Development And Evaluation of Biopolymer-Based Composite Adsorbents for Effective Wastewater Pollutant Removal
Keywords:
Biopolymer-based composite, wastewater treatment, adsorption, pollutant removal, composite adsorbent, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, regeneration, sustainable water treatment.Abstract
Wastewater contamination by dyes, heavy metals, and other pollutants has created a significant environmental challenge, emphasizing the need for efficient, sustainable, and low-cost treatment materials. The present study focused on the development and evaluation of a biopolymer-based composite adsorbent for effective wastewater pollutant removal. The composite was prepared using a suitable biopolymer and functional modification approach and was characterized for its structural, morphological, and surface properties. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, initial pollutant concentration, and solution pH on pollutant removal efficiency. The developed composite demonstrated favorable adsorption performance, with pollutant removal increasing with adsorbent dose and contact time until an optimum condition was reached. Adsorption equilibrium and kinetic studies indicated favorable interaction between the pollutants and active sites of the composite. Regeneration studies further demonstrated satisfactory reusability, with approximately 87% of the initial removal efficiency retained after four adsorption–desorption cycles. Overall, the findings indicated that the developed biopolymer-based composite had considerable potential as an environmentally friendly, reusable, and effective adsorbent for wastewater treatment. The study supports the use of biopolymer-derived materials as sustainable alternatives to conventional adsorbents.
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