Adsorbent made with inexpensive, local resources

Abstract

An affordable local adsorbent was physically activated and modified to form a novel composite adsorbent. Similar processes were used to activate bentonite and limestone to create this low-cost local adsorbent. Furthermore, when compared to the inexpensive local resources, the innovative composite adsorbent showed improved adsorption capacity. Fouling brought on by sulphate-ion pollution is a significant problem in the wastewater treatment industry. In this work, a composite material known as Limestone and Bentonite composite, was developed, and its capacity to absorb sulphate ions from tainted wastewater was evaluated. Using the scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory, the chemical, elemental, and mineralogical properties, as well as the functional group interaction, of the limestone, bentonite, and LB composite were determined. The model wastewater initially included 900 mg/L of sulphate ions; however, the experiment showed that the new (LB) composite absorbed over 729 mg/L of sulphate ions. Its (LB) = 81% strong elimination effectiveness was observed. It was found that the ideal adsorption conditions were 250 rpm, 60 min, 900 mg/L, and 0.5 g/50 mL. Adsorption studies were carried out in batches. With a greater determination coefficient, the Freundlich model provides a more accurate prediction for adsorption processes, bolstering the theory that chemisorption is the actual adsorption process. These results demonstrate the novel composite adsorbent (LB)’s tremendous potential for sulphate ion absorption.

Keywords

• limestone
• bentonite
• adsorbent
• wastewater
• sulphate
• physical activation