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Studies on adsorption behavior of electrospun nanofibers for pollutant remediation from simulated wastewater

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Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the adsorption behavior of an electrospun ceria-nanofiber adsorbent in removing pollutants from a simulated solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize this nanofiber composite. Adsorption parameters including contact time, pH, starting arsenic concentration, and adsorbent dose were optimized using batch adsorption studies. After copper was added to nanofiber, maximum removal efficiencies were increased to 96.5% under optimal conditions (1.2 g/L adsorbate dose; 2.0 ppm initial As(III) concentration; and pH of 5.0). Furthermore, the response surface methodology was also successfully applied to the design optimization of the process with central composite design. The Temkin isotherm model (R2 = 0.98) better described the adsorption equilibrium results. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was followed by adsorption experimental data. Other kinetics theories, such as Elovich, intra-particle, and film diffusion, were also used to develop a better understanding of the adsorption mechanism. The viability of a copper/ceria composite nanofiber in the removal of arsenic demonstrates an emerging candidate in the removal of pollutants from wastewater.

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Acknowledgements

Authors acknowledge to Department of chemical engineering IIT (BHU) Varanasi and Birla Institute of Technology Ranchi for providing characterization facilities. The authors are grateful to Scientific Research Deanship at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia for their financial support through the Large Research Group Project under grant number (RGP.02-87-43).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, 835215, Jharkhand, India

    Dan Bahadur Pal

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, 221005, India

    Roli Saini & Neha Srivastava

  3. Department Chemical Engineering and Biochemical, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Jais, Amethi, 229304, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Arvind Singh

  4. Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Khamis Mushait Campus, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Khursheed Muzammil

  5. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    Irfan Ahmad

  6. Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Center, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK

    Vijai Kumar Gupta

  7. Center for Safe and Improved Food, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK

    Vijai Kumar Gupta

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  1. Dan Bahadur Pal
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Correspondence to Dan Bahadur Pal or Vijai Kumar Gupta.

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Pal, D.B., Singh, A., Saini, R. et al. Studies on adsorption behavior of electrospun nanofibers for pollutant remediation from simulated wastewater. Appl Nanosci 13, 3721–3733 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-022-02516-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-022-02516-4

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