Adsorption Performance of Activated Carbon Prepared from Corn Stalks

[Objective] This study aimed to study the adsorption performance of activated carbon prepared from corn stalks. [Methed] With granular activated carbon prepared from corn stalks as research object, adsorption performance simulation test equipment was set up to investigate the adsorption performance of the prepared activated carbon for methanol by static weight method. In addition, the effects of adsorption bed structure, activated carbon particle size in adsorption bed, addition amount of graphite powder in activated carbon and modified activated carbon on systematic adsorption performance were studied. [Result] Under conditions of same activated carbon and same adsorption temperature, the adsorption performance of new adsorption bed A （installed with finned diaphragm adsorbate tubes） was signifi- cantly better than that of unmodified adsorption bed B. Compared with adsorption bed B, adsorption bed A took 5 min shorter to reach the adsorption amount of 0.22 g/g. Under the same adsorption temperature, the adsorption performance of bed loaded with different-particle size activated carbon was significantly better than that loaded with same-particle size activated carbon. The bed loaded with different-particle size activated carbon took 16 min shorter to reach the adsorption capacity of 0.22 g/g compared with the bed loaded with same-particle size activated carbon. Adding proper amount of graphite powder in activated carbon could enhance the thermal conductivity and strengthen the adsorption properties. The optimum addition amount of graphite powder was 20% of the total amount of activated carbon. Com- pared with that of the control, the adsorption performance of activated carbon soaked by weak acidic solution was significantly improved. It took 3 min shorter to reach 87.1% of the equilibrium adsorption amount. [Conclusion] This study will provide reference for optimizing structural design of adsorption bed and adsorption refrigeration system.

Adsorption Performance of Sliding Wall-Climbing Robot

Sliding wall-climbing robot （SWCR） is applied worldwide for its continuous motion, however, considerable air leakage causes two problems： great power consumption and big noise, and they constraint the robot＇s comprehensive performance. So far, effective theoretical model is still lacked to solve the problems. The concept of SWCR＇s adsorption performance is presented, and the techniques of improving utilization rate of given adsorption force and utilization rate of power are studied respectively to improve SWCR＇s adsorption performance. The effect of locomotion mechanism selection and seal＇s pressure allocation upon utilization rate of given adsorption force is discussed, and the theoretical way for relevant parameters optimization are provided. The directions for improving utilization rate of power are pointed out based on the detail analysis results of suction system＇s thermodynamics and hydrodynamics. On this condition, a design method for SWCR-specific impeller is presented, which shows how the impeller＇s key parameters impact its aerodynamic performance with the aid of computational fluid dynamics （CFD） simulations. The robot prototype, BIT Climber, is developed, and its functions such as mobility, adaptability on wall surface, payload, obstacle ability and wall surface inspection are tested. Through the experiments for the adhesion performance of the robot adsorption system on the normal wall surface, at the impeller＇s rated rotating speed, the total adsorption force can reach 237.2 N, the average effective negative pressure is 3.02 kPa and the design error is 3.8% only, which indicates a high efficiency. Furthermore, it is found that the robot suction system＇s static pressure efficiency reaches 84% and utilization rate of adsorption force 81% by the experiment. This thermodynamics model and SWCR-specific impeller design method can effectively improve SWCR＇s adsorption performance and expand this robot applicability on the various walls. A sliding wall-climbing robot with high adhesion efficiency is developed, and this robot has the features of light body in weight, small size in structure and good capability in payload.

Adsorption of Protein in the Expanded Bed

The influence of operation parameters on the adsorption performance of protein (bovin serum albumin, BSA) in an expanded bed was studied using Streamline diethyl aminoethyl (DEAE). The result of residence time distributions (RTD) and breakthrough curves showed that adsorption performance of the expanded bed could not be improved by increasing the flow velocity at the range from 16ml·min-1 to 26ml·min-1. The increase of protein concentration from 0.5 mg·ml to 2 mg·ml-1 resulted in poor adsorption performance. With increasing temperature from 5℃ to 30℃ and the sedimented bed height from 11.5cm to 22.5cm, the adsorption characteristics in the expanded bed were improved.

Surface Modification of Bamboo-based Activated Carbon for Methylene Blue Removal

The feasibility of biomass-based activated carbon has received tremendous attention owing to its excellent properties,such as insensitivity,good adsorption performance,and potential to reduce the strong dependence on non-reproducible precursors.In this study,bamboo-based activated carbon(BAC)was used as the raw material for methylene blue(MB)removal.Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB),sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS),and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate(SDBS)were used as BAC surface modifiers.The morphologies and structures of the samples were characterized.In addition,the effects of the surfactant type and concentration on the adsorption-based removal of MB from aqueous solutions by the modified BAC were systematically investigated.For the 0.2 g/L MB solution,the MB removal rate reached 99.7%when the concentration of CTAB was 0.25 g/L.Moreover,the kinetic model curve of 0.25 g/L CTAB-modified BAC(CAC)was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model.This research work enriches the technical pathway of modification and application of activated carbon,which is not only beneficial for realizing the high-value utilization of biomass bamboo resources but also can play an active role in guiding the treatment of MB-containing wastewater.

