Iranian Journal of

Backgrounds and Objectives: High level of nitrate ion in the water resources cause some health and environmental problems. The aim of this research is to study nitrate removal by Zero-Valent Magnesium (ZVM) and MgCl2-modified pumice from aqueous solutions.
Materials and Methods: The pumice granules were modified by MgCl2 . The removal of nitrate was studied in a batch system. The pH, initial nitrate concentration and sorbent mass parameters and the Langmuir and Freundlich models were studied in the sorption of nitrate onto the pumice. The ZVM was also used in a bach system and the previous parameters were studied.
Results: The removal efficiencies of nitrate by ZVM at the the initial pH of 3, 5 and 7 with controlling the pH were 70%, 40% and 30% ,respectively. These values are much higher than the values of the condition during which the pH was not controled. The nitrate removal efficiency increased by increasing of initial nitrate concentration in a constant molar ratio of Mgo/NO3. The removal efficiencies of nitrate by the modified pumice at the the initial pH of 3, 6.5 and 10 (when pH kept under control) were 49%, 29% and 16%, respectively. By increasing of the initial nitrate concentration the removal efficiency increased. The values of R2 for the Langmuir and Freundlich models were 0.944 and 0.810, respectively. The sorption process Fitted well the Langmuir model with a monolayer sorption capacity of 0.68 mg/g.
Conclusion: The modified pumice had lower efficiency than ZVM in the removal of nitrate ion and its usage is not considerably affected bye the pH in comparison with ZVM. The pH of the solution should be cansiderd as a main controling parameter to get an optimum efficiency in the nitrate-ZVM process.

Background and Objectives: Phenol is a toxic and persistent substance in the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of silica aerogel synthesized using sodium silicate in the adsorption of phenol from aqueous solutions.

Material and Method: Silica aerogel was prepared by Sol-Gel process. The influence of effective variables such contact time, initial pH of the solution, adsorbent dose, and initial phenol concentration on the adsorption efficiency was investigated. The characterization of prepared silica aerogel and confirmation of phenol adsorption was determined through SEM, XRD analysis and NMR, FTIR spectra respectively. The adsorption data was evaluated via Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetics.

Results: This research found that the phenol adsorption efficiency increased by increasing pH from 3 to 11, so that after 60 min, the absorption efficiency at the 100 mg/L initial phenol concentration and 0.5 g adsorbent obtained 84 and 96.4 % at pH 3 and 11, respectively. The SEM image and XRD patternof synthesized silica aerogel confirmed the creation of porous and amorphous structure. After the phenol absorption, the NMR and FTIR spectra of silica aerogel, confirmed the creation of new bands because of phenol molecule at the adsorbent structure. The absorption of phenol was compatible with Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic. The maximum absorption capacity (q_m) obtained was 47.39 mg/g.

Conclusion: Silica aerogel as an adsorbent, due to special characteristics in the structure and usage, can be a promising treatment process for adsorption of toxic and persistent substances.