Lotfi Sellaoui

• Doctor of Physics
• Doctor of Physics at University of Monastir

This study reports the valorization of drinking water treatment sludge (DWTS) to remove antibiotics from water. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were used as model antibiotic molecules to analyze the removal capacity of DWTS. A detailed physicochemical characterization of this DWTS was performed including a leaching assay to determine its chemical...

An advanced theoretical analysis was performed to elucidate the adsorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-chlor ophenol on an activated carbon obtained from pine sawdust. In particular, a double layer adsorption model was used to estimate the number of chlorophenols molecules adsorbed per activated carbon functional group, the concentration of active...

Two britholites silicate Ca4Nd6(SiO4)6O were prepared by different synthesis methods and assessed to remove methylene blue (MB), as a relevant pollutant, from water. Milled and calcined samples of britholites were characterized by different technical. XRD analysis revealed the presence of only phase, whereas the morphologic study pointed out an imp...

This study presents a theoretical analysis of the adsorption process of pharmaceutical pollutants, specifically acetaminophen (ATP) and diclofenac (DFC), onto activated carbon (AC) derived from avocado biomass waste. The adsorption isotherms of ATP and DFC were analyzed using a multilayer model, which revealed the formation of two to four adsorptio...

Statistical physics modelling was performed to analyze the adsorption forces and the thermodynamics of the removal of nitrobenzene molecules using an activated carbon obtained from apricot stones. This adsorbent was prepared using phosphoric acid activation and exhibited a surface area of 1762 m2 g-1, total pore volume of 1.09 cm3 g-1 and an experi...

The adsorption of ammonium from water was studied on an activated carbon obtained using raw oil palm shell and activated with acetic acid. The performance of this adsorbent was tested at different operating conditions including the solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial ammonium concentration. Kinetic and equilibrium studies were carried out, a...

The removal of caffeine (CFN) and acetaminophen (ACT) from water using low-cost activated carbons prepared from artichoke leaves (AAC) and pomegranate peels (PAC) was reported in this paper. These activated carbons were characterized using various analytical techniques. The results showed that AAC and PAC had surface areas of 1203 and 1095 m2 g−1,...

The work deals with the removal of two dyes, namely methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), from polluted water by adsorption onto CuO nanoparticles synthesized with a green synthesis procedure, starting from plant resources. Adsorption isotherms are determined at different temperatures aiming at investigating the adsorption mechanisms of the t...

Textile dyes are one of the most commonly found pollutants in water, and it is necessary to remove them before textile industry effluents are released into the environment. In this study, cellulose-based adsorbents were prepared by grafting N1- (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-diethylenetriamine (TMSPDETA) on microcrystalline cellulose surface for the ads...

This paper evaluates the adsorption mechanism of perfluorooctanoic carboxylic acid (PFCA) and heptadecafluorooctane sulfonic acid (HFOSA) on magnetic chitosan for the first time via a statistical physics modeling. Magnetic chitosan (MC-CoFe2O4) was produced from shrimp wastes and used in standard batch adsorption systems to remove PFCA and HFOSA. T...

The adsorptive properties of the pesticides 2,4-D, mecoprop, and dicamba on a pinus-based biochar were scrutinized from conventional and statistical physics approaches. Firstly, the pinus-based biochar was prepared from Pinus elliottii and extensively characterized. Then, the conventional adsorption studies were made using kinetic equilibrium and t...

In this study, we aimed to produce a sustainable and efficient powdered activated carbon (SP-AC) and evaluate its adsorptive abilities to uptake and recover rare earth elements (REEs) from synthetic solutions containing lanthanum (La(III)) and cerium (Ce(III)), and real leachate, from phosphogypsum, containing several REEs. The adsorbent material w...

Trace pharmaceutical concentrations are commonly found in wastewater worldwide. The high polarity of these pollutant molecules and their low concentrations in the order of micro- nanograms per liter make them difficult to remove by conventional separation units installed in wastewater treatment plants and advanced purification processes. The accumu...

During the past decades, the removal and recovery of Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) have attracted considerable interest owing to their importance in several industrial processes. In the present work, green nanosponge adsorbents have been synthesized from a local and economic source of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and applied for the first time to La and...

