Luis Silva | Universidad de la Costa (original) (raw)
Papers by Luis Silva
Natural Resources Research, 2022
Transitioning the productive base to a more sustainable agriculture is one of the great challenge... more Transitioning the productive base to a more sustainable agriculture is one of the great challenges of our time. The current conflicts in Eastern Europe have had a major repercussion on the agricultural commodity market with restricted access and a massive cost increase for some fertilizers used in agriculture. This scenario has led to international concern about food shortages, whereby countries that depend on fertilizer imports need to find mechanisms and new technological paths to reduce their dependence on the international market. The use of crushed rock (soil remineralizers) associated with microorganisms is an important alternative in terms of cost reduction, lower impact on the environment and reduction of external dependence on agricultural inputs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the results of different types of inputs for soil fertilization (crushed rock – remineralizer, organic material and conventional – NPK), the production parameters of quinoa culture (Chenopodium quinoa) and this nutritional content of the crop. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the data were subjected to analysis of variance, the Dunnett's test, complex contrasts, and multivariate analyses. The results showed significant increases in grain filling and quinoa yields, in soil fertility, and in the nutrient content of the aerial parts of plants treated with remineralizers. The treatments containing a mixture of remineralizers and organic compost were superior to those without these inputs, suggesting positive interaction among these sources. This approach may help toward adopting new technologies, especially with the current undersupply of soluble fertilizers. The use of local geological sources (crushed rock) has the capacity to reduce the dependence on imported fertilizers, thus helping to increase agri-food sovereignty in countries and adhering to the principles of agroecology at the local and global levels.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution , 2022
Adequate animal manure disposal became a challenge in agriculture. Liquid swine waste (LSW), easi... more Adequate animal manure disposal became a challenge in agriculture. Liquid swine waste (LSW), easily used in agriculture, presents disadvantages due to the high volume and low nutrient concentrations. Metabasalt powder, a residue of amethyst mining, was evaluated as an adsorbent agent of nutrients (Cu, Zn, P, and K) from LSW. Seven doses of metabasalt powder were tested in proportion with LSW (0, 4, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 kg m−3), and during four contact times (CT) (9, 21, 42, and 84 days) and ions were dosed in the liquid and solid fractions. Copper and phosphorus concentrations in the liquid fraction were lower at 21 days of contact. The lowest concentration of zinc in the liquid fraction was observed at the dose of 10 kg m−3 of metabasalt powder, and at 9 days of CT. The K concentrations in the liquid fraction diminished linearly with the metabasalt doses, in which the major dose presented 51% of K compared to the control. The application of metabasalt as an adsorbent agent reduced the contaminant charge in the liquid fraction of LSW, suggesting safe water disposal while promoting ion accumulation in the solid fraction. The use of metabasalt powder became a useful strategy to make LSW pre-treatment on-farm.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
Due to its toxicity, the presence of Cu(II) ions released in aquatic environments presents a seri... more Due to its toxicity, the presence of Cu(II) ions released in aquatic environments presents a serious threat to the environment and human health. In search of sustainable and low-cost alternatives, there are citrus fruit residues, which are generated in large quantities by the juice industries and can be used to produce activated carbons. Therefore, the physical route was investigated for producing activated carbons to reuse citrus wastes. In this work, eight activated carbons were developed, varying the precursor (orange peel-OP, mandarine peel-MP, rangpur lime peel-RLP, and sweet lime peel-SLP) and the activating agent (CO2 and H2O) to remove Cu(II) ions of the aqueous medium. Results revealed promising activated carbons with a micro-mesoporous structure, a specific surface area of around 400 m2 g–1, and a pore volume of around 0.25 cm3 g–1. In addition, Cu (II) adsorption was favored at pH 5.5. The kinetic study showed that the equilibrium was reached within 60 min removing about 80% of Cu(II) ions. The Sips model was the most suitable for the equilibrium data, providing maximum adsorption capacities (qmS) values of 69.69, 70.27, 88.04, 67.83 mg g–1 for activated carbons (AC-CO2) from OP, MP, RLP, and SLP, respectively. The thermodynamic behavior showed that the adsorption process of Cu(II) ions was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. It was suggested that the mechanism was controlled by surface complexation and Cu2+-π interaction. Desorption was possible with an HCl solution (0.5 mol L–1). From the results obtained in this work, it is possible to infer that citrus residues could be successfully converted into efficient adsorbents to remove Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions
Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 2023
In this study, a sustainable and easily prepared hydrochar from wood waste was studied to adsorb ... more In this study, a sustainable and easily prepared hydrochar from wood waste was studied to adsorb and recover the rare earth element cerium (Ce(III)) from an aqueous solution. The results revealed that the hydrochar contains several surface functional groups (e.g., C–O, C = O, OH, COOH), which largely influenced its adsorption capacity. The effect of pH strongly influenced the Ce(III) removal, achieving its maximum removal efficiency at pH 6.0 and very low adsorption capacity under an acidic solution. The hydrochar proved to be highly efficient in Ce(III) adsorption reaching a maximum adsorption capacity of 327.9 mg g−1 at 298 K. The kinetic and equilibrium process were better fitted by the general order and Liu isotherm model, respectively. Possible mechanisms of Ce(III) adsorption on the hydrochar structure could be explained by electrostatic interactions and chelation between surface functional groups and the Ce(III). Furthermore, the hydrochar exhibited an excellent regeneration capacity upon using 1 mol L−1 of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as eluent, and it was reused for three cycles without losing its adsorption performance. This research proposes a sustainable approach for developing an efficient adsorbent with excellent physicochemical and adsorption properties for Ce(III) removal
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
The general objective of this study is to identify the presence of hazardous elements in the soil... more The general objective of this study is to identify the presence of hazardous elements in the soils of five urban cemeteries in the city of Passo Fundo, in southern Brazil, and to design solutions (architecturally) for future cemeteries to be more sustainable by mitigating toxicological risks to the population residing in the area. A total of 250 soil samples were obtained from points within the cemeteries and in areas surrounding the two oldest cemeteries at a distance of up to 400 m. Twelve architects who design cemeteries primarily focused on sustainability were interviewed, and presented their suggestions for sustainable urban cemetery design. The Building Information Modeling (BIM) computer modeling system was utilized to present a visual representation of suggested architectural features by these architects. The concentration of Pb in the vicinity of cemeteries deserves special attention, as concentrations of this neurotoxin exceed the federal limits set by Brazil. Soil Pb values were found to exceed the limit of 72 mg kg−1 up to a distance of 400 m from the walls of cemeteries A and B, indicating the presence of a danger to human health even at greater distances. This manuscript highlights construction features that enable future burial structures to adequately mitigate the very real problem of contaminants entering the environment from current cemetery design. Two-thirds of the technicians interviewed for this manuscript, each of whom specialize in Brazilian cemetery design, highlighted the importance of revitalizing urban vegetation both when constructing and revitalizing urban vertical cemeteries
Foods, 2023
The harmful effects on the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics and... more The harmful effects on the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics and the inadequate management of post-consumer waste have given rise to efforts to redirect this consumption to bio-based economic models. In this sense, using biopolymers to produce materials is a reality for food packaging companies searching for technologies that allow these materials to compete with those from synthetic sources. This review paper focused on the recent trends in multilayer films with the perspective of using biopolymers and natural additives for application in food packaging. Firstly, the recent developments in the area were presented concisely. Then, the main biopolymers used (gelatin, chitosan, zein, polylactic acid) and main methods for multilayer film preparation were discussed, including the layer-by-layer, casting, compression, extrusion, and electrospinning methods. Furthermore, we highlighted the bioactive compounds and how they are inserted in the multilayer systems to form active biopolymeric food packaging. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of multilayer packaging development are also discussed. Finally, the main trends and challenges in using multilayer systems are presented. Therefore, this review aims to bring updated information in an innovative approach to current research on food packaging materials, focusing on sustainable resources such as biopolymers and natural additives. In addition, it proposes viable production routes for improving the market competitiveness of biopolymer materials against synthetic materials
