In this study, a facile and low-cost method for biochar (CLB) preparation from vegetable waste (cauliflower leaves) was developed at a low temperature (120 °C) in the air atmosphere. The prepared mechanism, adsorption mechanism, and performance of CLB for Cu(II) and Pb(II) sorption were investigated using Scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), and a series of sorption experiments. Then the CLB was subjected to single and double element sorption studies to examine the effect of pH value on the Cu(II)/Pb(II) sorption capacities and then competitive sorption priority. There are both more hydroxyl (–OH) and carboxyl (–COOH) functional groups on the surface of CLB compared to those from control (without H₃PO₄ impregnation), resulting in more ion exchanges and complexation reaction for CLB with Cu(II) and Pb(II). Besides, the phosphorus-containing groups (e.g., P = OOH, P = O.), which newly formed with H₃PO₄ impregnation, could also enhance sorption, especially for Pb(II), this way leaded to its adsorption and precipitation as Pb₅(PO₄)₃OH crystals. The performance of maximum adsorption capacities of CLB toward Cu(II) and Pb(II) were 81.43 and 224.60 mg/g, respectively. This sorption was slightly pH-dependent, except that the sorption capacity improved significantly as the pH value of the solution increased from 2 to 4. Competitive sorption experiment confirmed that Pb(II) had a higher sorption priority than Cu(II).

Soil enrichment with heavy metals plays a significant role in soil pollution which led towards buildup/accumulation of heavy metals in edible crops. This situation causes severe threats to sustainability of ecosystem and humans health. Bioavailability of heavy metals can be restricted by the...

Energy demand is increasing all over the world, and to fulfill this need, more energy is required to be produced. Coal power plants produce around 39% of energy, but during energy production, these coal power plants also generate waste in the form of coal fly ash (CFA). The reuse of CFA is the only solution to control this waste; fly ash can be used in different products. Therefore, this study utilizes CFA with rubber as filler materials in the rubber industry. There are different techniques (such as nozzle design technology, air classifier, and optimization of CFA to convert crushed fly ash into valuable microparticles. Treated CFA is applied to produce medium voltage insulated cables and fire resistance cables with different kinds of rubber, such as styrene–butadiene and Ethylene–propylene. The study found that by applying CFA in insulated cables, the elongation at break increased by 50%, and volume resistance 2.2 × 10¹⁶ Ω·cm, insulation resistance increased 70% by using CFA with magnesium in the recipe of insulated cables. The CFA increased the collection rate of cleaning by 30% using this technology, and product life expectancy increased by 5–20%.

Synthesized nanocalcium-silicate-hydrate (C─ S─ H) was successfully employed as an accelerator in portland cement. C─ S─ H nanomaterials were produced in this study utilizing a process that used separate nucleation and growth steps with varied solvent compositions. The effects of the water/alcohol volume ratio (W/A) in the combined solvent on the calcium silicon ratio, particle size, morphology of C─ S─ H nanomaterials, and compressive strength of portland cement were studied. The results reveal that when the W/A ratio decreased, the calcium to silicon (Ca/Si) molar ratio reduced, and the morphology of the C─ S─ H nanomaterials turned from micalike to mixed lamellar and granular, then to granular with a wrinkled surface, and finally to foillike. When the W/A was $3:1$ , the small particles (100 nm) of C─ S─ H nanomaterials had the highest W/A, whereas the large particles ($>200\mathrm{nm}$ ) had the highest W/A. C─ S─ H nanomaterials offered calcium silicate hydrate nucleation sites, altered C─ S─ H gel development modes, and enhanced the number of hydration products. The composition, particle size, and shape of C─ S─ H nanomaterials all influenced the compressive strength of the cement paste.