The paper reports an experimental and theoretical work about the adsorption of paracetamol (PCM) and ibuprofen (IBP) onto a new activated carbon synthesized starting from the tree pods deriving from Erythrina speciosa. The adsorbent shows good porous properties, with a BET surface area of 795.1 m²/g, and an average pore volume of 0.422 cm³ g⁻¹. Ads...

A theoretical interpretation of the adsorption mechanism of tetracycline (TCCN) on biochar either in raw form (ADS1) or modified by chitosan-Fe/S (ADS2) is reported in the paper. An interpretative model is applied to the adsorption dataset, and considers that the adsorption of TCCN occurs with the formation of two layers on the investigated adsorbe...

This paper describes the removal process via adsorption of paracetamol (PRC) and ketoprofen (KTP) on activated charcoal prepared from the residue of the fruit of Butiacapitate. Some adsorbent characterizations are carried out for a plausible analysis of the adsorption results and for the description of adsorption mechanism. Modelling investigations...

In this paper, the adsorption of the herbicide 2,4-D and the drug ketoprofen on wheat husks Fagopyrum esculentum treated with H2SO4 is experimentally and analytically analyzed. The adsorbent is fully characterized through some techniques such as FT-IR, SEM, and XRD. Adsorption tests are carried out to optimize the performances in terms of adsorbent...

An activated carbon (AC) deriving from sludge is used in this research for the adsorption of two water pollutants, namely Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Green Alizarin (GA) dyes, at different temperatures. The adsorption capacities varied from 277.2 to 312.69 mg/g for GA and from 225.82 to 256.02 mg/g for RB5. Comparatively, this adsorbent presents goo...

In this work, the adsorption of Cd²⁺, Pb2+, and Hg²⁺ ions onto multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with COOH is investigated as a function of temperature (298-328 K). For all the investigated ions, adsorption shows the classical exothermic behavior, as adsorption capacity decreases by increasing the temperature. Moreover, a satura...

A novel modeling approach based on ab initio molecular dynamics, artificial neural networks and statistical physics has been applied to analyze, characterize, and explain the phenol adsorption on zinc oxide. Phenol experimental adsorption studies were performed with zinc oxide synthesized via the precipitation method. Adsorption equilibrium data we...

Lignin has been employed as a precursor to synthesize activated carbons with the aim of lignin-biomass revalorization. The properties of these activated carbons were compared, and the best adsorbent was employed to remove two emerging pollutants from water, acetaminophen and acetamiprid. The adsorption mechanisms of pharmaceutical and pesticide com...

Adsorption modeling via statistical physics theory allows to understand the adsorption mechanism of heavy metal ions.Therefore, this paper reports the analysis of the mechanism of copper ion (Cu2+) adsorption on four activated carbons using statistical physics models. These models contain parameters that were utilized to provide new insights into t...

Pharmaceuticals enter water bodies mainly through urban effluents harmful to the biota, inducing microbial resistance, and impacting hydric security. Activated carbon has been used for effluent treatment and associated with ferromagnetic nanoparticles can facilitate the separation of this adsorbent from an aqueous medium and improve the adsorption...

In this research, a functionalization of Physalis peruviana biomass with H2SO4 and its application in the adsorption of ketoprofen and 2,2-dichlorophenoxyactic acid is reported. In particular, the adsorption properties of this biomass were improved through a sulfuric acid treatment to enhance its removal performance of organic molecules. Surface ch...

Global warming can stimulate mosquitoes to proliferate and the consumption of repellents and insecticides. These formulations can have N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and permethrin, which were reported in water bodies, requiring sensitive methods for quantification. We propose changing the dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), a green e...

This work describes the modeling and analysis of methylene blue molecule on different adsorbents, namely, nickel alginate/graphene oxide (NA/GO) aerogel, nickel alginate/activated carbon (NA/AC) aerogel, and Trichosanthes kirilowii maxim shell activated carbon (TKAC). A multilayer statistical physics model was used to calculate the energetic and st...

The work reports a modeling analysis of single-compound and binary adsorption of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions from polluted water onto the activated carbon at room temperature. The homogeneous model for single adsorption (HM) and the exclusive extended monolayer model for binary adsorption (EEMM) are applied for the interpretation of the experimental data se...

The paper describes a theoretical analysis of the adsorption of nicotinamide and propranolol onto a magnetic-activated carbon (MAC). For a better evaluation of the adsorption mechanism, adsorption isotherms expressing the variation of the adsorption capacity as function of adsorbate concentration were determined at different temperatures ranging fr...

