rate constants similar to other experiments, indicating that the models may be used for simulating the formation and degradation of β-cyclocitral in water treatment systems.

Effective immobilization of boron in groundwater is a major challenge. Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) column tests for removal of borate have been investigated using MgO agglomerates as the primary reactive material over 40 weeks. Additionally, saw dust was also blended with MgO agglomerates to facilitate for borate removal in this system. Boron accumulation was more than 1.6 times greater in the presence of saw dust, although MgO alone performed well. Increased boron accumulation in the presence of saw dust was primarily due to higher porosity of the PRB column, decreasing the impact of secondary Mg(OH) 2 passivating layers and leaving more reactive sites on MgO agglomerates. In addition, Mg 2+ ions released from MgO agglomerates are complexed with carboxylic acids leached from saw dusts. This sequestration prevents the formation of bulky Mg(OH) 2 which is an ineffective sorbent for borate and covers the surfaces and passivating reactive sites on the MgO agglomerates. The morphologies of Mg(OH) 2 precipitated in the PRB column were also significantly affected by the presence of saw dust, with crystallization of needle-like particles of Mg(OH) 2 was prevented by Mg 2+ ions–organic ligand complexation.

This paper describes the effects posed by stormwater runoff from an industrial log-yard on the microalgae Scenedesmus subspicatus. The effects of stormwater runoff sampled during two rain events were determined by exposing S. subspicatus cells to different concentrations (% v:v) of each sample. The effects were measured as the percentage change in growth rates in relation to a control culture after exposure times of 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The runoff from the first rain event had no negative effects to S. subspicatus, posing in most cases growth stimulation, whereas the runoff from the second rain event inhibited algae growth. Differences in runoff physico-chemical characteristics combined with the hydrological factors of each rain event explained these opposite effects. The hypothesis of toxic first flush phenomenon was confirmed in the second rain event on the basis of normalized inhibitory effects and runoff volume. It was found that 42, 51 and 50% of the inhibitory effects during exposures of 24, 48 and 72 h were associated with the initial 4% of the total discharged volume. The fact that negative effects were observed in the two runoff events analyzed, raises concern about the potential environmental threats posed by runoff originated from wood-based industrial areas during the entire hydrological year.

This study concerns the batch biosorption of paraquat on Ayous (Triplochiton schleroxylon) sawdust; the study centers on the evolution of biosorption parameters during the process. It appears that paraquat forms a monolayer on the sawdust surface as evidenced by the good correlation between the experimental data and the Langmuir model. The biosorption which is rather fast (the equilibrium was reached after ten minutes) follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and does not obey to the intra-particle diffusion model. According to the mathematical kinetic modeling, pore and surface mass transfer well describe the phenomenon. NaCl reduces the adsorption capacity of the material but has no significant effect on the kinetics. Alkaline solutions enhance the accumulation of the pollutant, the reverse being observed for acidic media. According to the thermodynamic data, this biosorption is a spontaneous and exothermic process. From these results we concluded that the adsorption of the pollutant is mainly due to cation exchange as indicated by the adsorption energy determined by the Dubinin-Radushkevich model (E=12.0736 kJ mol(-1)); some other interactions resulting from the affinity through organophilic interactions between paraquat and sawdust have also been pointed out. Desorption experiments conducted in HCl and HNO(3) solutions confirmed the proposed mechanism.

