Polyvinylchloride (PVC) based heterogeneous cation exchange membranes were prepared by the solution casting technique. The effect of super activated carbon nanoparticles concentration as filler additive in membrane matrix on ionic transfer behaviors of the membrane was studied. SOM images showed uniform particles distribution and relatively uniform surfaces for the membranes. The membrane water content was improved initially by using of super activated carbon nanoparticles up to 0. 5 %wt in the casting solution and then began to decrease by more increase of nanoparticles content ratios from 0. 5 to 4 %wt. Utilizing of activated carbon nanoparticles in the casting solution also led to increase of water contact angle, membrane ion exchange capacity, fixed ionic concentration, membrane potential, transport number and membrane selectivity obviously. An Opposite trend was observed for the membrane electrical resistance. The sodium flux/permeability was also enhanced initially by increase of nanoparticles concentration up to 0. 5 %wt and then decreased slightly by more increase of nanoparticles loading ratios from 0. 5 to 1 %wt. The sodium flux was sharply enhanced again by more increase of nanoparticles concentration form 1 to 4 %wt. The membrane transport number and selectivity were increased initially by increase of electrolyte concentration and then showed decreasing trend. The membranes showed higher transport number and selectivity at neutral pH compared to other pH values. The ED results showed that dialytic rate of lead ions was increased by utilizing of super activated carbon nanoparticles in the membrane matrix.

This paper presents a comparative study of the surface chemistry, texture, and adsorption properties of activated carbon and silicon carbide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon. Activated carbon has been prepared from the pulp of oak cups using a chemical activation method, with silicon carbide nanoparticles used to modify the surface of activated carbon. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, and points of zero charge determination are the methods that have been employed to determine the physicochemical properties of raw material, activated carbon, and silicon carbide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon, respectively. Results demonstrated that the activated carbon is composed mainly of micropores, with a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 1253.92 (m2/g), and that the attachment of silicon carbide nanoparticles changed the surface properties of activated carbon. The adsorption equilibrium of two azo dyes on activated carbon and silicon carbide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon was investigated using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. Experimental data were fitted to conventional kinetic models, including the pseudo-first-order, second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models. For all adsorbents, the removal process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Equilibrium adsorption parameters reveal that a higher adsorption capacity was found for silicon carbide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon. These features indicate that silicon carbide nanoparticle-activated carbon is a promising and new adsorbent for the removal of acidic dyes during wastewater treatment.

A green and simple method was proposed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPLs) on novel Activated Carbon (AC) using glucose and dextrin as reducers and stabilizers of silver ions. Semecarpus Anacardium (SA) nutshells, an agricultural waste, were used as precursors to prepare low-cost Activated Carbon (AC) with a high surface area by chemical activation with KOH as an activator and different ratios of activating agents to the precursor. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPLs) on AC samples were synthesized using chemical and green procedures. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPLs) on AC samples were synthesized using chemical and green procedures. Surface functional groups in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra and X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD) diffractograms including a broad peak in the range of 2θ =15–28◦ and a weak and broad peak in the range of 2θ =40–48◦, confirmed successful synthesis of AC. Also, the reduction of Ag+ to Ag0 and the presence of Ag2O were confirmed by XRD and SEM/EDX analysis. Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) reveals that the particles are spherical in shape and the Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs) images confirm the particle size distribution of the silver nanoparticles mainly in the range of 1–5 nm. EDX mapping was used to observe the exact distribution of silver nanoparticles on the planar carbon surface. The BET results indicate that the AC synthesized with the activating agent to precursor ratios of 1 has the highest surface area (717 m2/g) and the largest pore volume (0.286 cm3/g). Finally, the resulting Ag-AC was applied to study antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria by risk diffusion and the agar well method. Silver nanoparticles distributed on the activated carbon surface had significant antibacterial properties. The sample from green synthesis with an AgNO3 solution concentration of 0.1 M  showed the most antibacterial effect.

Volatile organic compounds are considered as a group of major environmental pollutants and toluene is recognized as one of the representatives. In this research, the photocatalytic activity for toluene removal was studied over TiO2 nanoparticles embeded on activated carbon. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted in a fixed-bed reactor equipped with 4 w and 8 w UV lamps (peak wavelength at 365 nm) to determine the oxidation rates of toluene. The photocatalyst was extensively characterized by means of X- ray diffraction and scan electronmicroscopy. Experiments were conducted under general laboratory temperature (25°C±2) while the irradiation was provided by the UV lamps. The dependence of the reaction rate on light intensity as well as the deactivation of the catalyst were determined. The results indicated that the rate of the photocatalytic process increased with increasing the intensity of UV irradiation. Using the UV-A lamps, the decomposition rate of toluene was 98%. The stabilized photocatalyst presented remarkable stability (no deactivation and excellent repeatability). The catalyst could be regenerated by UV irradiation in the absence of gas phase. The control experiments confirmed that the photocatalytic effects of toluene onto the TiO2/activated carbon catalysts in the dark conditions were negligible. Reproducibility tests proved that the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst remains intact even after several experiments of new added toluene quantities. The study demonstrated that the TiO2/activated carbon catalyst may be a practical and promising way to degrade the toluene under ultraviolet irradiation.

Nitrate contamination of water resources and the growing concentration of nitrate endanger human health and the environment and considering its reduction strategies from water resources is important. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions using granular activated carbon from grape wood coated with iron nanoparticles. The results showed that more than 99% of the nitrate was removed from the solution using granular activated carbon/nanoparticles zero valent iron (GAC/NZVI). The nitrate adsorption process by GAC followed the Freundlich isotherm (R2 = 0. 95) and NZVI and GAC/NZVI followed Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0. 96). Furthermore, the kinetic studies of all three adsorbents for nitrate adsorption showed the highest correlation with the pseudo-second order equation. According to the results of this study, it can be stated that activated carbon derived from grape wood coated by iron nanoparticles as a relatively cheap adsorbent is efficient in nitrate removal from water.