Sari Tuomikoski

• D.Sc
• Senior research fellow (university researcher) at University of Oulu

This study investigates the synthesis of UiO-66-NH2@HTC composites, focusing on the control of surface charge, textural properties, and crystallinity. Surface charge modification was achieved through activation processes to enhance affinity for specific pollutants. By utilizing ZrCl4 and ZrOCl2.8H2O precursors, the textural properties were optimize...

In this study, cost-effective alkali-activated materials made from industrial side streams (blast furnace slag and Na-jarosite) were developed for catalytic applications. The catalytic activity of the prepared materials was examined in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation reactions of a bisphenol A in an aqueous solution. All materials prepared reveale...

Due to the increased application of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the number of spent LIBs has increased significantly in recent years, which has resulted in new waste management challenges for the recycling industry. The recycling of spent LIBs has gained enormous interest globally, as this can mitigate resource shortages and reduce the detrimenta...

Struvite is a suitable fertilizer, and electrochemical precipitation of nutrients from industrial waters provides one answer to the circular economy. Molar ratio between ammonium and phosphate is crucial: Water suitable for the precipitation includes more or at least the same amount ammonium than phosphate. That kind of water typically does not exi...

Five alkali-activated analcime (ANA) sorbents (ANA-MK 1, ANA 2, ANA 3, ANA-MK 4, and ANA-MK 5) were developed for ammonium (NH4+) ion removal. Acid treatment and calcination were used as pre-treatments for analcime, and metakaolin (MK) was used as a blending agent in three sorbents. Sorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of sor...

In this study, three different electrocoagulation (EC) sludges were studied as an adsorbent (removal of humic acids) and as a catalyst [catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA)]. The sludges originated from electrocoagulation process in which aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes were used for the treatment of mining industry w...

The aim of this study was to examine the removal of ammonium ions from a synthetic model solution by using Na-zeolite-based geopolymers. Na-zeolite (=analcime) is a residue from mining industry. Three adsorbents were prepared from Na-zeolite using different production steps and metakaolin as a blending agent. These novel adsorbents were investigate...

Struvite (NH4MgPO4*6H2O) is a slow-release fertilizer produced from phosphorus and nitrogen-containing wastewater in the presence of Mg salts. Commercial Mg salts are the single most significant cost of struvite precipitation. In this study, H2SO4 formed as an industrial sidestream was used to prepare MgSO4 solution from waste dolomite (DOL) and fl...

In this study, a technical scheme of an ammonium recovery process from diluted municipal or industrial wastewaters was developed, and the main operational parameters of adsorption/desorption and air-stripping/acid-scrubbing or membrane units were examined. The proposed approach combines the removal of ammonium nitrogen by an ion-exchange mechanism...

The aim of this work is to produce highly porous and stable alkali-activated material (AAM) prepared from two combinations of sodium (Na)- and potassium (K)-based alkali solutions (NaOH/Na2SiO3 and KOH/K2SiO3). The reactive metakaolin as precursor and AAM were characterized using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy...

Naturally occurring layered double hydroxide mineral, brucite (BRU), was compared with hydromagnesite (HYD) and a commercial Mg-rich mineral adsorbent (trade name AQM PalPower M10) to remove antimony (Sb) from synthetic and real wastewaters. The BRU and HYD samples were calcined prior to the experiments. The adsorbents were characterized using X-ra...

This study utilised pulp and paper mill sludge as a carbon source to produce activated biochar adsorbents. The response surface methodology (RSM) application for predicting and optimising the activated biochar preparation conditions was investigated. Biochars were prepared based on a Box-Behnken design approach (BBD) with three independent factors...

In the field of electrocoagulation (EC), various studies on pollutant removal and on the use of different EC technologies have already been made. An EC process generates sludge, which is considered waste, resulting in increased operational costs that come from waste disposal. Sludge contains valuable materials, such as the nutrients or metals remov...

