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Research Article
Modelling and Optimization of Ceramic Water Filter Using Experimental Design
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
47-62
Received:
12 May 2025
Accepted:
28 May 2025
Published:
23 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajac.20251303.11
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Abstract: This study aimed to model and optimize the design of a ceramic water filter using an experimental design approach. The ceramic filter was fabricated from raw clay sourced from the Sè region, while rice husk and sawdust, served as the pore-forming material. The optimization process began with a screening of 11 factors using a screening design, followed by optimization through response surface methodology. The optimizations were performed using Minitab 17.1 software. The responses considered were water flow rate, turbidity, permanganate index, and absorbance at 254 nm. The results showed that filtration rates ranged from 0.01 mL/s to 3.44 mL/s, turbidity removal varied between 78% and 95%, permanganate index removal ranged from 75% to 96%, and E. coli removal was between 50% and 100%. The following conclusions were drawn from the experiment: (1) high flow rate values were achieved at higher hydraulic heads; (2) higher turbidity values occurred when the proportion of pore-forming material was low; (3) the proportion of pore-forming material and the applied hydraulic head jointly influenced the plasticity index; (4) proportions of pore-forming material between 20% and 25% tended to provide the highest reduction in the permanganate index; (5) E. coli removal was higher at lower proportions of pore-forming material, but the hydraulic head tended to reduce this removal. These findings offer new insights into the use of experimental design methodologies for the fabrication of ceramic water filters.
Abstract: This study aimed to model and optimize the design of a ceramic water filter using an experimental design approach. The ceramic filter was fabricated from raw clay sourced from the Sè region, while rice husk and sawdust, served as the pore-forming material. The optimization process began with a screening of 11 factors using a screening design, follo...
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Research Article
Electrooxidation of Oxacillin on a Boron-doped Diamond Electrode: A Voltammetric Investigation
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
64-73
Received:
20 May 2025
Accepted:
5 June 2025
Published:
23 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajac.20251303.12
Downloads:
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Abstract: The effectiveness of electrochemical techniques in preventing and resolving wastewater contamination issues has been demonstrated. However, this method requires knowledge of the organic pollutant's (Oxacillin: OXA) electrochemical behavior before electrolysis. The aim of this study is to enhance comprehension of the electrochemical process of oxacillin oxidation on the non-active boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode. These electrochemical properties, focusing on phenomena at the electrode/electrolyte interface, were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry. Effects of concentration of oxacillin, potential scan rate, number of potential scanning cycles, temperature and chloride ions that were investigated allowed for the acquisition of some parameters. This study showed that BDD electrode can be used to quantitatively determine the presence of this substrate in medicines and environmental samples. The process is irreversible and diffusion controlled and proceed in two ways: an indirect oxidation mediated by in situ oxidative species and a direct electron transfer at the surface of the boron-doped diamond electrode. Parameters of OXA electrooxidation, such as anodic transfer coefficient, heterogenous rate constant and activation energy were estimated as 1.09, 1.97×103 s-1 and 17.632kJ mol-1. The increase in temperature and the presence of chloride ions promote oxidation of OXA. This indicates electrochemical conditions adequate to oxidize oxacillin on boron-doped diamond anode.
Abstract: The effectiveness of electrochemical techniques in preventing and resolving wastewater contamination issues has been demonstrated. However, this method requires knowledge of the organic pollutant's (Oxacillin: OXA) electrochemical behavior before electrolysis. The aim of this study is to enhance comprehension of the electrochemical process of oxaci...
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Research Article
Process and Kinetic Study of PET Recycling Into PAT-Ac Ethanediol and PEAc by Hydrolysis Catalyzed by Excess Citric Acid Protonic Acid H+
Issue:
Volume 13, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
73-90
Received:
18 April 2025
Accepted:
3 May 2025
Published:
25 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajac.20251303.13
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Abstract: Recycling Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by hydrolysis using excess citric acid molecules as catalysts to generate H+ protonic acid sites had been undertaken. The products of this recycling process are PolyEster Citric Acid (PEAc), formed by the polyesterification of two citric acid molecules, Ethane Diol (ED) or ethylene glycol, and a new solid material called PAT-Ac, whose molecular formula is made up of one molecule of pure terephthalic acid (PAT) and two molecules of citric acid. Two procedures had been established, one for extracting the PEAc solution and the Ethane diol in acetone solution (AED-solution) using the usual organic solvents dichloromethane and acetone, and the second for extracting pure Ethane diol (ED) by vacuum evaporation using a rotavapor. This recycling was carried out in a laboratory glassware reactor, in a 1000ml cylindrical beaker covered by a funnel with a conical lid, capped but non-watertight, and therefore under atmospheric pressure at a temperature of 150°C. A kinetic study of this recycling process was carried out, using an acid-base assay with HF-0.0026N to follow the progress of the recycled TAP and deduce the evolution of PET conversion with reaction time; and an acid-base titration with NaOH-0.05N to quantify the H+ protonic acid sites coming from the acid catalysts of the citric acid molecules and deduce the evolution of the citric acid quantity in the reaction medium. This latter assay also enabled the determination of the PAT-Ac molecular structure. A reaction mechanism for this recycling of PET by hydrolysis, using excess citric acid molecules as a catalyst source of H+ proton active sites, is proposed and validated by the kinetic data collected during the various acid-base assays mentioned above. The maximum conversion of PET to PAT and ED recorded during the kinetic study is 34.49% after 20mn reaction time or 1.5114×10-3 [moles of PAT regenerated per Gram of PET load], or 7.5572×10-5 [moles of PAT regenerated per Gram of PET and per Minute]. In addition, the volume of ED collected is 17ml and the mass of PAT-Ac synthesized is 2.6 [g].
Abstract: Recycling Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by hydrolysis using excess citric acid molecules as catalysts to generate H+ protonic acid sites had been undertaken. The products of this recycling process are PolyEster Citric Acid (PEAc), formed by the polyesterification of two citric acid molecules, Ethane Diol (ED) or ethylene glycol, and a new solid ...
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