2018, Volume 64(68), Issue 2 (June)

Contents

pages 1- 8    Download

Simple Functionalization Methods of PET Waste Using Phenolic Compounds

OANA IONELA UNGUREANU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
ANCA MIHAELA MOCANU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
LAURA BULGARIU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, lbulg@ch.tuiasi.ro 

pages 9 - 19    Download
Abstract
The adsorptive performances of PET waste are very low, for most of metal ions and dyes from aqueous media, and from this reason their use as adsorbent in the environmental remediation processes, is inefficient. Increasing the adsorption capacity of PET waste involves improving of the number of superficial functional groups, and this can be generally done by the functionalization with certain chemical compounds. But most of functionalization procedure also implies the dissolving of PET waste in a suitable solvent, which is not so easy. In this study, two phenolic compounds (phenol and p-chloride-phenol) have been used for the dissolution and functionalization of PET waste, to obtain new adsorbent materials with applications in the environmental remediation. The preparation of these two adsorbent materials were detailed discusses to highlight the main advantages and disadvantages of each. Also, their adsorptive performances have been tested in case of Cu(II) ions removal from aqueous media. The experimental results have shown that the functionalization of PET waste with these organic compounds increase the adsorption efficiency of obtained materials for Cu(II) ions with more than 200% in case of PET waste functionalized with p-chloride-phenol and with more than 350% in case PET waste functionalized with phenol. This significant increase in adsorption capacity opens up new perspectives in the use of PET waste as adsorbent material for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous media.
Keywords: PET waste; absorbent material; functionalization; phenolic compounds; Cu(II) ions; aqueous media.

Efficient Fenton-Like Catalysis for Ibuprofen Degradation Under Solar Light Using Iron and Manganese Supported on ZnAl/Layered Double Hydroxides

MIHAELA DARIE, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
GABRIELA CARJA, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, gcarja@ch.tuiasi.ro

pages 21 - 31    Download
Abstract
Herein we report the fabrication of efficient photocatalysts for degrading ibuprofen from aqueous solutions by solar light by photocatalysis and photo-Fenton catalysis processes. Heterostructures composites of iron or iron-manganese (Fe = 10 wt%; Mn = 4 wt%) self-supported on the surface of zinc-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized by exploiting the manifestation of the LDHs "structural memory" effect in aqueous solutions of iron and manganese salts and further tested as catalysts. ZnAl anionic clay (as Zn2+/Al3+ molar ratio = 3) was obtained by coprecipitation method. The characteristics of Fe-Mn/ZnAl and Fe/ZnAl heterostructures were described by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and solid-phase UV-Vis spectrophotometric analyses. Photocatalytic and photo-Fenton studies were performed in batch mode using appropriate amounts of catalysts and H2O2 as Fenton reagent. The UNNASOL (US800, 250 W) solar simulator was used as an irradiation source and an UV-Vis spectrophotometer to monitor the ibuprofen concentration. The present study indicate that ibuprofen degradation for photo-Fenton process reached a high efficiency in the presence of Fe-Mn/ZnAl and Fe/ZnAl photocatalysts.
Keywords: nanocomposite; ibuprofen; Fenton; solar light; photodegradation.

Researches on the Biopesticides Obtained by Extraction with Non-Toxic Solvents and the Insecticide Effect on Deposit Pests

GABRIEL DARABAN, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
MARINELA BADEANU, "Ion Ionescu de la Brazi" University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Iași, Romania, Faculty of Horticulture
LĂCRĂMIOARA RUSU, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacău, Romania, Faculty of Engineering
DANIELA ȘUTEU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, dsuteu@ch.tuiasi.ro

pages 33 - 41    Download
Abstract
Ensuring food quality is a requirement of our days, because people have become self-aware with their own bodies, especially ensuring and maintaining the health and the quality of their life. In this context, is increasing tendency towards the consumption of products containing as small quantities of chemicals as possible, especially from the pesticide class. Recent data show that a growing number of essential plant oils have been tested against a wide range of arthropod pests with promising results. Vegetal extracts have shown high efficacy, multiple mechanisms of action and low toxicity on vertebrates. Making an overview of the scientific achievements in the field of biopesticides it were created the premises of the experimental study approach to find alternative solutions for the replacement of chemical pesticides which are used in agriculture and the food industry with biopesticides obtained from plants from the spontaneous flora of Moldavia and Bucovina areas. In this context it was being investigated the extraction of some chemical compounds with repellent and/or germicidal effect on pests deposit (insect beans - Acanthoscelides obsoletus).
Keywords: biopesticides; extraction; insecticide effect; vegetal extract.

Remediation of Aqueous Solutions Containing Zn(II) Ions by Using Wastes of Abies Alba Bark

LAVINIA TOFAN, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
CARMEN PĂDURARU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection , cpadur2005@yahoo.com
ION BUNIA, "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Iași, Romania
ROXANA LAURA MIHĂILESCU AMĂLINEI, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy
ANCA MIRON, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iași, Romania, Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy

pages 43 - 57    Download
Abstract
Batch sorption capability of Romanian Abies alba bark wastes for the removal of Zn(II) ions from diluted aqueous solutions has been investigated as function of initial pH, sorbent dose, metal ion concentration, temperature, and contact time. The ability of the bark waste for Zn(II) sorption exhibited a maximum at pH 4.5-5. The percent removal of Zn(II) from solution with an initial concentration of 71.4 mg/L varied from 15% to 87.9% for an increase of bark waste dose to 2 at 30 g/L. The equilibrium data are best explained by both Langmuir and Freundlich sorption isotherm. Thermodynamic parameters also favor the sorption of heavy metal ions under study on Abies alba bark. Kinetics of sorption follows pseudo – first order rate equation. This valuable use of Abies alba bark may not only convert this waste material into low- cost effective sorbent, but also provide a viable solution to its disposal.
Keywords: Abies alba;; bark; zinc; removal; waste.

Anthropogenic Pollution Due to Emission of Heavy Metals Generated from a Lignite Thermal Power Plant in Romania

DELIA NICA-BADEA, "Constantin Brâncuși" University of Târgu-Jiu, Romania, Faculty of Technical, Medical and Behavioral Sciences
LILIANA LAZĂR, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
BRÎNDUȘA MIHAELA SLUȘER, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, brobu@ch.tuiasi.ro
IGOR CREȚESCU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, icre@ch.tuiasi.ro

pages 59 - 73    Download
Abstract
This experimental study addresses to the distribution of heavy metals in the area of Turceni, as a result of anthropogenic pollution produced by one of the biggest Romanian coal combustion thermal power plant. The concentrations of various heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ni, Co, Cd, and Hg) in soil, vegetation and agricultural products was carried out by using a high resolution analytical technique (Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy). The monitoring area was located around the anthropogenic pollution sources i.e. inside the power plant, around the ash deposit, and in some rural communities located in the direction of current propagation where particles generated by the exhaust stacks combustion are predominant distributed. The concentration of heavy metals in plants is dependent on metal type, plant genotype, soil and environmental conditions, decreasing as a result of measures for limitation of emissions. The annual average concentrations do not exceed the maximum allowed concentration, but the enclosure of power plant and the deposit of slag and ash, which was not proved to affect the human health.
Keywords: heavy metals; atomic absorption spectrometry; anthropogenic pollution; thermal power plant.