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
The consumption of açaí fruit (Euterpe oleracea) has largely increased worldwide, resulting in a ... more The consumption of açaí fruit (Euterpe oleracea) has largely increased worldwide, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for its pulp. As a result, the small producing communities end up with large amounts of açaí endocarp residues, creating local environmental pollution problems. Therefore, chemical and physical routes were investigated for producing açaí endocarp adsorbents to propose a locally viable solution for this problem. The adsorption properties of the produced biochars were tested for clonazepam (CZM) removal, and the toxicity of the final solutions was evaluated. The results revealed that the chemical route generated biochar with about twice the surface area and pore volume (762 m2 g−1 and 0.098 cm3 g−1) than the physical route (498 m2 g−1 and 0.048 cm3 g−1). Furthermore, the Sips isotherm better described the CZM adsorption equilibrium for both biochars, with qs values of 26.94 and 61.86 mg g−1 for the physical- and chemical-activated adsorbents. Moreover, recycling studies were performed, and the chemical-activated biochar was stable for up to three cycles, reaching removal rates superior to 80%. Besides, the final toxicity decreased after the adsorptive treatment. Therefore, chemical activation can be used as a simple and effective method for producing stable and compelling adsorbents as an elegant way of adding value to the residues from açaí production, helping solve local environmental problems
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
Sapelli wood sawdust-derived magnetic activated carbon (SWSMAC) was produced by single-step pyrol... more Sapelli wood sawdust-derived magnetic activated carbon (SWSMAC) was produced by single-step pyrolysis using KOH and NiCl2 as activating and magnetization agents. SWSMAC was characterized by several techniques (SEM/EDS, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, FTIR, XRD, VSM, and pHPZC) and applied in the brilliant blue FCF dye adsorption from an aqueous medium. The obtained SWSMAC was a mesoporous material and showed good textural properties. Metallic nanostructured Ni particles were observed. Also, SWSMAC exhibited ferromagnetic properties. In the adsorption experiments, adequate conditions were an adsorbent dosage of 0.75 g L−1 and a solution pH of 4. The adsorption was fast, and the pseudo-second-order demonstrated greater suitability to the kinetic data. The Sips model fitted the equilibrium data well, and the maximum adsorption capacity predicted by this model was 105.88 mg g−1 (at 55 °C). The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. Besides, the mechanistic elucidation suggested that electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π–π interactions, and n–π interactions were involved in the brilliant blue FCF dye adsorption onto SWSMAC. In summary, an advanced adsorbent material was developed from waste by single-step pyrolysis, and this material effectively adsorbs brilliant blue FCF dye
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023
During the past decades, the removal and recovery of Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) have attracte... more During the past decades, the removal and recovery of Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) have attracted considerable interest owing to their importance in several industrial processes. In the present work, green nanosponge adsorbents have been synthesized from a local and economic source of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and applied for the first time to La and Ce ion recovery from aqueous solutions. A statistical physics model has been used to analyze adsorption data. This material has shown high adsorption capacities of 625.34 and 773.29 mg g−1 for Ce and La, respectively. Furthermore, a temperature of 298 K has been identified as the best condition to remove these elements from aqueous solutions. Furthermore, DFT simulations have been performed to identify the nature of functional groups involved in removing these rare earth elements. Assessments of the adsorbent regeneration and recycling capacities have also been determined, showing that β-CD nanosponges remain stable and effective for La and Ce adsorption over three desorption-adsorption cycles. Hence, this green, economic, and reusable biomaterial has great potential for recovering light rare earth elements from water. Finally, this study provides new insights for analyzing the adsorption mechanisms of Ce and La under various experimental conditions
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2023