The objective of this work was to compare the effectiveness of four commercially available granular activated carbons (GACs); coconut (CGAC), wood (WGAC), lignite (LGAC) and bituminous (BGAC) for the removal of dichloromethane (DCM) from aqueous solution by batch process. Various parameters such as thermodynamics, kinetics, pH, concentration of adsorbate, dosages of adsorbent and competitive ions effect on DCM adsorption were investigated. Maximum adsorption capacity (45.5mg/g for CGAC) was observed at pH 6.0-8.0. The kinetics data indicate better applicability of pseudo-second-order kinetics model at 25 and 35 degrees C. Freundlich model was better obeyed on CGAC, WGAC, and BGAC, while LGAC followed Langmuir model. The adsorption process for 100mg/L initial DCM concentration on CGAC was exothermic in nature. The adsorption of DCM on various adsorbents involves physical adsorption process. The adsorption of DCM over a large range of initial concentration on CGAC and LGAC is effective even in presence of ionic salts.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from building and furnishing materials are frequently observed in high concentrations in indoor air. Nondestructive analytical methods that determine the main parameters influencing concentration of the chemical substances are necessary to screen for sources of VOC emissions. Toward this goal, we have developed a new flux sampler, referred to herein as an emission cell for simultaneous multi-sampling (ECSMS), that is used for screening indoor emission sources of VOCs and for determining the emission rates of these sources. Because the ECSMS is based on passive sampling, it can be easily used on-site at a low cost. Among VOCs, low-molecular-weight carbonyl compounds including formaldehyde are frequently detected at high concentrations in indoor environments. In this study, we determined the reliability of the ECSMS for the collection of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds emitted from wood-based composites of medium density fiberboards and particleboards. We then used emission rates determined by the ECSMS to predict airborne concentrations of formaldehyde emitted from a bookshelf in a large chamber, and these data were compared to formaldehyde concentrations that were acquired simultaneously by means of an active sampling method. The values obtained from the two methods were quite similar, suggesting that ECSMS measurement is an effective method for screening primary sources influencing indoor concentrations of formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde and TVOC are emitted from wood-based panels that are made using wood particles, wood fiber, wood chips and formaldehyde-based resins. This study examined the formaldehyde and TVOC emission behavior of medium density fiberboard (MDF) overlaid with three types of uncoated lignocellulosic surface materials (oak decorative veneer, low pressure melamine impregnated paper and high pressure melamine impregnated paper) and four types of coated surface materials (coated paper, two types of finishing foils, and PVC) using the Field and Laboratory Emission Cell (FLEC) method and a 20 L small chamber method. The uncoated lignocellulosic surface materials exhibited lower formaldehyde and TVOC emission levels. The coated surface materials did not show reduced TVOC emissions but the formaldehyde emission was reduced in the 20 L small chamber test. In the FLEC test, both the uncoated lignocellulosic surface materials and coated surface materials showed lower TVOC and formaldehyde emissions from MDF.

This paper assesses the reproducibility of testing formaldehyde and TVOC emission behavior from wood flooring composites bonded by urea-formaldehyde resin at various manufacturing steps for surface finishing materials. The surface adhesion step of laminate flooring for this research was divided into two steps; HDF only and HDF with LPMs. In the case of engineered flooring, the manufacturing steps were divided into three steps; plywood only, fancy veneer bonded on plywood and UV coated on fancy veneer with plywood. Formaldehyde and VOCs emission decreased at the process of final surface finishing materials; LPMs were applied on the surface of HDF for laminate flooring. Although emissions increased when fancy veneer was bonded onto plywood in the case of engineered flooring, emission was dramatically reduced up to similar level with plywood only when final surface finishing; UV-curable coating was applied on fancy veneer. This study suggests that formaldehyde and VOCs emission from floorings can be controlled at manufacturing steps for surface finishing.

This work describes the preparation of a new chelating material derived from wood sawdust, Manilkara sp., and not only the use of a new support, but also a chemically modified sugarcane bagasse synthesized in our previous work to remove Zn(2+) from aqueous solutions and electroplating wastewater. The first part describes the chemical modification of wood sawdust and sugarcane bagasse using ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (EDTAD) as modifying agent in order to introduce carboxylic acid and amine functional groups into these materials. The obtained materials such as the modified sugarcane bagasse, EB, and modified wood sawdust, ES were then characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and CHN. The second part evaluates the adsorption capacity of Zn(2+) by EB and ES from aqueous single metal solutions and real electroplating wastewater, which concentration was determined through direct titration with EDTA and inductively coupled plasma (ICP-OES). Adsorption isotherms were developed using Langmuir model. Zn(2+) adsorption capacities were found to be 80 mg/g for ES and 105 mg/g for EB whereas for the industrial wastewater these values were found to be 47 mg/g for ES and 45 mg/g for EB. Zn(2+) adsorption in the wastewater was found to be lower than in Zn(2+) spiked solution due to the competition between other cations and/or interference of other ions, mainly Ca(2+) and Cl(-) that were present in the wastewater.

