Adsorption and thermal degradation of Atenolol using carbon materials: Towards an advanced and sustainable drinking water treatment. (October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: García-Rosero, Helena; Romero-Cano, Luis A.; Aguilar-Aguilar, Angelica; Bailón-García, Esther; Carvalho, Ana P.; Pérez-Cadenas, Agustín F.; Carrasco-Marín, Francisco
• Is Part Of: Journal of water process engineering. Volume 49(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10
• Subjects: Biocarbon -- Biomass derived activated carbons -- Atenolol adsorption -- Water hardness -- Thermal regeneration cycles; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Saline water conversion -- Periodicals; Seawater -- Distillation -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Sewage -- Purification -- Periodicals; 627
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.102987
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7144

Abstract

Abstract: With the aim to present an alternative material that can be used in adsorption/degradation processes to remove pharmaceutical pollutants present in water, a biocarbon was designed from Melia Azedarach stones. Material has a high surface area (1230 m 2 g −1 ) with mainly oxygenated groups; these properties give it exceptional characteristics for removing Atenolol. To show the versatility of the material, the adsorption of Atenolol in different water matrices was tested: Ultrapure water (0 mg L −1 CaCO3 ), solution model (200 mg L −1 CaCO3 ), and tap water from Lisbon city (80 mg L −1 CaCO3 ). The pseudo-second-order model can well describe the adsorption kinetics; kinetic constants obtained were: 75.70, 46.18, and 42.58 g mmol h −1, respectively. The adsorption isotherms are correctly described by the Langmuir model, obtaining maximum adsorption capacities of 1.83, 2.00, and 1.81 mmol g −1, respectively. Physisorption phenomena carry out the adsorption mechanism (E < 1 kJ mol −1 ) between the atenolol molecule, positively charged, and the material's surface, negatively charged, forming a monolayer onto the material's surface. Once the material was saturated, its regeneration was studied by employing thermal treatment at 450 °C. Results show a decrease in the surface area after treatment, resulting in a loss of adsorption capacity (30 %). This procedure makes it possible to achieve repeat cycles of adsorption-degradation until the adsorbent is completely exhausted. The results obtained show this new material as a promising adsorbent for wastewater treatment contaminated with pharmaceutical pollutants since it has higher adsorption capacities than those reported in the literature in different water matrices. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Atenolol removals were studied in ultrapure, simulated, and tap water from Lisbon. Synthesized material presents high microporosity without constrictions. Monolayer adsorption capacities of biocarbon are 2 mmol g −1 in Milli-Q water. Adsorption capacity was not affected by cations in solution (10 % loss in tap water). Regeneration is possible by thermal treatment achieving repeated adsorption cycles.