The great variety and possibilities of consumption of açaí pulp (Euterpe oleracea) have made its ... more The great variety and possibilities of consumption of açaí pulp (Euterpe oleracea) have made its consumption increase considerably in recent years, mainly in Brazilian territory. The big problem is the generation of tons of waste that characterizes the fruit stone. This waste was converted into a highly porous activated carbon and employed to remove the herbicide atrazine. The characterization analyses confirmed that the applied methodology generated an adsorbent with good textural characteristics (specific surface area 920.56 m² g−1, pore volume 0.467 cm3 g−1; average pore diameter 1.13 nm). Furthermore, it was found that the adsorption of atrazine reached satisfactory results at natural pH and with an adsorbent mass of 0.54 g for each liter of solution. The Redlich-Peterson model presented the most satisfactory fit with the equilibrium data. This study found that the evolution of system temperature increased the concentration in the solid phase of 178 mg g−1 at 328 K. Regarding adsorption kinetics, the linear driving force model can represent the experimental data. Also, the predicted adsorption data of the model follows the experimental data. The application of the adsorbent in the removal of the herbicide mixture presented an efficiency of 81.45%. Therefore, using residual açaí fruit seeds as biomass for producing activated carbon employing zinc chloride as an agent activator is the possible application of the material. The material showed high efficiency and affinity with the target molecule.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2023
In this study, furosemide (FUR) adsorption was performed employing magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNT... more In this study, furosemide (FUR) adsorption was performed employing magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNT‧Fe3O4) with different amounts of incorporated magnetite. The CNT and magnetic CNTs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and co-precipitation methods, respectively. The nanoadsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM, and VSM techniques. The adsorption experiments revealed that the best performance was obtained by CNT‧Fe3O4 1:10, showing values of 82.39% and 83.5 mg g−1 of removal percentage and maximum adsorption capacity at pH 2.0, due to the improvement in π-π interactions, and the presence of iron nanoparticles enhanced the adsorption, suggesting that cation-π interactions control the process. The sorption process exhibited high dependence on pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of adsorbate. Sips and Elovich models showed the best adjustment for experimental data, suggesting that the process occurs on a heterogeneous surface and with different energy adsorption sites, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous and exothermic process. The outcome of in vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that the adsorbent/drug complex, after adsorption, exhibited lower toxic effects than the free drug. On the other hand, the genotoxicity assay showed that only the Fe3O4 caused damage at the DNA level. Magnetic carbon nanotubes prove to be efficient in the removal of furosemide from the aqueous solution. Also, the complex after adsorption showed good biocompatibility, allowing a promising application in the biological area and stimulating future studies in drug repositioning
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2023
Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2023
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Natural Resources Research, 2022
Transitioning the productive base to a more sustainable agriculture is one of the great challenge... more Transitioning the productive base to a more sustainable agriculture is one of the great challenges of our time. The current conflicts in Eastern Europe have had a major repercussion on the agricultural commodity market with restricted access and a massive cost increase for some fertilizers used in agriculture. This scenario has led to international concern about food shortages, whereby countries that depend on fertilizer imports need to find mechanisms and new technological paths to reduce their dependence on the international market. The use of crushed rock (soil remineralizers) associated with microorganisms is an important alternative in terms of cost reduction, lower impact on the environment and reduction of external dependence on agricultural inputs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the results of different types of inputs for soil fertilization (crushed rock – remineralizer, organic material and conventional – NPK), the production parameters of quinoa culture (Chenopodium quinoa) and this nutritional content of the crop. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse and the data were subjected to analysis of variance, the Dunnett's test, complex contrasts, and multivariate analyses. The results showed significant increases in grain filling and quinoa yields, in soil fertility, and in the nutrient content of the aerial parts of plants treated with remineralizers. The treatments containing a mixture of remineralizers and organic compost were superior to those without these inputs, suggesting positive interaction among these sources. This approach may help toward adopting new technologies, especially with the current undersupply of soluble fertilizers. The use of local geological sources (crushed rock) has the capacity to reduce the dependence on imported fertilizers, thus helping to increase agri-food sovereignty in countries and adhering to the principles of agroecology at the local and global levels.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution , 2022
