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Ali A, Siddique M, Chen W, Han Z, Khan R, Bilal M, Waheed U, Shahzadi I. Promising Low-Cost Adsorbent from Waste Green Tea Leaves for Phenol Removal in Aqueous Solution. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116396. [PMID: 35681981 PMCID: PMC9180375 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phenol is the most common organic pollutant in many industrial wastewaters that may pose a health risk to humans due to its widespread application as industrial ingredients and additives. In this study, waste green tea leaves (WGTLs) were modified through chemical activation/carbonization and used as an adsorbent in the presence of ultrasound (cavitation) to eliminate phenol in the aqueous solution. Different treatments, such as cavitation, adsorption, and sono-adsorption were investigated to remove the phenol. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) morphology of the adsorbent revealed that the structure of WGTLs was porous before phenol was adsorbed. A Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis showed an open chain of carboxylic acids after the sono-adsorption process. The results revealed that the sono-adsorption process is more efficient with enhanced removal percentages than individual processes. A maximum phenol removal of 92% was obtained using the sono-adsorption process under an optimal set of operating parameters, such as pH 3.5, 25 mg L−1 phenol concentration, 800 mg L−1 adsorbent dosage, 60 min time interval, 30 ± 2 °C temperature, and 80 W cavitation power. Removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) reached 85% and 53%. The Freundlich isotherm model with a larger correlation coefficient (R2, 0.972) was better fitted for nonlinear regression than the Langmuir model, and the sono-adsorption process confirmed the pseudo-second-order reaction kinetics. The findings indicated that WGTLs in the presence of a cavitation effect prove to be a promising candidate for reducing phenol from the aqueous environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmat Ali
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental Water Science in the Yangtze River Basin, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China
| | - Maria Siddique
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; (R.K.); (M.B.)
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (W.C.); Tel.: +92-992-383592 (M.S.); +86-13006374077 (W.C.); Fax: +92-992-383441 (M.S.)
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental Water Science in the Yangtze River Basin, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430078, China
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (W.C.); Tel.: +92-992-383592 (M.S.); +86-13006374077 (W.C.); Fax: +92-992-383441 (M.S.)
| | - Zhixin Han
- Geological Exploration Institute of Shandong Zhengyuan, China Metallurgical Geology Bureau, Tai’an 271000, China;
| | - Romana Khan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; (R.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; (R.K.); (M.B.)
| | - Ummara Waheed
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS University of Agriculture, Multan 59300, Pakistan;
| | - Irum Shahzadi
- Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan;
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