The research presented in this paper evaluates the potential impact of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachate quality on the loss of metals from discarded treated wood during disposal. The loss of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), and boron (B) from several types of pressure-treated wood (CCA: chromated copper arsenate, ACQ: alkaline copper quaternary, CBA: copper boron azole, and DOT: disodium octaborate tetrahydrate) using leachate collected from 26 MSW landfills in Florida was examined. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP), and California's waste extraction test (WET) were also performed. The results suggested that loss of preservative components was influenced by leachate chemistry. Copper loss from CCA-, ACQ- and CBA-treated wood was similar in magnitude when in contact with landfill leachates compared to synthetic TCLP and SPLP solutions. Ammonia was found as one of the major parameters influencing the leaching of Cu from treated wood when leached with MSW landfill leachates. The results suggest that disposal of ACQ- and CBA-treated wood in substantial quantity in MSW landfills may elevate the Cu concentration in the leachate; this could be of potential concern, especially for a bioreactor MSW landfill in which relatively higher ammonia concentrations in leachate have been reported in recent literature. For the As, Cr and B the concentrations observed with the landfill leachate as the leaching solutions were over a range from some sample showing the concentrations below and some showing above the observed value from corresponding SPLP and TCLP tests. In general the WET test showed the highest concentrations.

The present study investigated the adsorptive ability of carbon materials (C1 and C2) released during the combustion of woody biomass. The physical and chemical properties, adsorption dynamics and adsorption isotherms of the adsorbents were compared with those of commercially available carbon that was powdered and activated. The percent nitrobenzene adsorption from an aqueous solution (nitrobenzene: 50mg/L) after 3h of adsorption using C1 was 92% compared with 81% when using the activated carbon powder. The saturated adsorption amounts of nitrobenzene were 294 mg/g for C1 and 344 mg/g for the activated carbon powder. However, the adsorption equilibrium constant for C1 was approximately 7-fold greater than that of the activated carbon powder. The methylene blue-adsorption capacity of C1 was similar to nitrobenzene adsorption. Thus, the results of the present study confirm that the carbon material resulting from the combustion of woody biomass is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly adsorbent for nitrobenzene.

Soil washing of a soil with a mixture of both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and As was evaluated in laboratory and pilot scale, utilizing both single and mixtures of different additives. The highest level of decontamination was achieved with a combination of 0.213 M of the chelating agent MGDA and 3.2 x CMC* of a non-ionic, alkyl glucoside surfactant at pH 12 (Ca(OH)(2)). This combination managed to reach Swedish threshold values within 1 0 min of treatment when performed at elevated temperature (50 degrees C), with initial contaminant concentrations of As=105+/-4 mg/kg and US-EPA PAH(16)=46.0+/-2.3mg/kg. The main mechanisms behind the removal were the pH effect for As and a combination of SOM ionization as a result of high pH and micellar solubilization for PAHs. Implementation of the laboratory results utilizing a pilot scale equipment did not improve the performance, which may be due to the shorter contact time between the washing solution and the particles, or changes in physical characteristics of the leaching solution due to the elevated pressure utilized. The ecotoxicological evaluation, Microtox, demonstrated that all soil washing treatments increased the toxicity of soil leachates, possibly due to increased availability of contaminants and toxicity of soil washing solutions to the test organism.

The purpose of this work is to obtain optimal preparation conditions for activated carbons prepared from rattan sawdust (RSAC) for removal of disperse dye from aqueous solution. The RSAC was prepared by chemical activation with phosphoric acid using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM based on a three-variable central composite design was used to determine the effect of activation temperature (400-600 degrees C), activation time (1-3h) and H(3)PO(4):precursor (wt%) impregnation ratio (3:1-6:1) on C.I. Disperse Orange 30 (DO30) percentage removal and activated carbon yield were investigated. Based on the central composite design, quadratic model was developed to correlate the preparation variables to the two responses. The most influential factor on each experimental design responses was identified from the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimum conditions for preparation of RSAC, which were based on response surface and contour plots, were found as follows: temperature of 470 degrees C, activation time of 2h and 14min and chemical impregnation ratio of 4.45.