The analysis of thermodynamics and mechanism of the adsorption of cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead ions from aqueous solution with two keratin-based biomaterials, namely, human hair and sheep fur, is reported in this paper. The effect of initial ion concentration, temperature, pH, contact time, and biomaterial amount on the removal of these heav...

Lanthanum-based adsorbents have been used extensively to capture phosphate from wastewater. However, the attenuation effect that arises from the coexistence of sediment and humic acid is the major drawback in practical applications. The Lanthanum-layered rare earth hydroxides (LRHs)-Cl (La-LRH-Cl) was synthesized and achieved high elemental phospho...

Activated carbons and MOF-based composite were prepared from the ashitaba biomass and they were applied and compared in the adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solution. Surface chemistry of these adsorbents was characterized with different analytical techniques and results were used to analyze the corresponding adsorption interactions. Stati...

The statistical physics modeling is a reliable approach to interpret and understand the adsorption mechanism of both organic and inorganic adsorbates. Herein, a theoretical study of the adsorption mechanism of anionic dyes, namely reactive blue 4 (RB4), acid blue 74 (AB74), and acid blue 25 (AB25), on bone char was performed with a multilayer stati...

Quaternary adsorption of Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Ag⁺ ions on an adsorbent obtained from the alkaline fusion of wastewater treatment sludge was investigated. Adsorption tests in both single-compound and quaternary systems were carried out and the analysis of adsorption mechanism was done by the application of a new quaternary model. This model was deve...

This study reports the tailoring of surface chemistry of palm fibers via plasma for the adsorption of sodium diclofenac from aqueous solution. Surface functionalization of palm fibers was carried out with three feeding gases: humid air, air saturated with hydrogen peroxide and air saturated with sodium hydroxide. Functionalized palm fibers were phy...

A heterogeneous monolayer model with two types of binding site was utilized to analyze and interpret the adsorption mechanism of Fe³⁺, Al³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions on chitosan films at 25–55 °C and pH 6. Theoretical results of statistical physics calculations indicated that the adsorption of Fe³⁺, Al³⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions was multi-ionic where two adsorption sites...

In this paper, the Agaricus bisporus residue (ABR) is employed as an adsorbent to study the adsorption mechanism of two relevant dyes, namely Crystal Violet (CV) and Acid Red 97 (AR97). The adsorption mechanism is theoretically analyzed by application of models derived from statistical physics and the model parameters derived from the best fitting...

Lanthanum hydroxide engineered sewage sludge biochar for efficient phosphate elimination: Mechanism interpretation using physical modelling ; Science of the Total Environment 803 (2022) 149888

A theoretical assessment of the o-nitrophenol adsorption on layered double hydroxides containing different metallic species (Ca-Al, Ni-Al and Zn-Al) was performed. Experimental o-nitrophenol adsorption isotherms obtained at different adsorption temperatures with these layered double hydroxides were analyzed using a statistical physics monolayer mod...

In this paper, the adsorption process of methylene blue (MB) on Piaçava fibers (PF) was studied through a physical modelling analysis. A two-layer model was selected and used in data fitting. This model assumed that two adsorption energies were responsible for the formation of both layers. Results showed that the MB pollutant was removed via a simu...

The occurrence of pharmaceutical wastes, especially the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like diclofenac, in water resources is a relevant issue in the context of environment protection and depollution. Therefore, this paper reports the preparation and application of alginate/carbon films (AC-films) as a new adsorbent for the removal of diclof...

Statistical physics calculations were performed to analyze and interpret the steric and energetic parameters of the adsorption of 3-aminophenol and resorcinol on activated carbon obtained from the carbonization of avocado seed via microwave-heating and ZnCl2 activation. Experimental isotherms at 25 – 50 °C and pH 7 were analyzed and interpreted via...

The paper describes a theoretical analysis of the adsorption of amoxicillin (AMX) onto two activated carbons pyrolysed at either 600 or 700 °C (PAC-600 and PAC-700). Series of experimental data are carried out at different temperatures ranging from 10 to 45 °C, as this is the first key factor to explain the adsorption mechanism of this pollutant. A...

In many industrial sites, a series of various organic and inorganic co-contaminant species are simultaneously present in their aqueous discharges. This therefore justifies the recent interest and the choice of binary and ternary adsorption of three co-contaminant species to understand their competitive effects. Here we introduced two types of theor...

