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This paper examines the adsorption of environmentally relevant halogenated aliphatic compounds using single-walled (SWCNT) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and the development of linear solvation-energy relationships (LSER) to examine those adsorption mechanisms. The poly-parameter LSER model was also compared to those previously generated for the adsorption of aromatic compounds by CNTs. The adsorption affinity of aliphatic compounds was greater on the SWCNT than MWCNT with similar oxygen contents. This was attributed to the pore-filling mechanism that was enhanced by higher micropore volume of the SWCNT bundles over the MWCNT bundles. LSER models showed that, at higher concentrations, B (the hydrogen bond accepting ability) was the most influential descriptor for both SWCNT and MWCNT. Other important descriptors were V followed by P, both of which exhibited a positive correlation with adsorption, indicating that their size and polarizability favors adsorption. The contribution of these descriptors to overall adsorption was 2-3 times less than the B. In comparison, V was the most important descriptor in the aromatic compound LSER models. This difference indicates that adsorbate hydrophobicity greatly affects the adsorption of aromatic compounds by CNTs, whereas, aliphatic compounds are affected by both the hydrophobic driving force and other interactions., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Halogenated compounds represent one of the most dangerous environmental pollutants, due to their widespread usage as biocides, fungicides, disinfectants, solvent and other industrial chemicals. Immobilization of a protein through coordinate bonds formed with divalent metal ions is becoming an attractive method due to its reversible nature, since the protein may be easily removed from the support matrix through interruption of the protein-metal bond hence giving inherently cleaner and cheaper technology for wastewater treatment. We have synthesized novel 'tentacle' carrier (TC) and used it for immobilization of partially purified potato polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The obtained biocatalyst TC-PPO showed pH optimum at 7.0-8.0 and temperature optimum at 25°C. Immobilized PPO shows almost 100% of activity at 0°C. TC-PPO was more resistant to the denaturation induced by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) detergent as compared to its soluble counterpart and was even slightly activated at SDS concentration of 1%. TC-PPO was tested in the batch reactor for 4-chlorophenol and 4-bromophenol removal. More than 90% removal was achieved for both halogenophenols at concentration of 100mg/L from aqueous solution. For both halogenophenols TC-PPO works with over 90% removal during first three cycles which decrease to 60% removal efficiency after six cycles each of 8h duration., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Pulp mill effluent containing toxic chemicals was treated by different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) consisting of treatments by hydrogen peroxide, Fenton's reagent (H2O2/Fe2+), UV, UV/H2O2, photo-Fenton (UV/H2O2/Fe2+), ozonation and peroxone (ozone/H2O2) in laboratory-scale reactors for color, total organic carbon (TOC) and adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) removals from the pulp mill effluent. Effects of some operating parameters such as the initial pH, oxidant and catalyst concentrations on TOC, color, AOX removals were investigated. Almost every method used resulted in some degree of color removal from the pulp mill effluent. However, the Fenton's reagent utilizing H2O2/Fe2+ resulted in the highest color, TOC and AOX removals under acidic conditions when compared with the other AOPs tested. Approximately, 88% TOC, 85% color and 89% AOX removals were obtained by the Fenton's reagent at pH 5 within 30 min. Photo-Fenton process yielded comparable TOC (85%), color (82%) and AOX (93%) removals within 5 min due to oxidations by UV light in addition to the Fenton's reagent. Fast oxidation reactions by the photo-Fenton treatment makes this approach more favorable as compared to the others used.