Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent

Water pollution due to the discharge of untreated industrial effluents is a serious environmental and public health issue. The presence of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) causes worldwide concern because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on aquatic life...

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Main Authors: Alhothali, Areej, Haneef, Tahir, Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza, Mostafa Moria, Kawthar, Rashid, Umer, Rasool, Kashif, Bamasag, Omaimah Omar
Format: Article
Published: MDPI 2021
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author Alhothali, Areej
Haneef, Tahir
Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza
Mostafa Moria, Kawthar
Rashid, Umer
Rasool, Kashif
Bamasag, Omaimah Omar
author_facet Alhothali, Areej
Haneef, Tahir
Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza
Mostafa Moria, Kawthar
Rashid, Umer
Rasool, Kashif
Bamasag, Omaimah Omar
author_sort Alhothali, Areej
collection UPM
description Water pollution due to the discharge of untreated industrial effluents is a serious environmental and public health issue. The presence of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) causes worldwide concern because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on aquatic life, human beings, and the environment. PAHs are pervasive atmospheric compounds that cause nervous system damage, mental retardation, cancer, and renal kidney diseases. This research presents the first usage of palm kernel shell biochar (PKSB) (obtained from agricultural waste) for PAH removal from industrial wastewater (oil and gas wastewater/produced water). A batch scale study was conducted for the remediation of PAHs and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from produced water. The influence of operating parameters such as biochar dosage, pH, and contact time was optimized and validated using a response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimized conditions, i.e., biochar dosage 2.99 g L−1 , pH 4.0, and contact time 208.89 min, 93.16% of PAHs and 97.84% of COD were predicted. However, under optimized conditions of independent variables, 95.34% of PAH and 98.21% of COD removal was obtained in the laboratory. The experimental data were fitted to the empirical second-order model of a suitable degree for the maximum removal of PAHs and COD by the biochar. ANOVA analysis showed a high coefficient of determination value (R2 = 0.97) and a reasonable second-order regression prediction. Additionally, the study also showed a comparative analysis of PKSB with previously used agricultural waste biochar for PAH and COD removal. The PKSB showed significantly higher removal efficiency than other types of biochar. The study also provides analysis on the reusability of PKSB for up to four cycles using two different methods. The methods reflected a significantly good performance for PAH and COD removal for up to two cycles. Hence, the study demonstrated a successful application of PKSB as a potential sustainable adsorbent for the removal of micro-pollutants from produced water.
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spelling upm.eprints-944602023-02-07T03:44:50Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/94460/ Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent Alhothali, Areej Haneef, Tahir Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza Mostafa Moria, Kawthar Rashid, Umer Rasool, Kashif Bamasag, Omaimah Omar Water pollution due to the discharge of untreated industrial effluents is a serious environmental and public health issue. The presence of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) causes worldwide concern because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on aquatic life, human beings, and the environment. PAHs are pervasive atmospheric compounds that cause nervous system damage, mental retardation, cancer, and renal kidney diseases. This research presents the first usage of palm kernel shell biochar (PKSB) (obtained from agricultural waste) for PAH removal from industrial wastewater (oil and gas wastewater/produced water). A batch scale study was conducted for the remediation of PAHs and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from produced water. The influence of operating parameters such as biochar dosage, pH, and contact time was optimized and validated using a response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimized conditions, i.e., biochar dosage 2.99 g L−1 , pH 4.0, and contact time 208.89 min, 93.16% of PAHs and 97.84% of COD were predicted. However, under optimized conditions of independent variables, 95.34% of PAH and 98.21% of COD removal was obtained in the laboratory. The experimental data were fitted to the empirical second-order model of a suitable degree for the maximum removal of PAHs and COD by the biochar. ANOVA analysis showed a high coefficient of determination value (R2 = 0.97) and a reasonable second-order regression prediction. Additionally, the study also showed a comparative analysis of PKSB with previously used agricultural waste biochar for PAH and COD removal. The PKSB showed significantly higher removal efficiency than other types of biochar. The study also provides analysis on the reusability of PKSB for up to four cycles using two different methods. The methods reflected a significantly good performance for PAH and COD removal for up to two cycles. Hence, the study demonstrated a successful application of PKSB as a potential sustainable adsorbent for the removal of micro-pollutants from produced water. MDPI 2021-11-01 Article PeerReviewed Alhothali, Areej and Haneef, Tahir and Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza and Mostafa Moria, Kawthar and Rashid, Umer and Rasool, Kashif and Bamasag, Omaimah Omar (2021) Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (21). art. no. 11506. pp. 1-18. ISSN 1660-4601 https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/21/11506 10.3390/ijerph182111506
spellingShingle Alhothali, Areej
Haneef, Tahir
Ul Mustafa, Muhammad Raza
Mostafa Moria, Kawthar
Rashid, Umer
Rasool, Kashif
Bamasag, Omaimah Omar
Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title_full Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title_fullStr Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title_short Optimization of micro-pollutants’ removal from wastewater using agricultural waste-derived sustainable adsorbent
title_sort optimization of micro pollutants removal from wastewater using agricultural waste derived sustainable adsorbent
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