Recently, extensive researches implemented to decontaminate hexavalent chromium from industrial effluents. Even though, these processes were not comprehensively addressed in various environmental conditions. This paper investigated the reduction plus adsorption mechanism of [Cr2O7]²⁻ by thiol-based composite in wide range pHs. In this system, first...

Wide-ranging researches have been executed to treat groundwater from different mining areas, although complex behaviors of diverse metal ion species in the groundwater have not been illustrated clearly. This research study explored the mechanisms through which Pb(II) and V(V) are eliminated in single and binary-metal removal processes by oxygen, ni...

This paper reports the application of an advanced multilayer model to study the adsorption of food dyes FD&C blue No. 2, acid red 18, FD&C red No. 2, and FD&C yellow 5 from aqueous solutions with a chitosan film. These dyes' adsorption mechanisms were discussed and analyzed at 298-328 K and pH 4-7 via statistical physics calculations. Physicochemic...

The photodegradation of the reactive black 5 (RB5) with CdSe-MSA nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized by using mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) was studied. The quantum confinement effect was confirmed via the blue shift of absorbance band and higher energy band gap values. Photoluminescence (PL) emissions were riddled with low energy bands arising from the r...

Adsorption of two organic pollutants (2-nitrophenol: 2-NRP and ketoprofen: KTP) on activated carbon produced from wastes deriving from a winery industry is investigated in the paper. Experimental data retrieved at T = 298–328 K indicate that, in the investigated equilibrium concentrations, a saturation phenomenon is reached for ketoprofen, while fo...

The preparation, characterization and adsorption properties of an avocado seed hydrochar for heavy metal removal are reported in this paper. Equilibrium adsorption of Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions on this hydrochar was experimentally quantified at pH 5 and 298 – 313 K and results were used to interpret the role of surface functionalities via statistical...

A theoretical physicochemical and thermodynamic investigation of the adsorption of heavy metals Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cu²⁺on carbon-based adsorbents was performed with statistical physics fundaments. Particularly, the experimental adsorption isotherms of heavy metal removal, at 30°C and pH 5, using adsorbents obtained from the pyrolysis of three bi...

This study investigates, for the first time, the applicability of seed pods from Capparis flexuosa as an alternative biosorbent to remove methylene blue and bright blue from aqueous medium using continuous and batch systems. The biosorbent was characterized by different techniques, whose particles presented rough surface and large pores and functio...

The adsorption of ibuprofen (IBP) on raw and functionalized cocoa shell biomasses was studied via the statistical physics theory assuming a double layer adsorption process. The impact of molecular aggregation, steric and energy investigations on the IBP adsorption mechanism were analyzed and discussed. The theoretical calculations indicated that th...

Recently, the use of magnetic sorbents has gained a spread attention due to their eco-friendly characteristic, ease of separation and low cost. Herein, a novel biocomposite sorbent magnetic pine cone gel beads (MPCB) was synthetized and investigated for the single and the simultaneous removal of Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Pine cones w...

Recently, the potential dangers of viral infection transmission through water and air have become the focus of worldwide attention, via the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The occurrence of large-scale outbreaks of dangerous infections caused by unknown pathogens and the isolation of new pandemic strains require the development of improved methods of...

Statistical physics theory was used to interpret the adsorption mechanism of 4-Chloroaniline and 4-Bromophenol on an activated carbon which was prepared from cashew nut shell. The adsorption of these organic molecules fits with a single-layer model assuming a single adsorption energy among five mechanisms explored. Experimental data were successful...

A statistical physics modelling analysis was performed to explain the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) dye on both nano-silica (RNS) and microwave modified nano–silica (MMNS) in the temperature range of 25–55 °C. Interestingly, it was demonstrated that the MB dye adsorption occurred via the formation of two layers on surfaces of both RNS and MMNS....

An activated carbon with a high surface area and outstanding adsorption properties was prepared for dye removal from water. The new adsorbent was obtained from the chemical activation and pyrolysis of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). This activated carbon was employed to analyze and characterize the adsorption mechanism of three dye molecules:...

A heterogeneous physical model with two bindings sites (HPMTBS) was successfully used to explain the adsorption of Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cu²⁺ ions on flamboyant pods functionalized with citric acid. Experimental results and statistical physics modeling showed that carboxylic and phenolic functionalities of this adsorbent played a relevant role for...

