Activated carbon is a promising material with high efficiency in dye removal from polluted wastewater. However, commercial activated carbon is expensive and generates black color in the medium. Therefore, searching for low-cost, eco-friendly activated carbon sources such as agricultural wastes and algal biomasses is essential. Hence, this study is directed to prepare the physical and the H3PO4 chemical activated carbon from the algae ”Sargassum dent folium” and the raw algae itself and apply it for Methyl Orange (M. orange) removal from contaminated wastewater and compare its performance with the commercial activated carbon. First, adsorbent materials are prepared and involved in the optimization process for M. orange removal using some preliminary experiments, followed by Response Surface Method-ology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Finally, Isotherm and kinetics are studied to explain the adsorption mechanism. In contrast to other materials, results show that physical algae-activated carbon achieves the maximum removal efficiency of 96.687%. These results are obtained from ANN combined with Moth Search Algorithm (MSA), representing the most effective model for achieving the highest M. orange removal efficiency from Physical algae activated carbon. In the algae case, the best experimental and predicted removal efficiencies are 85.9407 RE%, 88.5 indicated RSM RE%, and 85.9431 predicted ANN RE%. The best observed and predicted removal efficiencies for the H3PO4 chemical activated carbon are 89.6157 RE%, 82.38 predicted RSM RE%, and 89.5442 predicted ANN RE%. The best experimental and predicted removal efficiencies for the physical-activated carbon are 94.7935 RE%, 95.49 indicated RSM RE%, and 95.4298 predicted ANN RE%. The best observed and predicted removal efficiencies for the commercial-activated carbon are 92.2659 RE%, 96.65 predicted RSM RE%, and 92.2658 predicted ANN RE%. In the algae case, the best experimental and predicted removal efficiencies are 85.9407 %RE, 88.5 predicted RSM RE %, and 85.9431 expected ANN RE%. For the H3PO4 chemical activated carbon, the best experimental and predicted removal efficiencies are 89.6157%RE, 82.38 indicated RSM RE%, and 89.5442 predicted ANN RE%. For the physical-activated carbon, the best observed and predicted removal efficiencies are 94.7935 %RE, 95.49 predicted RSM RE%, and 95.4298 indicated ANN RE%. For the commercial-activated carbon, the best experimental and predicted removal efficiencies are 92.2659 %RE, 96.65 predicted RSM RE%, and 92.2658 predicted ANN RE%. This study intends to treat industrial wastewater contaminated with the anionic M. orange dye using raw algae and their generated activated carbon (physical and chemical forms), which are economical. It then compares the results to the effectiveness of commercial activated carbon. In the state of the raw algae, Temkin and Langmuir isotherm models best suit the data, while Temkin agrees well with the data from physical-activated carbon. Temkin and Freundlich’s models are fitted with the H3PO4 chemical activated carbon. The model that fits the raw algae physically activated carbon and H3PO4 chemical-activated carbon the best is pseudo-second-order kinetics. Future research could examine the produced activated carbon-based algae’s capacity to extract more contaminants from contaminated wastewater. This study intends to treat industrial wastewater contaminated with the anionic M. orange dye using raw algae and their generated activated carbon (physical and chemical forms), which are economical. It next compares the results to the effectiveness of commercial activated carbon. © 2023 The Authors
Soft robotic grippers: A review on technologies, materials, and applications
The growing need for manipulators capable of handling delicate objects with care and coexisting safely with humans has brought soft robots to the forefront as a practical and cost-effective solution. In this context, this paper aims to explore soft grippers, a unique and versatile subset of soft robots. It provides an overview of various soft grasping techniques and materials, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations, along with showcasing several designed and tested models. As medicine and agriculture are acknowledged as pivotal domains required for basic human survival, this paper explores the potential applications of soft robotic grippers in these respective fields. Additionally, it further investigates how soft grippers can contribute to reducing cost and enhancing production efficiency while addressing practical relevant solutions. Considering the escalating environmental threats, particularly in oceans and coral reefs, the paper examines the potential of soft grasping underwater to mitigate these challenges, considered as crucial for conserving the fisheries industry and pertinent economic fields. Lastly, it outlines the current challenges and future prospects of soft grippers, emphasizing the importance of overcoming obstacles through finding solutions such as using bioinspiration to create effective technical solutions and highlighting the importance of commercialization. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.