Adequate animal manure disposal became a challenge in agriculture. Liquid swine waste (LSW), easi... more Adequate animal manure disposal became a challenge in agriculture. Liquid swine waste (LSW), easily used in agriculture, presents disadvantages due to the high volume and low nutrient concentrations. Metabasalt powder, a residue of amethyst mining, was evaluated as an adsorbent agent of nutrients (Cu, Zn, P, and K) from LSW. Seven doses of metabasalt powder were tested in proportion with LSW (0, 4, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 kg m−3), and during four contact times (CT) (9, 21, 42, and 84 days) and ions were dosed in the liquid and solid fractions. Copper and phosphorus concentrations in the liquid fraction were lower at 21 days of contact. The lowest concentration of zinc in the liquid fraction was observed at the dose of 10 kg m−3 of metabasalt powder, and at 9 days of CT. The K concentrations in the liquid fraction diminished linearly with the metabasalt doses, in which the major dose presented 51% of K compared to the control. The application of metabasalt as an adsorbent agent reduced the contaminant charge in the liquid fraction of LSW, suggesting safe water disposal while promoting ion accumulation in the solid fraction. The use of metabasalt powder became a useful strategy to make LSW pre-treatment on-farm.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
Due to its toxicity, the presence of Cu(II) ions released in aquatic environments presents a seri... more Due to its toxicity, the presence of Cu(II) ions released in aquatic environments presents a serious threat to the environment and human health. In search of sustainable and low-cost alternatives, there are citrus fruit residues, which are generated in large quantities by the juice industries and can be used to produce activated carbons. Therefore, the physical route was investigated for producing activated carbons to reuse citrus wastes. In this work, eight activated carbons were developed, varying the precursor (orange peel-OP, mandarine peel-MP, rangpur lime peel-RLP, and sweet lime peel-SLP) and the activating agent (CO2 and H2O) to remove Cu(II) ions of the aqueous medium. Results revealed promising activated carbons with a micro-mesoporous structure, a specific surface area of around 400 m2 g–1, and a pore volume of around 0.25 cm3 g–1. In addition, Cu (II) adsorption was favored at pH 5.5. The kinetic study showed that the equilibrium was reached within 60 min removing about 80% of Cu(II) ions. The Sips model was the most suitable for the equilibrium data, providing maximum adsorption capacities (qmS) values of 69.69, 70.27, 88.04, 67.83 mg g–1 for activated carbons (AC-CO2) from OP, MP, RLP, and SLP, respectively. The thermodynamic behavior showed that the adsorption process of Cu(II) ions was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. It was suggested that the mechanism was controlled by surface complexation and Cu2+-π interaction. Desorption was possible with an HCl solution (0.5 mol L–1). From the results obtained in this work, it is possible to infer that citrus residues could be successfully converted into efficient adsorbents to remove Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions
Environmental Science and Pollution Research , 2023
In this study, a sustainable and easily prepared hydrochar from wood waste was studied to adsorb ... more In this study, a sustainable and easily prepared hydrochar from wood waste was studied to adsorb and recover the rare earth element cerium (Ce(III)) from an aqueous solution. The results revealed that the hydrochar contains several surface functional groups (e.g., C–O, C = O, OH, COOH), which largely influenced its adsorption capacity. The effect of pH strongly influenced the Ce(III) removal, achieving its maximum removal efficiency at pH 6.0 and very low adsorption capacity under an acidic solution. The hydrochar proved to be highly efficient in Ce(III) adsorption reaching a maximum adsorption capacity of 327.9 mg g−1 at 298 K. The kinetic and equilibrium process were better fitted by the general order and Liu isotherm model, respectively. Possible mechanisms of Ce(III) adsorption on the hydrochar structure could be explained by electrostatic interactions and chelation between surface functional groups and the Ce(III). Furthermore, the hydrochar exhibited an excellent regeneration capacity upon using 1 mol L−1 of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) as eluent, and it was reused for three cycles without losing its adsorption performance. This research proposes a sustainable approach for developing an efficient adsorbent with excellent physicochemical and adsorption properties for Ce(III) removal
