Sk. Md. Equeenuddin

Bio: Sk. Md. Equeenuddin is an academic researcher from National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. The author has contributed to research in topics: Acid mine drainage & Sediment. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 38 publications receiving 830 citations. Previous affiliations of Sk. Md. Equeenuddin include Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur & Indian Institutes of Technology.

Recovery of metals and other beneficial products from coal fly ash: a sustainable approach for fly ash management

Abstract: Increasing production and disposal of coal fly ash (CFA) is a matter of serious environment concern. However, CFA contains various beneficial metals and mineral matters whose demand is increasing in the industrialized world, while natural supplies are diminishing. Therefore, recovery of these potential resources from CFA can be an alternative way to save mineral resources, as well as to reduce the environmental burden of CFA disposal. There are numerous methods developed for the recovery of beneficial products from CFA. Based on the US patents and journal literatures, the present review describes the recovery status and technologies of major elements such as Al, Si, Fe and Ti, and trace elements such as V, Ga, Ge, Se, Li, Mo, U, Au, Ag, Pt groups and rare earth elements (REEs) and other beneficial products such as magnetic materials, cenospheres, and unburned carbon from CFA. It also highlights the recovery efficiency and drawbacks for their extraction, and suggests future research to develop satisfactory results in terms of selective recovery and purification.

Evaluation of the use of an alkali modified fly ash as a potential adsorbent for the removal of metals from acid mine drainage

Abstract: The coal fly ash (FA), mainly containing high unburnt carbon was modified by alkali hydrothermal treatment. The modified fly ash (MFA) contains lower amounts of Si and Al and has a higher surface area and pH than the untreated fly ash (FA). The objective of this study is to investigate the potential of MFA as a low cost adsorbent material for the removal of Al, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn and Mn from acid mine drainage (AMD). The effect of dose, contact time and competing cations on the adsorption of metals was investigated. The results showed that the sorption process onto MFA was initially rapid, but slowed down thereafter. The optimum time for metal uptake was 180 min while the optimum dose of MFA for metal removal was 120 g/L. The adsorption data best fit to the Freundlich isotherm model, which demonstrates that the adsorption process is controlled by the heterogeneous nature of the adsorbent. Adsorption kinetics of Al, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn onto MFA follow a pseudo second-order reaction, which implies that chemisorption is the adsorption rate-limiting step for them, while for Mn it is intra-particle diffusion. Preliminary treatment of real mine drainage from Jaintia Hills coalfield indicates that MFA can be an effective and low-cost adsorbent for the treatment of AMD. The desorption data show that most of the metal ions were substantially desorbed in the acidic media, implying that the adsorbent can be regenerated and reused efficiently.

Naturally occurring iron oxide nanoparticles: morphology, surface chemistry and environmental stability

Abstract: The widespread nanostructures of iron oxides and oxyhydroxides are important reagents in many biogeochemical processes in many parts of our planet and ecosystem. Their functions in various aspects are closely related to their shapes, sizes, and thermodynamic surroundings, and there is much that we can learn from these natural relationships. This review covers these subjects of several phases (ferrihydrite, goethite, hematite, magnetite, maghemite, lepidocrocite, akaganeite and schwertmannite) commonly found in water, soils and sediments. Due to surface passivation by ubiquitous water in aquatic and most terrestrial environments, the difference in formation energies of bulk phases can decrease substantially or change signs at the nanoscale because of the disproportionate surface effects. Phase transformations and the relative abundance are sensitive to changes in environmental conditions. Each of these phases (except maghemite) displays characteristic morphologies, while maghemite appears frequently to inherit the precursor's morphology. We will see how an understanding of naturally occurring iron oxide nanostructures can provide useful insight for the production of synthetic iron oxide nanoparticles in technological settings.