Alkali-activated adsorbents were synthesized by mixing three different slags from the steel industry: blast furnace slag (BFS), ladle slag (LS), and Lintz–Donawitz converter slag (LD). These powdered slag-based geopolymers (GP) were used to remove nickel(II) from aqueous solutions in fixed-bed column studies. The experiments were conducted in pH 6...

New carbonized biomass–metakaolin (PSD/MK_Fe) granular composite catalyst materials were manufactured for the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of bisphenol A (BPA). These catalysts were characterized using different analytical and spectroscopic techniques, and results showed that the catalysts’ final properties were influenced by the addition of...

Activated carbon from sawdust was produced with an environmentally friendly process involving single‐stage carbonization and activation with steam at 800°C. Production process is scalable because lignocellulosic biomass is ubiquitous worldwide as a waste or as a virgin material. Single‐stage production without any cooling steps between carbonizatio...

Batch electrocoagulation (BEC), continuous electrocoagulation (CEC), and chemical precipitation (CP) were compared in struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) precipitation from synthetic and authentic water. In synthetic water treatment (SWT), struvite yield was in BEC 1.72, CEC 0.61, and CP 1.54 kg/m3. Corresponding values in authentic water treatment (AWT) were...

Wastewaters and agricultural sludges can contain high concentrations of phosphate and ammonium-or nitrate-nitrogen, which run off easily to waterways causing eutrophication in water bodies. However, it is possible to precipitate phosphate and ammonium as struvite and use it as recycled fertilizer. In this research, MgSO 4 solution obtained by treat...

Sawdust was used as a precursor for the production of biomass-based activated carbon. Carbonization and activation are single-stage processes, and steam was used as a physical activation agent at 800 °C. The adsorption capacity towards zinc was tested, and the produced activated carbon proved effective and selectively adsorbent. The effects of pH,...

Phosphorus as phosphate and nitrogen as ammonium or nitrate are the main nutrients in wastewaters and agricultural sludges. They runoff easily to waterways and cause eutrophication in water bodies. However, ammonium and phosphate could be precipitated simultaneously and used as recycled nutrients. In this research, MgSO4 solution obtained by treati...

Phosphorus as phosphate and nitrogen as ammonium or nitrate are the main nutrients in wastewaters and agricultural sludges. They runoff easily to waterways and cause eutrophication in water bodies. However, ammonium and phosphate could be precipitated simultaneously and used as recycled nutrients. In this research, dolomite calcined at 650 °C, 750...

The wet granulation process was used to prepare new, efficient, and cost-effective granular biomass-based composite catalysts for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of bisphenol A (BPA). The most stable composite granules was prepared by mixing biomass-based carbon residue (CR) with metakaolin (MK) combined with calcium oxide (CaO) or cement a...

Biomass-based carbon was modified and used as an efficient bisphenol A (BPA) sorbent. The simple and environmentally friendly modification method produced sorbent with a capacity of 41.5 mg/g. The raw material was modified with FeCl3 (Fe-CR), treated with hydrochloric acid (H-CR) or modified with CaCl2 (Ca-CR). Batch sorption experiments were perfo...

Sulfate (SO42-) is a ubiquitous anion in natural waters. It is not considered toxic, but it may be detrimental to freshwater species at elevated concentrations. Mining activities are one significant source of anthropogenic sulfate into natural waters, mainly due to the exposure of sulfide mineral ores to weathering. There are several strategies for...

This paper provides a fundamental and critical review of biomass application as a reducing agent and fuel in integrated steelmaking. The basis for the review is derived from the current process and product quality requirements that also biomass-derived fuels should fulfill. The availability and characteristics of different sources of biomass are di...

Biomass-based carbon residue (CR) was used as a support material for iron catalysts to degrade bisphe- nol A (BPA) in catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO). According to the results, CR and Fe/CR catalysts are suitable materials for CWPO. The Fe catalysts were prepared by either incipient wet impregnation or wet impregnation methods with an iron...

Novel, low-cost, geopolymer-based material for catalytic applications was developed from industrial by-product, blast-furnace-slag (BFS). Geopolymers are inorganic polymers which can be prepared from alumino-silicate precursors in mild conditions (room temperature, using non-hazardous chemicals). The geopolymers were synthesized by mixing BFS with...