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
The general objective of this study is to identify the presence of hazardous elements in the soil... more The general objective of this study is to identify the presence of hazardous elements in the soils of five urban cemeteries in the city of Passo Fundo, in southern Brazil, and to design solutions (architecturally) for future cemeteries to be more sustainable by mitigating toxicological risks to the population residing in the area. A total of 250 soil samples were obtained from points within the cemeteries and in areas surrounding the two oldest cemeteries at a distance of up to 400 m. Twelve architects who design cemeteries primarily focused on sustainability were interviewed, and presented their suggestions for sustainable urban cemetery design. The Building Information Modeling (BIM) computer modeling system was utilized to present a visual representation of suggested architectural features by these architects. The concentration of Pb in the vicinity of cemeteries deserves special attention, as concentrations of this neurotoxin exceed the federal limits set by Brazil. Soil Pb values were found to exceed the limit of 72 mg kg−1 up to a distance of 400 m from the walls of cemeteries A and B, indicating the presence of a danger to human health even at greater distances. This manuscript highlights construction features that enable future burial structures to adequately mitigate the very real problem of contaminants entering the environment from current cemetery design. Two-thirds of the technicians interviewed for this manuscript, each of whom specialize in Brazilian cemetery design, highlighted the importance of revitalizing urban vegetation both when constructing and revitalizing urban vertical cemeteries
Foods, 2023
The harmful effects on the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics and... more The harmful effects on the environment caused by the indiscriminate use of synthetic plastics and the inadequate management of post-consumer waste have given rise to efforts to redirect this consumption to bio-based economic models. In this sense, using biopolymers to produce materials is a reality for food packaging companies searching for technologies that allow these materials to compete with those from synthetic sources. This review paper focused on the recent trends in multilayer films with the perspective of using biopolymers and natural additives for application in food packaging. Firstly, the recent developments in the area were presented concisely. Then, the main biopolymers used (gelatin, chitosan, zein, polylactic acid) and main methods for multilayer film preparation were discussed, including the layer-by-layer, casting, compression, extrusion, and electrospinning methods. Furthermore, we highlighted the bioactive compounds and how they are inserted in the multilayer systems to form active biopolymeric food packaging. Furthermore, the advantages and drawbacks of multilayer packaging development are also discussed. Finally, the main trends and challenges in using multilayer systems are presented. Therefore, this review aims to bring updated information in an innovative approach to current research on food packaging materials, focusing on sustainable resources such as biopolymers and natural additives. In addition, it proposes viable production routes for improving the market competitiveness of biopolymer materials against synthetic materials
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
The consumption of açaí fruit (Euterpe oleracea) has largely increased worldwide, resulting in a ... more The consumption of açaí fruit (Euterpe oleracea) has largely increased worldwide, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for its pulp. As a result, the small producing communities end up with large amounts of açaí endocarp residues, creating local environmental pollution problems. Therefore, chemical and physical routes were investigated for producing açaí endocarp adsorbents to propose a locally viable solution for this problem. The adsorption properties of the produced biochars were tested for clonazepam (CZM) removal, and the toxicity of the final solutions was evaluated. The results revealed that the chemical route generated biochar with about twice the surface area and pore volume (762 m2 g−1 and 0.098 cm3 g−1) than the physical route (498 m2 g−1 and 0.048 cm3 g−1). Furthermore, the Sips isotherm better described the CZM adsorption equilibrium for both biochars, with qs values of 26.94 and 61.86 mg g−1 for the physical- and chemical-activated adsorbents. Moreover, recycling studies were performed, and the chemical-activated biochar was stable for up to three cycles, reaching removal rates superior to 80%. Besides, the final toxicity decreased after the adsorptive treatment. Therefore, chemical activation can be used as a simple and effective method for producing stable and compelling adsorbents as an elegant way of adding value to the residues from açaí production, helping solve local environmental problems