Meranti (Philippine mahogany) sawdust, an inexpensive material, showed strong scavenging behaviour through adsorption for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. Batch studies were performed to evaluate and optimize the effects of various parameters such as contact time, pH, initial dye concentrations and adsorbent dosage. Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms were used to analyze the equilibrium data at different temperatures. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, indicating thereby the mono layer adsorption of the dye. The monolayer sorption capacity of meranti sawdust for MB was found to be 120.48, 117.64, 149.25 and 158.73 mg/g at 30, 40, 50 and 60 degrees C, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations showed that the MB adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The results indicated that the meranti sawdust could be an alternative material in place of more costly adsorbents used for dye removal.

The thermal stability and desorption of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) adsorbed on activated carbon (AC) was investigated as this phenomenon is expected to influence the arsenic release during low temperature pyrolysis of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) wood waste. Firstly, a thermogravimetric (TG) experiment with arsenolite, an allotropic form of As2O3, was performed. The sample starts to sublime at temperatures lower than 200,C with a sublimation peak temperature of 271 degrees C. Subsequently, TG experiments with samples of As2O3 adsorbed on AC revealed that only very little (max. 6 +/- 3 wt%) As2O3 was volatilised at temperatures below 280 degrees C, while still 41.6 (+/- 5)wt% of the original arsenic concentration was retained at 440 degrees C and 28.5 (+/- 3) wt% at 600 degrees C. The major arsenic volatilisation occurred between 300 degrees C and 500 degrees C. The kinetic parameters of desorption, activation energy of desorption (E-d) and pre-exponential factor (A), were determined by fitting an Arrhenius model to the experimental data, resulting in E-d = 69 kJ/mol, A = 1.21 x 10(4) s(-1). It can be concluded that the adsorption of As2O3 on AC can contribute to the thermal stabilisation of As2O3, Consequently, during low temperature pyrolysis of CCA wood arsenic release may be prevented by adsorption of As2O3 on the coal-type product formed during the thermal decomposition of the wood. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The problems of valorisation of particleboard wastes on one hand, and contamination of aqueous effluents by phenolic compounds on the other hand, are simultaneously considered in this work. Preparation of activated carbons from a two steps thermo-chemical process, formerly designed for generating combustible gases, is suggested. The resultant carbonaceous residue is activated with steam at 800 degrees C. Depending on the preparation conditions, surface areas within the range 800-1300 m(2)/g are obtained, close to that of a commercial activated carbon (CAC) specially designed for water treatment and used as a reference material. The present work shows that particleboard waste-derived activated carbons (WAC) are efficient adsorbents for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions, with maximum measured capacities close to 500 mg/g. However, most of times, the adsorption capacities are slightly lower than that of the commercial material in the same conditions, i.e., at equilibrium phenol concentrations below 300 ppm. Given the extremely low cost of activated carbons prepared from particleboard waste, it should not be a problem to use it in somewhat higher amounts than what is required with a more expensive commercial material. Phenol adsorption isotherms at 298 K were correctly fitted by various equations modelling type I and type II isotherms for CAC and WAC, respectively. Phenol adsorption isotherms of type II were justified by a 3-stages adsorption mechanism.

