Heliyon (Jul 2023)

Waste newspaper driven activated carbon to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon from wastewater

  • Aynun Nahar,
  • Md. Ahedul Akbor,
  • Nigar Sultana Pinky,
  • Nushrat Jahan Chowdhury,
  • Shamim Ahmed,
  • Md. Abdul Gafur,
  • Umme Sarmeen Akhtar,
  • Md. Saiful Quddus,
  • Fariha Chowdhury

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 7
p. e17793

Abstract

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In this study, a carbon-based adsorbent was developed from waste newspaper through pyrolysis at 800 °C to evaluate the removal efficiency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP) and Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene (IP)) from wastewater. The surface area of the developed adsorbent was estimated at 509.247m2g-1 which allowed the adsorption of the PAHs from wastewater. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated at 138.436 μg g−1 and 228.705 μg g−1 for BghiP and IP, respectively and the highest removal efficiency was observed at pH 2. Around 91% removal efficiency was observed at pH 7 for both pollutants. Experimental adsorption data were fit for pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models, which demonstrate electrostatic interaction, monolayered deposition, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interaction between adsorbate and adsorbent which play a significant role in adsorption. The regeneration study described that the developed adsorbent could be able to intake 52.75% BghiP and 48.073% IP until the 8th and 6th cycles, respectively. The removal efficiency of the adsorbent in the real sample was also evaluated. This study will provide a method to convert waste material into adsorbent and will remove PAHs from wastewater as a function of pollutant mitigation and waste management.

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