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023
Sapelli wood sawdust-derived magnetic activated carbon (SWSMAC) was produced by single-step pyrol... more Sapelli wood sawdust-derived magnetic activated carbon (SWSMAC) was produced by single-step pyrolysis using KOH and NiCl2 as activating and magnetization agents. SWSMAC was characterized by several techniques (SEM/EDS, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, FTIR, XRD, VSM, and pHPZC) and applied in the brilliant blue FCF dye adsorption from an aqueous medium. The obtained SWSMAC was a mesoporous material and showed good textural properties. Metallic nanostructured Ni particles were observed. Also, SWSMAC exhibited ferromagnetic properties. In the adsorption experiments, adequate conditions were an adsorbent dosage of 0.75 g L−1 and a solution pH of 4. The adsorption was fast, and the pseudo-second-order demonstrated greater suitability to the kinetic data. The Sips model fitted the equilibrium data well, and the maximum adsorption capacity predicted by this model was 105.88 mg g−1 (at 55 °C). The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous, favorable, and endothermic. Besides, the mechanistic elucidation suggested that electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π–π interactions, and n–π interactions were involved in the brilliant blue FCF dye adsorption onto SWSMAC. In summary, an advanced adsorbent material was developed from waste by single-step pyrolysis, and this material effectively adsorbs brilliant blue FCF dye
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023
During the past decades, the removal and recovery of Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) have attracte... more During the past decades, the removal and recovery of Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) have attracted considerable interest owing to their importance in several industrial processes. In the present work, green nanosponge adsorbents have been synthesized from a local and economic source of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and applied for the first time to La and Ce ion recovery from aqueous solutions. A statistical physics model has been used to analyze adsorption data. This material has shown high adsorption capacities of 625.34 and 773.29 mg g−1 for Ce and La, respectively. Furthermore, a temperature of 298 K has been identified as the best condition to remove these elements from aqueous solutions. Furthermore, DFT simulations have been performed to identify the nature of functional groups involved in removing these rare earth elements. Assessments of the adsorbent regeneration and recycling capacities have also been determined, showing that β-CD nanosponges remain stable and effective for La and Ce adsorption over three desorption-adsorption cycles. Hence, this green, economic, and reusable biomaterial has great potential for recovering light rare earth elements from water. Finally, this study provides new insights for analyzing the adsorption mechanisms of Ce and La under various experimental conditions
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2023
The great variety and possibilities of consumption of açaí pulp (Euterpe oleracea) have made its ... more The great variety and possibilities of consumption of açaí pulp (Euterpe oleracea) have made its consumption increase considerably in recent years, mainly in Brazilian territory. The big problem is the generation of tons of waste that characterizes the fruit stone. This waste was converted into a highly porous activated carbon and employed to remove the herbicide atrazine. The characterization analyses confirmed that the applied methodology generated an adsorbent with good textural characteristics (specific surface area 920.56 m² g−1, pore volume 0.467 cm3 g−1; average pore diameter 1.13 nm). Furthermore, it was found that the adsorption of atrazine reached satisfactory results at natural pH and with an adsorbent mass of 0.54 g for each liter of solution. The Redlich-Peterson model presented the most satisfactory fit with the equilibrium data. This study found that the evolution of system temperature increased the concentration in the solid phase of 178 mg g−1 at 328 K. Regarding adsorption kinetics, the linear driving force model can represent the experimental data. Also, the predicted adsorption data of the model follows the experimental data. The application of the adsorbent in the removal of the herbicide mixture presented an efficiency of 81.45%. Therefore, using residual açaí fruit seeds as biomass for producing activated carbon employing zinc chloride as an agent activator is the possible application of the material. The material showed high efficiency and affinity with the target molecule.