Core-shell-embedded Mesoporous Silica Capsules for Atmospheric Water Harvesting

A one-step ultrasonic mechanical method was used to synthesize a kind of atmospheric water harvesting material with high water harvesting performance in a wide relative humidity(RH)range,especially at low RH(RH<40%),namely,mesoporous silica capsule(MSC)with core-shell structure.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),nitrogen adsorption and other characterization techniques were used to study the formation process of nano-microspheres.A new mechanism of self-adaptive concentration gradient regulation of silicon migration and recombination core-shell structure was proposed to explain the formation of a cavity in the MSC system.The core-shell design can enhance the specific surface area and pore volume while maintaining the monodispersity and mesoporous size.To study the water harvesting performance of MSC,solid silica nanoparticles(SSN)and mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSN)were prepared.In a small atmospheric water collection test(25℃,40%RH),the water vapour adsorption and desorption kinetics of MSC,SSN,MSN and a commercial silica gel(CSG)were compared and analyzed.The results show that the MSC with mesoporous channels and core-shell structure can provide about 0.324 gwater/gadsorbent,79%higher than the CSG(0.181 gwater/gadsorbent).It is 25.1%higher than that of 0.259 gwater/gadsorbentof un-hollowed MSN and 980%higher than that of0.03 gwater/gadsorbentof un-hollowed SSN.The material has a large specific surface area and pore volume,simple preparation method and low cost,which provides a feasible idea for realising atmospheric water collection in arid and semi-arid regions.

Mechanism of Fume Suppression and Performance on Asphalt of Expanded Graphite for Pavement under High Temperature Condition

Fume suppression mechanisms and the effect of expanded graphite on the performance of asphalt were studied by applying infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR）, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, scanning electron microscopy（SEM） and comprehensive thermal analysis（TG, DSC）. The experimental results confirm that asphalt which is mixed with expandable graphite will expand in the process of hot mix, and the expanded graphite layer will swell by the light component in the asphalt. The light component in the asphalt and PAHs adsorption on expanded graphite surface or part of the plug in the expanded graphite layer between plates made nucleation crystallization growth. And the Van der Waals force and the bonding of the lattice can effectively restrain the asphalt fume release. Meanwhile, the expanding agent with oxidative can spread into the asphalt, leading to asphalt oxygenated and plastic abate, while the ductility decreases. Expanded graphite, SBS modifier and environment- friendly plasticizers are used to composite modified asphalt. According to asphalt fume release experiment, normal test of asphalt performance, Brookfield viscosity test, RTFOT test and asphalt mixture tests（high temperature stability, low temperature stability, water stability）, it has been proven that the modified asphalt’s performance is better than that of matrix asphalt and equivalent to that of SBS modified asphalt. Furthermore, it has good fume suppression effect.

Performance of Array-Type Noncontact End Gripper Based on Coanda Mechanism for Gripping Garment Fabrics

To increase the gripping area of noncontact end grippers(NCEGs), an array-type NCEG based on the Coanda mechanism is proposed, and its performance in gripping different garment fabrics(GFs) is studied. Firstly, the structure and the working mechanism of a single Coanda-based NCEG were analyzed. Secondly, four such grippers were arranged in array to form a minimum gripping unit. Then, the structure of the connecting plate(CP) to the gripper was optimized by simulation analysis to exclude airflow interference, and the adsorption performance of GFs with different fabric parameters was measured. Finally, the experimental results were analyzed to verify the scientific validity and the feasibility of the array-type arrangement. The results show that compared with other NCEGs, the array-type ones based on the Coanda mechanism are better at gripping various large-area GFs and offer better adsorption performance. This innovation provides a new solution to the problem of insufficient gripping area in GF gripping and is very important for improving the production efficiency of garment processing.

Influence and its mechanism of temperature variation in a muffle furnace during calcination on the adsorption performance of rod-like MgO to Congo red

Calcination temperature plays a crucial role in determining the surface properties of generated MgO, but the influence of temperature variation in a muffle furnace during calcination on its performance is rarely reported. Herein we observed that the temperature in a muffle furnace during calcination demonstrated a gradually increasing trend as the location changed from the furnace doorway to the most inner position. The variation in temperature had a great impact on the adsorption performance of generated rod-like MgO without and/or with involvement of Na2SiO3 to Congo red in aqueous solution. To get a better understanding on the detailed reasons, various techniques including actual temperature measurement via multimeter, N2 physical adsorption, CO2 chemical adsorption and FT-IR spectrometry have been employed to probe the correlation between the adsorption performance of generated MgO from various locations and the inner actual temperature of used muffle furnace as well as their physicochemical properties. In addition, two mechanisms were proposed to elucidate the adsorption process of Congo red over the surface of generated MgO without and/or with presence of Na2SiO3, respectively.

