Alireza Nouri; Ramin Yavari; Mohammad Ali Aroon; Taher Yousefi
Abstract
In the present research work, the mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing various amount of polyethersulfone (PES) and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs) were fabricated and used to investigate the removal of cobalt ions from wastewater by nanofiltration process. Pristine MWCNTs ...
Read More
In the present research work, the mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) containing various amount of polyethersulfone (PES) and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs) were fabricated and used to investigate the removal of cobalt ions from wastewater by nanofiltration process. Pristine MWCNTs and fMWCNTs were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. FESEM analysis revealed that the mixed matrix membranes have less surface defects and better membrane performance compared with neat polymeric in the removal of cobalt ions. Permeation test results showed that the MMM containing 22 wt. % PES and 0.6 wt. % fMWCNTs (with outer diameter of 10-20 nm) has the optimum performance from the permeability and cobalt removal point of view. In continuation, the effect of pressure, feed flow rate, cobalt concentration, permeation test time and feed solution pH on the removal of cobalt by selected the MMM was investigated. The obtained results indicated that only pressure has considerable effect on permeation flux. However, all parameters showed different influence on rejection percent of cobalt ions.
Shahryar Nazarpour Laghani; Azadeh Ebrahimian Pirbazari
Abstract
In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Co-TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized and investigated for photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light. Characterization of photocatalysts was done by means of XRD, FT-IR and SEM/EDX techniques. Obtained results ...
Read More
In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/Co-TiO2 nanocomposites were synthesized and investigated for photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) under visible light. Characterization of photocatalysts was done by means of XRD, FT-IR and SEM/EDX techniques. Obtained results showed cobalt doping can inhibit phase transformation from anatase to rutile and eliminate the recombination of electron-hole pairs. The presence of MWCNTs can both increase the photoactivity and change surface properties to achieve sensitivity to visible light. The optimum mass ratio of MWCNTs and cobalt (Co) dopant in TiO2 was the prominent factor to harvest MWCNTs/Co-TiO2 photocatalyst. The sample containing 3.13 wt% cobalt exhibited the highest activity under visible light for 2,4-DCP degradation, which was completed within 180 min using a 0.1 g/L dose of this photocatalyst in a 40 mg/L solution of the 2,4-DCP. The reactions follow the first-order kinetics. The reaction intermediates were identified by GC–MS technique. GC–MS analysis showed the major intermediates of 2,4-DCP degradation are simple acids like oxalic acid, acetic acid, etc. as the final products.