Separation and Purification Technology, 2023
In this study, furosemide (FUR) adsorption was performed employing magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNT... more In this study, furosemide (FUR) adsorption was performed employing magnetic carbon nanotubes (CNT‧Fe3O4) with different amounts of incorporated magnetite. The CNT and magnetic CNTs were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and co-precipitation methods, respectively. The nanoadsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM, and VSM techniques. The adsorption experiments revealed that the best performance was obtained by CNT‧Fe3O4 1:10, showing values of 82.39% and 83.5 mg g−1 of removal percentage and maximum adsorption capacity at pH 2.0, due to the improvement in π-π interactions, and the presence of iron nanoparticles enhanced the adsorption, suggesting that cation-π interactions control the process. The sorption process exhibited high dependence on pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of adsorbate. Sips and Elovich models showed the best adjustment for experimental data, suggesting that the process occurs on a heterogeneous surface and with different energy adsorption sites, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous and exothermic process. The outcome of in vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that the adsorbent/drug complex, after adsorption, exhibited lower toxic effects than the free drug. On the other hand, the genotoxicity assay showed that only the Fe3O4 caused damage at the DNA level. Magnetic carbon nanotubes prove to be efficient in the removal of furosemide from the aqueous solution. Also, the complex after adsorption showed good biocompatibility, allowing a promising application in the biological area and stimulating future studies in drug repositioning
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2023
Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2023
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Application of andesite rock as a clean source of fertilizer for eucalyptus crop: Evidence of sustainability, 2020
Handling Editor: CT Lee Keywords: By-product of rock mining Soil remineralizer Sustainable silvic... more Handling Editor: CT Lee Keywords: By-product of rock mining Soil remineralizer Sustainable silviculture a b s t r a c t Global demineralization of agricultural soils due to unsustainable use of highly soluble fertilizers and intensive exploitation is an issue of increasing concern. Methods of remineralization include the application of volcanic rock by-product, such as vesicular andesite on mineral-deficient fields. The present work analyzed the petrography, mineralogy, and chemistry of volcanic rock by-product (vesicular andesite rock), as well as on-field experiment with eucalyptus. The petrographic description was performed on a polished thin section by optical microscopy. The mineralogical phases were identified with X-ray diffraction. The by-product chemical composition was determined by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for potentially toxic elements. Additional chemical compositions were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a dispersive X-ray detector. A nine-month field experiment was carried out to evaluate the agronomic performance of Eucalyptus saligna Smith cultivated in an Ultisol. Four different doses (treatment T1 ¼ control, treatment T2 ¼ nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizer 100%, treatment T3 ¼ by-product 100%, and treatment T4 ¼ by-product 50% and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilizer 50%), were applied on soil. Responses to treatments were evaluated from height and diameter at breast height at three, six, and nine months after eucalyptus planting. The total phosphorous and potassium content in soil was measured at three and six months after eucalyptus planting. The results showed that the by-product is composed of plagioclase, potassium feldspar, zeolite, smectite, and opaque minerals with apatite as an accessory mineral. The primary oxides found in by-product via X-ray fluorescence were silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium and with lower concentration, the potassium and phosphorus. In all evaluated parameters, it was verified that T2 and T4 treatments significantly enhanced the available soil phosphorous, and the eucalyptus height, with maximum gains (79% and 62% of phosphorous, and 20% and 23% of height) at nine months after eucalyptus plantation. The maximum gains of eucalyptus diameter at breast height were similar (23% and 24%) at six months after plantation. Soil available potassium was significantly enhanced in T3, T4 and T2 treatments at nine months after planting, with maximum gains of 71%, 55% and 53%. The work indicated an improvement in the phosphorus and potassium levels in soils, and in eucalyptus crop growth by adding by-product, being a partial nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium fertilizer substitution strategy. The use of these geological materials is presented as an alternative to increase agricultural productivity and reduce the environmental impacts caused by excessive use of highly soluble fertilizers.