Synthesis of N,O-rich active site porous polymers and their efficient recovery of Gd(Ⅲ) from solution

Our previous study found that the adsorption performance of porous carbon for Gd(Ⅲ) could be significantly improved by increasing the N,and O functional groups on its surface.Unfortunately,the adsorption capacity of porous carbon is low due to the limited number of N,and O functional groups that can be loaded on its surface.Due to the advantage of customizable functional groups of porous organic polymers(POPs),the triazine-based Tb-MEL and hydroxyl-modified triazine-based Tp-MEL were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method using nitrogen-rich melamine as the raw material and triformylbenzene(Tb) and 2,4,6-triformylphloroglucinol(Tp),respectively.The Gd(Ⅲ) adsorption isotherms and kinetic curves of Tb-MEL,and Tp-MEL at pH=6 and T=25℃ are in high agreement with the Langmuir isotherm(R^(2)>0.998) and pseudo-second-order kinetics(R^(2)>0.993),respectively.The fitted maximum adsorption capacity(q_(max)) is about 136.05 mg/g,much higher than 58.38 mg/g of Tb-MEL.The adsorption efficiency for Gd(Ⅲ) at pH=7 is close to 100%,and Tp-MEL maintains 62.4% of the initial adsorption capacity after ten cycle s of sorption/desorption of Gd(Ⅲ),with an average elution efficiency of more than 90%.Adsorption selection performance tests show that Tp-MEL has good adsorption selectivity for HREE ions,and the selectivity is as follows:Lu^(3+)>Y^(3+)>Gd^(3+)>Nd^(3+)>La^(3+)>Al^(3+)>Ca^(2+)>Mg^(2+).Batch adsorption,Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) method,and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer(XPS)tests show that hydroxyl modifications lose the specific surface area of the polymer,and the functional groups contribute more to the adsorption performance than the specific surface area.

Highly efficient P uptake by Fe3O4 loaded amorphous Zr-La (carbonate) oxides: Electrostatic attraction, inner-sphere complexation and oxygen vacancies acceleration effect

Bimetallic oxides composites have received an increasing attention as promising adsorbents for aqueous phosphate (P) removal in recent years. In this study, a novel magnetic composite MZLCO was prepared by hybridizing amorphous Zr-La (carbonate) oxides (ZLCO) with nano-FeOthrough a one-pot solvothermal method for efficient phosphate adsorption. Our optimum sample of MZLCO-45 exhibited a high Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity of 96.16 mg P/g and performed well even at low phosphate concentration. The phosphate adsorption kinetics by MZLCO-45 fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption capacity could reach 79% of the ultimate value within the first 60 min. The phosphate adsorption process was highly p H-dependent, and MZLCO-45 performed well over a wide p H range of 2.0-8.0. Moreover, MZLCO-45 showed a strong selectivity to phosphate in the presence of competing ions (Cl^(-), NO_(3)^(-), SO_(4)^(2-), HCO_(3)^(-), Ca^(2+), and Mg^(2+)) and a good reusability using the eluent of Na OH/Na Cl mixture, then 64% adsorption capacity remained after ten recycles. The initial 2.0 mg P/L in municipal wastewater and surface water could be efficiently reduced to below 0.1mg P/L by 0.07 g/L MZLCO-45, and the phosphate removal efficiencies were 95.7% and 96.21%, respectively. Phosphate adsorption mechanisms by MZLCO-45 could be attributed to electrostatic attraction and the inner-sphere complexation via ligand exchange forming Zr/La-O-P, -OH and CO_(3)^(2-)groups on MZLCO-45 surface played important roles in the ligand exchange process. The existence of oxygen vacancies could accelerate the phosphate absorption rate of the MZLCO-45 composites.

Simple fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose and k-carrageenan composite aerogel with efficient performance in removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from water

3D composite aerogels(CMC-CG)composed of carboxymethyl cellulose andκ-carrageenan were designed and fabricated using the one-pot synthesis technique.The optimized CMC-CG showed a good mechanical property and a high swelling ratio due to its superior textural properties with a proper chemically cross-linked interpenetrating network structure.CMC-CG was utilized for the removal of various fluoroquinolones(FQs)from water and exhibited high adsorption performance because of effective electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding interactions.Ciprofloxacin(CIP),a popular FQ,was used as the representative.The optimized CMC-CG had a theoretically maximal CIP uptake of approximately 1.271 mmol/g at the pH of 5.0.The adsorption capacity of CMC-CG was improved in the presence of some cations,Cu2+and Fe3+ions,at a low concentration through the bridging effect but was reduced at a high concentration.The investigation of adsorption mechanisms,based on the adsorption kinetics,isotherms and thermodynamic study,Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses before and after adsorption,and changes in the adsorption performance of CMC-CG toward two molecular probes,further indicated that electrostatic attraction was the dominant interaction rather than hydrogen bonding in this adsorption.CMC-CG after saturated adsorption of CIP could be easily regenerated using a dilute NaCl aqueous solution and reused efficiently.Moreover,the disused aerogel could still be reused as a new adsorbent for effective adsorption of Cu2+ion.Overall,this study suggested the promising applications of this composite aerogel as an eco-friendly,cost-effective,and recyclable adsorbent for thie efficient removal of FQs from water.