Page 17 - tech fest 2025 ב״ש חוברת תקצירים

Book of Abstracts | 2025 Europium Sorption Using Hydrogels of Kappa-Carrageenan, Chitosan and Salt
ChE-C-02
Amer Harame; amer91503@gmail.com
Advisors: Prof. Oshrat Ontman1, Prof. Adi Wolfson1 1SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, Be’er-Sheva
Europium is a rare-earth metal belonging to the lanthanide series and can be found in industrial wastewater, particularly from nuclear industrial processes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to remove this contaminant from wastewater to prevent environmental pollution and protect human health. This study examines the sorption of europium ions from aqueous solutions using hydrogel beads formed from kappa-carrageenan (1-2%W/V), chitosan (with various molecular weights), and a salt (CaCl2, KCl or FeCl3). It was found that the sorption efficiency was affected by the bead’s preparation procedure. Among the salts that were tested, KCl was the most efficient, whereas among the various chitosans tested, the lowest molecular weight was the most efficient. Additionally, lowering the europium concentration in the solution produced higher sorption yield.
Keywords: adsorption efficiency, chitosan, kappa-carrageenan, metal, polysaccharides, salt effect
The Effect of Flow on an Electrochemical Sensor for Cadmium Ion Detection
ChE-C-03
Amnon Abayev; amnon30.1.96@gmail.com
Advisors: Dr. Inna Levitsky1, Prof. Ariela Burg1 1SCE - Shamoon College of Engineering, Be’er-Sheva
Heavy metal contamination of water resources, particularly by lead, cadmium, and mercury, presents a major global environmental and public health challenge. Cadmium is highly toxic and requires precise, continuous monitoring. Electrochemical sensors based on square wave voltammetry (SWV) offer sensitive, real-time, and cost-effective methods for detection. This study investigates the impact of hydrodynamic conditions on the sensitivity and accuracy of an electrochemical sensor for cadmium determination at a concentration range of 0.25–1.5 ppm and flow rates of 20–120 L/h. Results show that flow rate has minimal impact on detection accuracy, with only slight signal variations observed at higher concentrations of cadmium. These findings confirm the reliability of SWV-based electrochemical sensors for cadmium detection in dynamic water systems.
Keywords: cadmium detection, electrochemical sensor, flow conditions, potentiostat system, water quality
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