Sorption of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to sediment is a key process in determining their mobility, bioavailability, and chemical decomposition in aquatic environments. In order to examine the validity of currently used interpretation approaches for PCBs sorption, comparative results on 2-chlorobiphenyl sorption to carbonaceous components in sediments (activated carbon, carbon black, coal, soot, graphite, flyash, wood) were macroscopically correlated with the structural, morphological, crystallographic, and compositional properties of the carbonaceous components. Since the Freundlich sorption constant, KF (L kg−1) spanned several orders of magnitude, ranging from log KF of 6.13–5.27 for activated carbon, 5.04 for carbon black, 3.83 for coal to 3.08 for wood, organic carbon partitioning approach should be more specifically categorized, considering the various forms, nature and origins of organic carbon in sediment. Sorption rate constants and fraction parameters, which were numerically defined from empirical kinetic model with fast and slow sorption fractions, were closely related to the physicochemical properties of the carbonaceous components. Sorption interpretation approaches with a specific property and viewpoint, such as organic carbon partitioning, soot carbon distribution, or surface area correlation, did not properly explain the overall results on sorption capacity, fast and slow sorption kinetics, and partitioning coefficient. It is also important to emphasize the heterogeneous nature of sediment and the difficulties of encompassing the partitioning among its carbonaceous components.

The purpose of this paper is to establish the experimental conditions for removal of several textile dyes from aqueous solutions by sorption on beech wood sawdust, an industrial waste lignocellulosic product. From the six dyes tested, the sorbent shows preference for three dyes: Direct Brown, Direct Brown 2 and Basic Blue 86. Sorption of dyes on the beech wood sawdust is dependent on the nature of dye, pH, dyes concentration, contact time, and amount of sorbent. By comparative kinetic studies, the rate of sorption was found to conform with good correlation to pseudo-second-order kinetics. The parameters that characterize the sorption were determined on the basis of Langmuir isotherms. The preference of beech sawdust for dyes increases as follows: Basic Blue 86Direct Brown 2Direct Brown. The maximum capacity of sorption of the commercial dye (of approximately 60% purity) was found to be 526.3 mg g(-1) for Direct Brown.

Biomass, such as wood and straw, is currently used in EU as a renewable energy source for energy production and this application is expected to rise in coming years. Combined heat and power installations produce fly ash, which is considered hazardous waste. The fly ash management issue should be addressed before biomass combustion is considered a truly sustainable technology. The electrodialytic process is a remediation technique able to assist the management of fly ash. For this work, straw and co-combustion of wood ash are briefly characterized and their electrodialytic treatment is carried out under acidic conditions. Straw ashes presented high removal rates for Ca, Cu, Cr and particularly for Cd, which has been reduced to a level bellow the established by Danish regulations. Acidification also induced a high dissolution and a lower pH of the ash. Fly ash from co-combustion of wood presents similarities with wood ash alone. However, further characterization should be carried out before any comparison regarding applicable legislation. Under acidic conditions, the electrodialytic treatment was not effective for the co-combustion wood ash. The heavy metals appeared in the least soluble fraction of this ash and lowering the pH of such an alkaline material does not mean sustainability and may hinder its reuse.

Activated carbon derived from rattan sawdust (ACR) was evaluated for its ability to remove phenol from an aqueous solution in a batch process. Equilibrium studies were conducted in the range of 25-200mg/L initial phenol concentrations, 3-10 solution pH and at temperature of 30 degrees C. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. Equilibrium data fitted well to the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 149.25mg/g. The dimensionless separation factor RL revealed the favorable nature of the isotherm of the phenol-activated carbon system. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model best described the adsorption process. The results proved that the prepared activated carbon was an effective adsorbent for removal of phenol from aqueous solution.

In this work, the adsorption of malachite green (MG) on rattan sawdust (RSD) was studied at 30 degrees C. The results indicated that RSD can be used as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of MG dye from aqueous solutions. Equilibrium data were analyzed by two isotherms, namely the Freundlich isotherm and the Langmuir isotherm. The best fit to the data was obtained with the Langmuir isotherm. The monolayer adsorption capacity of RSD was found to be 62.71 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics can be predicted by the pseudo-first-order model. The mechanism of adsorption was also studied. It was found that for a short time period the rate of adsorption is controlled by film diffusion. However, at longer adsorption times, pore-diffusion controls the rate of adsorption. The amount adsorbed on the outer surface was estimated from the time where film-diffusion stops controlling the adsorption rate.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of short-chain cationic polyelectrolytes of different molecular weights and charge densities in reducing turbidity and selectively removing toxic wood extractives from chemical birch pulp filtrate. The effects of chemical type, dosage and temperature were of interest. An effective performance was achieved with a copolymer of acrylamide and methacrylate of medium molecular weight and medium charge density at 72 °C and pH 5–6. The dosage range optimum for reducing the turbidity was 102–142 mg/L. Up to 92% of the wood extractives was selectively removed.

