Browsing by Author "Choi, Joon"

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Adsorption and desorption processes of toxic heavy metals, regeneration and reusability of spent adsorbents: Economic and environmental sustainability approach
(Elsevier, 2024-05-19) Bayuo, Jonas; Rwiza, Mwemezi; Choi, Joon; Mtei, Kelvin; Hosseini-Bandegharaei, Ahmad; Sillanpää, Mika
A growing number of variables, including rising population, water scarcity, growth in the economy, and the existence of harmful heavy metals in the water supply, are contributing to the increased demand for wastewater treatment on a global scale. One of the innovative water treatment technologies is the adsorptive removal of heavy metals through the application of natural and engineered adsorbents. However, adsorption currently has setbacks that prevent its wider application for heavy metals sequestration from aquatic environments using various adsorbents, including difficulty in selecting suitable desorption eluent to recover adsorbed heavy metals and regeneration techniques to recycle the spent adsorbents for further use and safe disposal. Therefore, the recovery of adsorbed heavy metal ions and the ability to reuse the spent adsorbents is one of the economic and environmental sustainability approaches. This study presents a state-of-the-art critical review of different desorption agents that could be used to retrieve heavy metals and regenerate the spent adsorbents for further adsorption-desorption processes. Additionally, an attempt was made to discuss and summarize some of the independent factors influencing heavy metals desorption, recovery, and adsorbent regeneration. Furthermore, isotherm and kinetic modeling have been summarized to provide insights into the adsorption-desorption mechanisms of heavy metals. Finally, the review provided future perspectives to provide room for researchers and industry players who are interested in heavy metals desorption, recovery, and spent adsorbents recycling to reduce the high cost of adsorbents reproduction, minimize secondary waste generation, and thereby provide substantial economic and environmental benefits.
Adsorption of phenol and methylene blue contaminants onto high-performance catalytic activated carbon from biomass residues
(Cellpress, 2025-01-15) Bih, Numfor; Rwiza, Mwemezi; Ripanda, Asha; Mahamat, Assia; Machunda, Revocatus; Choi, Joon
Organic contaminants from wastewater toxicity to the environment has increased during the last few decades and, therefore, there is an urgent need to decontaminate wastewater prior to disposal. This study aimed to create a high surface area catalytic activated carbon (AC) under same carbonization conditions for phenol and methylene blue (organic wastewater) decontamination. Moringa oleifera husk (MH), sesame husk (SH), and baobab husk (BH) were used to prepare activated carbon for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and phenol (Ph). After characterization of the adsorbent, the BET surface areas of the M. oleifera husk activated carbon (MHC), sesame husk activated carbon (SHC), and baobab husk activated carbon (BHC) were 1902.30 m2/g, 1115.90 m2/g, and 1412.40 m2/g, respectively. Mono-adsorption and binary-adsorption systems were studied for Ph and MB adsorption. Furthermore, the effect of initial organic waste concentration, contact time, pH, temperature and AC dosage, on adsorption capacity were studied. The mono adsorption system isotherms and kinetics studies used to analyze Phenol and MB adsorption best fitted Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models. The Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order model best fitted the experimental data for the binary-adsorption system. The high maximum adsorption capacities of organic waste for the single and binary systems were 352.25–855.96 mg/g and 348.90–456.39 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that the high surface activated carbon produced had the potential to adsorb high concentrations of MB and Phenol contaminants.
Optimization of desorption parameters using response surface methodology for enhanced recovery of arsenic from spent reclaimable activated carbon: Eco-friendly and sorbent sustainability approach
(Elsevier Inc., 2024-06-05) Bayuo, Jonas; Rwiza, Mwemezi; Choi, Joon; Sillanpaa, Mika; Mtei, Kelvin
Desorption and adsorbent regeneration are imperative factors that are required to be taken into account when designing the adsorption system. From the environmental, economic, and practical points of view, regeneration is necessary for evaluating the efficiency and sustainability of synthesized adsorbents. However, no study has investigated the optimization of arsenic species desorption from spent adsorbents and their regeneration ability for reuse as well as safe disposal. This study aims to investigate the desorption ability of arsenic ions adsorbed on hybrid granular activated carbon and the optimization of the independent factors influencing the efficient re- covery of arsenic species from the spent activated carbon using central composite design of the response surface methodology. The activated carbon before the sorption process and after the adsorption-desorption of arsenic ions have been characterized using SEM-EDX, FTIR, and TEM. The study found that all the investigated inde- pendent desorption variables greatly influence the retrievability of arsenic ions from the spent activated carbon. Using the desirability function for the optimization of the independent factors as a function of desorption effi- ciency, the optimum experimental conditions were solution pH of 2.00, eluent concentration of 0.10 M, and temperature of 26.63 ℃, which gave maximum arsenic ions recovery efficiency of 91 %. The validation of the quadratic model using laboratory confirmatory experiments gave an optimum arsenic ions desorption efficiency of 97 %. Therefore, the study reveals that the application of the central composite design of the response surface methodology led to the development of an accurate and valid quadratic model, which was utilized in the enhanced optimization of arsenic ions recovery from the spent reclaimable activated carbon. More so, the desorption isotherm and kinetic data of arsenic were well correlated with the Langmuir and the pseudo-second- order models, while the thermodynamics studies indicated that arsenic ions desorption process was feasible, endothermic, and spontaneous.
Recent and sustainable advances in phytoremediation of heavy metals from wastewater using aquatic plant species: Green approach
(Elsevier, 2024-11) Bayuo, Jonas; Rwiza, Mwemezi; Choi, Joon; Njau, Karoli; Mtei, Kelvin
A key component in a nation's economic progress is industrialization, however, hazardous heavy metals that are detrimental to living things are typically present in the wastewater produced from various industries. Therefore, before wastewater is released into the environment, it must be treated to reduce the concentrations of the various heavy metals to maximum acceptable levels. Even though several biological, physical, and chemical remediation techniques are found to be efficient for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater, these techniques are costly and create more toxic secondary pollutants. However, phytoremediation is inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and simple to be applied as a green technology for heavy metal detoxification in wastewater. The present study provides a thorough comprehensive review of the mechanisms of phytoremediation, with an emphasis on the possible utilization of plant species for the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals. We have discussed the concept, its applications, advantages, challenges, and independent variables that determine how successful and efficient phytoremediation could be in the decontamination of heavy metals from wastewater. Additionally, we argue that the standards for choosing aquatic plant species for target heavy metal removal ought to be taken into account, as they influence various aspects of phytoremediation efficiency. Following the comprehensive and critical analysis of relevant literature, aquatic plant species are promising for sustainable remediation of heavy metals. However, several knowledge gaps identified from the review need to be taken into consideration and possibly addressed. Therefore, the review provides perspectives that indicate research needs and future directions on the application of plant species in heavy metal remediation.