Modeling ozonation pretreatment parameters of distillery wastewater for improved biodegradability.

In this study, ozonation pretreatment of real distillery wastewater (DWW) for biodegradability enhancement was undertaken. Response surface methodology was used to model the value of effective parameters, including ozonation duration and initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration, and to estimate linear interactions and quadratic effects. The analysis of variance confirmed the adequate description of all the responses by the quadratic model employed.

Clean application of magnetic biomaterial for the removal of As (III) from water.

Magnetite-coated pine cone biomass was successfully synthesized, characterized, and its interaction with As (III) in water evaluated in order to apply it as an efficient adsorbent. Transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, and imaging studies revealed that spherical magnetite particles were evenly distributed over the pine cone surface. Adsorption studies showed that the optimum pH of As (III) adsorption was 8 and that Fe (III) leaching was negligible at this pH.

Photodecolorisation of melanoidins in vinasse with illuminated TiO-ZnO/activated carbon composite.

A hybrid photo-catalyst, TiO-ZnO, was synthesized by immobilizing ZnO on commercial TiO (aeroxide P25). Activated carbon (AC) was subsequently used to support the hybrid, thus forming a TiO-ZnO/AC composite catalyst. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy integrated with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) investigations revealed successful catalyst synthesis.