Optimization of adsorption performance by mesoporous materials developed from local clays and zeolite. Application in the treatment of real pharmaceutical effluents.

The treatment of effluents from the pharmaceutical industry currently remains a major challenge due to their impact on the environment and public health along with the cost of treatments. Considering these issues, our work focused on the development of materials with effective adsorption properties to treat industrial effluents based on locally available and inexpensive clays and zeolite. Local Algerian kaolin (Djebel Debbagh), palygorskite (Ghoufi) and zeolite (Tinbdar) were treated thermally and chemically prior to synthesis into mesoporous materials of hexagonal structure using pluronic P123 as surfactant.

Development of Ultrafiltration Kaolin Membranes over Sand and Zeolite Supports for the Treatment of Electroplating Wastewater.

A high cost of high-purity materials is one of the major factors that limit the application of ceramic membranes. Consequently, the focus was shifted to using natural and abundant low-cost materials such as zeolite, clay, sand, etc. as alternatives to well-known pure metallic oxides, such as alumina, silica, zirconia and titania, which are usually used for ceramic membrane fabrication.

Mesoporous silica synthesized from natural local kaolin as an effective adsorbent for removing of Acid Red 337 and its application in the treatment of real industrial textile effluent.

This paper presents a synthesis of mesoporous silica (MS) from natural clay as a silica source using Pluronic L35 (EO11PO16EO11) as a structure-directing agent. The prepared material was characterized by XRD, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, TEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption analyses. Then, mesoporous material was used for the removal of Acid Red 337 (AR337) from aqueous solution, and the treatment of real textile effluent.

Treatment of textile wastewater using monolayered ultrafiltation ceramic membrane fabricated from natural kaolin clay.

Fabrication, characterization and application of ceramic membrane developed from Tunisian natural kaolin clay for textile wastewater treatment are presented in this study. The morphology and properties of the resulting membrane sintered at 1000°C for 3 h were then determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), mechanical and chemical resistance and water permeability. Separation performance of the membrane was evaluated during the treatment of textile wastewater.

Bioenergy crop induced changes in soil properties: A case study on Miscanthus fields in the Upper Rhine Region.

Biomass as a renewable energy source has become increasingly prevalent in Europe to comply with greenhouse gas emission targets. As one of the most efficient perennial bioenergy crops, there is great potential in the Upper Rhine Region to explore biomass utilization of Miscanthus to confront climate change and land use demand in the future. Yet, the impacts of Miscanthus cultivation on soil quality have not been adequately explored.