Theoretical assessment and interpretation of the adsorption mechanisms of pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen and ampicillin) and dyes (orange G and malachite green) on a biomass functionalized with a plasma treatment are reported in this paper. This theoretical study was performed via a double-layer adsorption model that was formulated from statistical phy...

This work evaluated the potential of a synthesized faujasite-type zeolite Y as an adsorbent for the removal of relevant heavy metals such as silver (Ag⁺), copper (Cu²⁺), and cobalt (Co²⁺). The adsorption data of Ag⁺, Cu2+, and Co²⁺ ions were determined experimentally at pH 6 and temperatures of 298, 308, and 318 K. Two theoretical approaches have b...

Modeling analysis based on a statistical physics theory was used to explain the adsorption of Ag + and Hg 2+ on layered double hydroxides (LDH) functionalized with anions CO 3 2− , NO 3− , S 5 2− and MoS 4 2−. Theoretical adsorption models assuming different types of functional groups on LDH surface were tested and compared. A statistical physics m...

Non-selective and simultaneous adsorption of pharmaceutical compounds represents a real approach and a challenging task for researchers. Herein, the single and ternary adsorption of three pharmaceuticals acetaminophen (ACE), diclofenac (DFC) and tetracycline (TTC) on an organo-sepiolite (O-Sep) was studied via statistical physics modeling. A set of...

The mechanism of adsorption of Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Ni²⁺ on chicken feathers was studied via statistical physics theory. A detailed theoretical analysis was performed using three models that assumed the adsorption of these metal ions via one, two or three types of surface functionalities from chicken feathers. These surface functionalities corresponded t...

Over the past, extensive works executed to treat anionic and cationic heavy metal ions from wastewater. Although very few adsorbents were developed to adsorb anionic and cationic heavy metal ions from the same system. In this study, we explored the pH tunable complete reduction plus adsorption mechanism of Pb²⁺ and Cr2O7²⁻ by dithiocarbamate-based...

New impact factors 2019

This paper describes the adsorption of toxic pollutant 2-nitrophenol on ZnAl and MgFe layered double hydroxides. Mechanistic interpretation was provided via a statistical physics assessment. Experimental and theoretical results indicated that both adsorbents exhibit high adsorption capacities at saturation. In particular, the 2-nitrophenol adsorpti...

Sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic) and acetaminophen (analgesic) are classed as common Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) that have been detected in significant quantities in sewage treatment plants in Malaysia and other countries. Unfortunately, the conventional sewage treatment plants are not effective to reduce the concentrations of these compoun...

Copper-polluted water has a significant impact on environment and cause human health risks. In the present study, a polysulfone/zeolite blend flat sheet membrane was prepared and tailored to adsorb copper ionsfrom aqueous solution. Physiochemical and morphological characteristics of polysulfone/zeolite membrane were analyzed by SEM, EDX and FTIR. I...

Activated carbons were prepared from ashitaba waste and a walnut shell to study the adsorption mechanism of congo red and methylene blue dyes in aqueous solution. These adsorbents were characterized via XRD, FTIR and SEM techniques and the dye adsorption isotherms at three temperatures were quantified. A statistical physics model was applied to int...

Phenol is a toxic pollutant commonly found in industrial wastewaters. Thus, the objective of the present study consisted in removing this organic compound from aqueous solution using a clay from Morocco. Adsorbent characterization was performed using XRF, XRD, SEM, BET and FTIR techniques. Phenol adsorption isotherms and kinetics were experimentall...

The adsorption of dye sunset yellow (SY) on both raw and functionalized chitosan (CTN and CTNF) was investigated using statistical physics theory. Adsorption data of SY dye on CTN and CTN-F were experimentally obtained at 298–328 K. Statistical physics modeling analysis demonstrated that the adsorption capacities at 298–328 K of both systems were s...

Statistical physics-based adsorption models were used to provide a deep analysis of the single and binary adsorption of Pb²⁺ and CrO4²⁻ on an engineered biochar. New physical interpretations of the adsorption mechanisms of these pollutants were reported. Results showed that the adsorption capacities in binary systems were higher than those obtained...

The fast growth in the anthropogenic activities, that involve a wide use of pharmaceuticals, has led to the appearance of new toxic and hazardous chemical compounds, called “emerging pollutants”, which could cause unpredictable consequences to the ecosystems. The current review is focused on emerging pollutants occurring in food or air and include...