Enhanced removal of crystal violet using rawfava bean peels, its chemically activated carbon compared with commercial activated carbon
Crystal violet is a basic dye that is widely used by various industries, such as textiles and paints. These industries discharge their effluents, contaminated with crystal violet, into water streams, and these effluents have an adverse effect on aquatic organisms, the environment, and human health. Crystal violet is a basic dye that is widely used by various industries, such as textiles and paints. These industries discharge their effluents, contaminated with crystal violet, into water streams, and these effluents have an adverse effect on aquatic organisms, the environment, and human health. Hence, this paper is directed at studying the removal of crystal violet using environmentally friendly, cost-effective adsorbent materials such as raw fava bean (RFP-H3F), and chemically activated carbon (H3F) in comparison to commercial activated carbon (CAC).Various characterization techniques are applied, such as XRD, FT-IR,and SEM analyses. Then, the process of optimizing is shown through some preliminary experiments and a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) experiment to find the best conditions for removing crystal violet efficiently. Results revealed that the raw fava bean peels and the commercial activated carbon have the maximum removal efficiency of 95 %, and 83 % respectively, after 180 min of contact time. It is hypothesized that raw fava bean peels (RFP) and chemically activated carbon using phosphoric acid RFP-H3F will exhibit comparable efficiency in removing crystal violet when compared to commercial activated carbon (CAC). Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR),and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), are applied to analyze the properties of the adsorbent materials. Afterwards, the optimization process is displayed through some preliminary experiments followed by a Response Surface Methodology (RSM) experiment to obtain the optimum conditions, which achieve high crystal violet removal efficiency. The results demonstrate that both raw fava bean peels and commercial activated carbon exhibit significant removal efficiencies, with raw fava bean peels achieving a maximum removal efficiency of 95 % and commercial activated carbon achieving 83 %. © 2023 The Authors
Bio-inspired adsorption sheets from waste material for anionic methyl orange dye removal
Abstract: Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI), bimetallic nano zero-valent iron-copper (Fe0–Cu), and Raw algae (sargassum dentifolium) activated carbon-supported bimetallic nano zero-valent iron-copper (AC-Fe0–Cu) are synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, and SEM. The maximum removal capacity is demonstrated by bimetallic activated carbon AC-Fe0–Cu, which is estimated at 946.5 mg/g capacity at the condition pH = 7, 30 min contact time under shaking at 120 rpm at ambient temperature, 200 ppm of M.O, and 1 g/l dose of raw algae-Fe0–Cu adsorbent. The elimination capability of the H3PO4 chemical AC-Fe0–Cu adsorbent is 991.96 mg/g under the conditions of pH = 3, 120 min contact time under shaking at 120 rpm at room temperature, 200 ppm of M.O, and 2 g/l doses of H3PO4 chemical AC-Fe0–Cu adsorbent. The Bagasse activated carbon adsorbent sheet achieves a removal capacity of 71.6 mg/g MO dye solution. Kinetic and isothermal models are used to fit the results of time and concentration experiments. The intra-particle model yields the best fit for bimetallic Fe0–Cu, AC-Fe0–Cu, H3PO4 chemical AC-Fe0–Cu and bagasse activated carbon(CH), with corrected R-Squared values of 0.9656, 0.9926, 0.964, and 0.951respectively. The isothermal results emphasize the significance of physisorption and chemisorption in concentration outcomes. Response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) are employed to optimize the removal efficiency. RSM models the efficiency and facilitates numerical optimization, while the ANN model is optimized using the moth search algorithm (MSA) for optimal results. Highlights: 1.The Fe0–Cu composite, when combined with activated carbon from Bagasse Pulp (CH), exhibited the most effective decolorization effectiveness for anionic colours present in wastewater.2.The utilization of composites presents a promising opportunity for efficient dye removal due to its cost-effectiveness and environmentally sustainable nature. 3.The utilization of response surface approach and artificial neural network modelling improves the efficacy of removal processes and treatment techniques. © 2023, The Author(s).
