Publications by authors named "Mohamed Bizi"

The basic model for agglomerate breakage under the effect of hydrodynamic stress (dmax = C.G−γ) is only applicable for low velocity gradients (<500 s−1) and is often used for shear rates that are not representative of the global phenomenon. This paper presents a semi-empirical model that is able to predict mean floc size in a very broad shear range spanning from aggregation to floc fragmentation.

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The transport of carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole in the different pores of activated carbon in an aqueous solution is a dynamic process that is entirely dependent on the intrinsic parameters of these molecules and of the adsorbent. The macroscopic processes that take place are analyzed by interfacial diffusion and reaction models. Modeling of the experimental kinetic curves obtained following batch treatment of each solute at 2 µg/L in tap water showed (i) that the transport and sorption rates were controlled by external diffusion and intraparticle diffusion and (ii) that the effective diffusion coefficient for each solute, with the surface and pore diffusion coefficients, were linked by a linear relationship.

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Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a pharmaceutical residue, which is persistent and mobile in soils, shows low biodegradability, and is frequently found in the different aquatic compartments, can be found at very low concentrations in water intended for human consumption. In conditions compatible with industrial practices, the kinetic reactivity and performance of tap water purification using activated carbon powder (ACP) are examined here using two extreme mass ratios of SMX to ACP: 2 µg/L and 2 mg/L of SMX for only 10 mg/L of ACP. In response to surface chemistry, ACP texture and the intrinsic properties of SMX in water at a pH of 8.

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Article Synopsis
  • The rise in resistant organic micropollutants in water highlights the need for improved treatment methods to protect human health and the environment.
  • Researchers synthesized silica-clay nanocomposites as an alternative to traditional adsorbents like activated carbon for removing pharmaceuticals from contaminated water.
  • The best-performing nanocomposite, consisting of 95% clay and 5% silica nanoparticles, efficiently removed various contaminants while being cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
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Zeta potential is a physicochemical parameter of particular importance in describing ion adsorption and double layer interactions between charged particles. However, for metal-oxide nanoparticles, the conversion of electrophoretic mobility measurements into zeta potentials is difficult. This is due to their very high surface electrical conductivity, which is inversely proportional to the size of the particle.

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The spatial organisation of swelling clay platelets in a suspension depends on the chemical composition of the equilibration solution. Individual clay platelets can be well dispersed, with surfaces entirely in contact with the external solution, or be stacked in tactoids, where part of the surfaces forms parallel alignments embedding interlayer water and cations. External and interlayer surfaces do not exhibit similar affinities for cations having different hydration and charge properties and the clay platelet stacking arrangement influences the clay affinity for these cations.

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Zeta potential is a physico-chemical parameter of particular importance in describing ion adsorption and electrostatic interactions between charged particles. Nevertheless, this fundamental parameter is ill-constrained, because its experimental interpretation is complex, particularly for very small and charged TiO(2) nanoparticles. The excess of electrical charge at the interface is responsible for surface conductance, which can significantly lower the electrophoretic measurements, and hence the apparent zeta potential.

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Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a montmorillonite/water interface at the pore scale were carried out at 0.1molL(-1) NaCl concentration in order to constrain cation, anion, and water distribution and mobility influenced by the mineral surface. MD results enabled anion exclusion and cation condensation at the surface to be quantified.

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Talc is defined as a crystalline structure characteristic of lamellar structures. Antisticking power varies according to the talc considered. Besides chemical properties, it is necessary to assess physical properties related to functionality.

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