Biomass-based carbon was granulated in order to produce novel, porous and stable catalytic materials for catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO). In granulation process the influence of different factors (e.g. agitation rate, time, amount of liquid, binder) were examined. The characteristics of the produced granules were studied by measuring their physi...

Ammonium (NH4+) removal from explosive agent residues containing mining effluents represents a challenge, especially in cold climate conditions. As environmental agencies are now starting to demand ammonium removal at mine sites in e.g. Finland and Sweden, innovative new methods are required. Different kinds of natural zeolites are the most studied...

Analcime and commercial zeolite were employed as a precursor for preparing sorbent material for SO42- removal overbarium modification. Three sorbents were prepared: barium-modified analcime (ANA-Na-Ba), barium-modified acid washed analcime (ANA-Ac-Na-Ba) and barium-modified zeolite (ZSM5-Na-Ba). Of the prepared materials, ANA-Ac-Na-Ba was the most...

Activated carbon is one of the most widely applied adsorbent. As a porous carbon, it is used for the purification of both gaseous and liquid emissions. Activated carbon is prepared from fossil resources, such as coal, or from biomass through (hydro)thermal processing followed by chemical and/or physical activation. Further, some biomass thermal tre...

Activated carbon (AC) is used in numerous industrial processes as a catalyst support. Typically, AC has been produced from different kind of carbonaceous materials such as coal and cellulosic materials. Due to AC’s high price and energy consuming production process other alternatives for this material should be look for. In the biomass gasification...

Blast-furnace slag and metakaolin were geopolymerised, modified with barium or treated with a combination of these methods in order to obtain an efficient SO42− sorbent for mine water treatment. Of prepared materials, barium-modified blast-furnace slag geopolymer (Ba-BFS-GP) exhibited the highest SO42− maximum sorption capacity (up to 119 mg g−1) a...

Carbon residue, by-product from biomass gasification process, was used as a precursor for sorbent production. The raw material was activated chemically by using ZnCl2 and produced sorbent was used in the removal anions (phosphate, nitrate and sulphate) and cations (iron(II), copper(II) and nickel(II)) in aqueous solution. Batch sorption experiments...

Sulphate removal from mine water is a problem because traditional chemical precipitation does not remove all sulphates. In addition, it creates lime sediment as a secondary waste. Therefore, an inexpensive and environmental-friendly sulphate removal method is needed in addition to precipitation. In this study, carbon residues from a wood gasificati...

Different bio-based raw materials have been carbonized and activated to produce activated carbons.

Carbon residue obtained as a by-product from wood gasification process was employed as a precursor for preparing adsorbent by physical activation. Adsorbent with BET surface area 590 m2 g−1 and pore volume of 0.335 cm3 g−1 was prepared and used as an adsorbent for phosphate and nitrate removal. The optimal pH and initial concentrations for phosphat...

Gasification is an energy conversion method for the utilisation of biomass for obtaining energy (heat and power). In the gasification process carbon residue is formed as a waste. For improving the cost-effectiveness of the gasification process the utilisation of this waste is important and the present legislation also creates requirements for the u...

Carbon residue is a by-product from the biomass gasification process in which heat and power are generated. In this study, carbon residue was chemically activated and the effect of this activation process on the adsorption properties was investigated. A chemically activated carbon residue was used as an adsorbent for the removal of phosphate and ni...

Suitable adsorbent material to phosphate removal was produced from carbonaceous waste material.

The aim of this research was to study the physical and chemical properties of fly ashes from combustion process and carbon residue from gasification process whilst comparing the results between these two types of solid residues, as well as against literature values. Ashes from the combustion process and carbon residue from gasification process are...

Recycling of waste materials provides an economical and environmentally significant method to reduce the amount of waste. Bioash formed in the gasification process possesses a notable amount of unburned carbon and therefore it can be called a carbon residue. After chemical activation carbon residue could be use to replace activated carbon for examp...

Characterization and comparison of ashes formed during wood burning and gasification was done.