Iron-engineered mesoporous biocarbon composite and its adsorption, activation, and regeneration approach for removal of paracetamol in water

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 227; p. 115723
• Main Authors: Sivarasan, Ganesan, Manikandan, Velu, Periyasamy, Selvendiran, AlSalhi, Mohamad S., Devanesan, Sandhanasamy, Murphin Kumar, Paskalis Sahaya, Pasupuleti, Raghavendra rao, Liu, Xinghui, Lo, Huang-Mu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 15.06.2023
• Subjects: Acetaminophen; Adsorption; Adsorption and electrochemical regeneration; Carbon; Fe2O3/C composite; Graphite sheet electrode; Iron - chemistry; Kinetics; Paracetamol removal; Tamarind shell biomass; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Purification - methods; Graphite sheet electrode; Tamarind shell biomass; Paracetamol removal; Fe2O3/C composite; Adsorption and electrochemical regeneration; FeO/C composite
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115723

Three-dimensional multi-porous Iron Oxide/carbon (Fe2O3/C) composites derived from tamarind shell biomass were synthesized by a single-step co-pyrolysis technique and utilized for Paracetamol (PAC) dismissal in the combined adsorption, and advanced oxidation such as electrochemical regeneration techniques. The Fe2O3/C composites were prepared by different pyrolysis temperatures, and named as TS750 (without Fe2O3at 750 °C), MTS450 BCs (Low-450 °C), MTS600 BCs (Moderate-600 °C) and MTS750 BCs (high-750 °C), respectively. As-prepared Fe2O3/C composite was characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, BET, and XPS analysis. The specific surface area and the spatial interaction between the interlayers of Fe2O3 and C were significantly improved by increasing the pyrolysis temperatures from 450 to 750 °C, which improved the adsorption capacity of Fe2O3/C composites in terms of higher rate constants and chemisorption kinetics. The Pseudo-second-order kinetics model fitted in the adsorption test results of Fe2O3/C composites with the highest correlation co-efficiency. The Langmuir-isotherms model fitted in the adsorption test of the TS750 and MTS450 BCs. The Freundlich isotherms model is more fit with MTS600 and MTS750 BCs. Based on the isotherm results, the MTS750 BCs achieved 46.9 mg/g of maximum PAC adsorption capacity. The optimized MTS750 composites could be completely recovered by using an advanced electrochemical oxidation regeneration approach within 180 min. Also, with the adsorption and recovery process, the TOC removal rate improved to ∼79.4%. After the 6th cycle electrochemical oxidation process, the obtained results of the re-adsorption test showed the stabile adsorption activity of the sorbent material. The data outcomes herein propose that this type of combined adsorption and electrochemical approach will be useful in commercial water treatment plants. •Fe2O3/C composites derived from tamarind shell was an effective adsorbent for Paracetamol (PAC).•PAC-loaded Fe2O3/C composites rapidly regenerate via EC oxidation with Graphite sheets.•To be continued electrochemical recovery process can degrade Paracetamol was efficiently.•Fe2O3/C nanocomposites are stable for 6 cycles of PAC adsorption and EC oxidation regeneration.