Commercial Versus Natural Activated Carbon Fabricated Sheets: Applied to Dyes Removal Application
Industrial dyes are considered one of the main causes of increased water pollution of water. Many businesses, such as steel and paper, are located along riverbanks because they require large amounts of water in their manufacturing processes, and their wastes, which contain acids, alkalis, dyes, and other chemicals, are dumped and poured into rivers as effluents. For example, chemical enterprises producing aluminum emit a significant quantity of fluoride into the air and effluents into water bodies. Fertilizer facilities produce a lot of ammonia, whereas steel plants produce cyanide. Many nations consider employing wastewater treatment plants using physical, biological, and chemical methods to clean the wastewater to address environmental crises. The treated water can be used for targeting the irrigation systems in its majority, as it is biologically acceptable for that specific use, industrial dyes are considered one of the leading causes of increased water pollution of water. Many businesses, such as steel and paper, are located along riverbanks because they require large amounts of water in their manufacturing processes, and their wastes, which contain acids, alkalis, dyes, and other chemicals, are dumped and poured into rivers as effluents. For example, chemical enterprises producing aluminum emit a significant quantity of fluoride into the air and effluents into water bodies. Fertilizer facilities produce much ammonia, whereas steel plants produce cyanide. Chromium salts are used in. Many nations consider employing wastewater treatment plants using physical, biological, and chemical methods to clean the wastewater to address environmental crises. The treated water can target the majority of irrigation systems, as it is biologically acceptable for that specific use, which economizes the use of freshwater sources for municipal use. This study presents a novel method for fabricating an efficient adsorbent sheet for wastewater treatment. The sheets are fabricated by combining sugarcane bagasse pulp as a scaffold with commercial, naturally activated carbon, and bimetallic-prepared adsorbents. Sugarcane bagasse is utilized in producing activated carbon because of its high carbon contents, availability, and low cost. The prepared composite sheets are synthesized and investigated for pollutants removal of crystal violet (CV), methyl orange (MO), and Chromium (CI) dyes. Different weight ratios of activated carbon are used to form a bio-composite mixed sheet. The formed sheets’ morphology is performed via a high scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). To determine the adsorption mechanism, the intra-particle diffuse screening experiment is used to test the experimental data. All the prepared sheets can retain the pollutants, with the best removal efficiency of 98% for methyl orange adsorption onto the bio-composite mixed sheet. The results of the parameter (time, concentration, and dose) sets provided valuable proof that the adsorption of methyl orange onto the bio-composite sheet mixed with naturally activated carbon is an endothermic phenomenon involving physical adsorption. © 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
Crystal violet removal using algae-based activated carbon and its composites with bimetallic Fe0-Cu
The textile industry is considered a source of pollution because of the discharge of dye wastewater. The dye wastewater effluent has a significant impact on the aquatic environment. According to the World Bank, textile dyeing, and treatment contribute 17 to 20% of the pollution of water. This paper aims to prepare the bimetallic nano zero-valent iron-copper (Fe0-Cu), algae-activated carbon, and their composites (AC-Fe0-Cu), which are employed as adsorbents. In this paper, Synthetic adsorbents are prepared and examined for the adsorption and removal of soluble cationic crystal violet (CV) dye. The influence of synthetic adsorbents on the adsorption and removal of soluble cationic crystal violet (CV) dye is investigated using UV-V spectroscopy at different pH (3-10), time intervals (15-180) min, and initial dye concentrations (50-500 ppm). Raw algae exhibit an impressive 96.64% removal efficiency under the following conditions: pH 7, contact time of 180 min, rotational speed of 120 rpm, temperature range of 25 °C-30 °C, concentration of 300 ppm in the CV dye solution, and a dose of 4 g l?1 of raw algae adsorbent. The best removal efficiencies of Raw algae Fe0-Cu, and H3PO4 chemical AC-Fe0-Cu are 97.61 % and 97.46 %, respectively, at pH = 7, contact time = 150 min, rotational speed = 120 rpm, T = (25-30) °C, concentration = 75 ppm of CV dye solution, and 1.5 g l?1 doses of raw algae F e0-Cu adsorbent and 1 g l?1 dose of H3PO4 chemical AC-Fe0-Cu adsorbent. The maximum amounts (q max) of Bi-RA and RA adsorbed for the adsorption process of CV are 85.92 mg g?1 and 1388 mg g?1, respectively. The Bi-H3A-AC model, optimized using PSO, demonstrates superior performance, with the highest adsorption capacity estimated at 83.51 mg g?1. However, the Langmuir model predicts a maximum adsorption capacity (q e ) of 275.6 mg g?1 for the CV adsorption process when utilizing Bi-H3A-AC. Kinetic and isothermal models are used to fit the data of time and concentration experiments. DLS, zeta potential, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM are used to characterize the prepared materials. Response surface methodology (RSM) is used to model the removal efficiency and then turned into a numerical optimization approach to determine the ideal conditions for improving removal efficiency. An artificial neural network (ANN) is also used to model the removal efficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.