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, M. A. Gafur, Umme Sarmeen Akhtar, Md. Saiful Quddus, Fariha Chowdhury
Abstract
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 509.247m 2 g -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.