The low-cost activated carbon were prepared from Tamarind wood material by chemical activation with sulphuric acid for the adsorption of Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solution. The activated carbon developed shows substantial capacity to adsorb Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solutions. The parameters studied include physical and chemical properties of adsorbent, pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial concentrations. The kinetic data were best fitted to the Lagergren pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second order models. The isotherm equilibrium data were well fitted by the Langmuir and Freundlich models. The maximum removal of lead(II) was obtained 97.95% (experimental) and 134.22 mg/g (from Langmuir isotherm model) at initial concentration 40 mg/l, adsorbent dose 3 g/l and pH 6.5. This high uptake showed Tamarind wood activated carbon as among the best adsorbents for Pb(II).

In the present work activated carbons have been prepared from evergreen oak wood. Different samples have been prepared varying the concentration of the activating agent (H(3)PO(4)) and the treatment temperature. The yield of the process decreases with increasing phosphoric acid concentrations. Furthermore, high concentrations of activating agent lead to mainly mesoporous activated carbons to the detriment of the microporous texture. Treatment temperatures up to 450 degrees C lead to a progressive increase of the micro- and mesopore volumes. Values of specific surface area (S(BET)) as high as 1723 m(2) g(-1)have been obtained using appropriate phosphoric acid concentrations and treatment temperatures. The samples prepared have been successfully used in the removal of Zn(II) from aqueous solutions. From the adsorption kinetic data it may be stated that the equilibrium time is, in all cases, below 170 h. The adsorption process as a rule becomes faster as the mesopore volume and specific surface area of the samples increase. The adsorption isotherms in liquid phase point out that the adsorption capacity (n(0)(s)) and the affinity towards the solute (K(ci)) are higher for the sample showing the most developed mesoporous texture and surface area as well.

Theonyltrifluoroacetone (TTA) mixed with trioctyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) have been supported on Amberlite XAD-4, silica gel and wood powder. The resulting resins have been used to study the sorption of cobalt(II) from acetate buffer and their sorption capacities were determined and were found to be 12.38, 11.61 and 6.51 mg g−1 for TTA + TOPO/Amberlite XAD4, TTA + TOPO/silica gel and TTA + TOPO/wood, respectively. The experimental results showed that the sorption of Co(II) increases with its initial concentration. The results can be fitted by Freundlich isotherm in the studied cobalt concentration range [10−4–10−3 M] and 1/n values are 1.07, 1.17 and 1.73 for Amberlite XAD4, silica gel and wood powder, respectively. The sorption of Co(II) onto the prepared resins was found to follow the pseudo-second order model and the sorption rate have the values 8.79 × 10−3, 10 × 10−3 and 16 × 10−3 g mg−1 min−1 for Amberlite XAD4, silica gel and wood powder, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters have also been calculated for the three systems and sorption process was found to be spontaneous and endothermic one.

Acinetobacter haemolyticus, a Gram-negative aerobic locally isolated bacterium, immobilized on wood-husk showed the ability to detoxify Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Wood-husk, a natural cellulose-based support material, packed in an upward-flow column was used as support material for bacterial attachment. Around 97% of the Cr(VI) in wastewater containing 15 mg L(-1) of Cr(VI) was reduced at a flow rate of 8.0 mL min(-1). The wastewater containing Cr(VI) was added with liquid pineapple wastewater as nutrient source for the bacteria. Electron microscopic examinations of the wood-husk after 42 days of column operation showed gradual colonization of the wood-husk by bacterial biofilm. The use of 0.1% (v/v) formaldehyde as a disinfecting agent inhibited growth of bacteria present in the final wastewater discharge. This finding is important in view of the ethical code regarding possible introduction of exogenous bacterial species into the environment.