Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents

In this study, a specially developed unique process was used to prepare sludge-based activated adsorbents (SBAs) from municipal sewage sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Sharjah. A reaction chamber is designed to allow the carbonization and activation of sewage sludge in a saturat...

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Main Authors: Yehya A. El-Sayed, Kevin F. Loughlin, Saeed ur Rehman, Dana Abouelnasr, Isam Al-Zubaidy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2014-04-01
Series:Adsorption Science & Technology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1260/0263-6174.32.4.291
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author Yehya A. El-Sayed
Kevin F. Loughlin
Saeed ur Rehman
Dana Abouelnasr
Isam Al-Zubaidy
author_facet Yehya A. El-Sayed
Kevin F. Loughlin
Saeed ur Rehman
Dana Abouelnasr
Isam Al-Zubaidy
author_sort Yehya A. El-Sayed
collection DOAJ
description In this study, a specially developed unique process was used to prepare sludge-based activated adsorbents (SBAs) from municipal sewage sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Sharjah. A reaction chamber is designed to allow the carbonization and activation of sewage sludge in a saturated steam environment generated inside the chamber (semi-static). The semi-static steam process is carried out in the absence of any external gas flow into the reaction chamber. The activated sample is subjected to acid treatment. Other SBA samples are also prepared at the same temperatures using a conventional method in the presence of external flow of nitrogen gas. The surface chemistry for the SBA samples is characterized using Boehm titrations, pH measurement, ash content and scanning electron microscope integrated with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX). The semi-static steam method results in the formation of an SBA sample with acidic surface and higher carbon content as compared with the samples prepared by the conventional method. The metal contents of the SBAs are significantly different and depend on the methods of preparation. Nitrogen sorption isotherms are measured and used for the analysis of structure and porosity. The BET surface area for the SBA sample produced in the proposed method is calculated to be 838 m 2 /g. The SBA samples are then compared for adsorption efficiency of lead ions from aqueous solution, which is observed to be dependent on the microporosity and surface basicity.
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spelling doaj-art-db728e3afb8847b8a41f921ee36a05932025-01-02T23:44:15ZengSAGE PublishingAdsorption Science & Technology0263-61742048-40382014-04-013210.1260/0263-6174.32.4.291Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based AdsorbentsYehya A. El-Sayed0Kevin F. Loughlin1Saeed ur Rehman2Dana Abouelnasr3Isam Al-Zubaidy4 Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, UAE Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, UAE Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, UAE Department of Chemical Engineering, California State University, Bakersfield, CA 93311-1022, USA Department of Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, P.O. Box 26666, UAEIn this study, a specially developed unique process was used to prepare sludge-based activated adsorbents (SBAs) from municipal sewage sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Sharjah. A reaction chamber is designed to allow the carbonization and activation of sewage sludge in a saturated steam environment generated inside the chamber (semi-static). The semi-static steam process is carried out in the absence of any external gas flow into the reaction chamber. The activated sample is subjected to acid treatment. Other SBA samples are also prepared at the same temperatures using a conventional method in the presence of external flow of nitrogen gas. The surface chemistry for the SBA samples is characterized using Boehm titrations, pH measurement, ash content and scanning electron microscope integrated with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDAX). The semi-static steam method results in the formation of an SBA sample with acidic surface and higher carbon content as compared with the samples prepared by the conventional method. The metal contents of the SBAs are significantly different and depend on the methods of preparation. Nitrogen sorption isotherms are measured and used for the analysis of structure and porosity. The BET surface area for the SBA sample produced in the proposed method is calculated to be 838 m 2 /g. The SBA samples are then compared for adsorption efficiency of lead ions from aqueous solution, which is observed to be dependent on the microporosity and surface basicity.https://doi.org/10.1260/0263-6174.32.4.291
spellingShingle Yehya A. El-Sayed
Kevin F. Loughlin
Saeed ur Rehman
Dana Abouelnasr
Isam Al-Zubaidy
Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
Adsorption Science & Technology
title Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
title_full Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
title_fullStr Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
title_full_unstemmed Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
title_short Development of Semi-Static Steam Process for the Production of Sludge-Based Adsorbents
title_sort development of semi static steam process for the production of sludge based adsorbents
url https://doi.org/10.1260/0263-6174.32.4.291
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