Fabrication of Biochar Materials from Biowaste Coffee Grounds and Assessment of Its Adsorbent Efficiency for Remediation of Water-Soluble Pharmaceuticals

Vuyokazi Zungu, Lungile Hadebe, Philani Mpungose, Izzeldin Hamza, James Amaku and Bhekumuzi Gumbi
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Vuyokazi Zungu: School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P.O. Box 54001, Durban 4001, South Africa
Lungile Hadebe: School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P.O. Box 54001, Durban 4001, South Africa
Philani Mpungose: School of Chemistry, Cape Town University of Technology, Bellville South Industrial, Cape Town 7530, South Africa
Izzeldin Hamza: Chemistry Department, Preparatory Year, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 715, Al Qunfudhah 28821, Saudi Arabia
James Amaku: Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 7267, Umudike 440101, Nigeria
Bhekumuzi Gumbi: School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P.O. Box 54001, Durban 4001, South Africa

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Biowaste coffee grounds have been recognized as an effective and relatively low-cost adsorbent to complement conventional treatment techniques for removing emerging contaminants (ECs) from the waste stream through modification to useful biochar. The purpose of this study was to make biochar from biowaste coffee grounds through the pyrolysis process and investigate its potential capacity for the removal of pharmaceuticals from water. The biochar was prepared by pyrolysis process under argon gas conditions, and its adsorption capacity for pharmaceuticals was evaluated. The as-prepared biochar shows a surface area of 232 m 2 g −1 . The adsorption of salicylic acid, diclofenac, and caffeine onto the biochar show adsorption capacities of 40.47 mg g −1 , 38.52 mg g −1 , and 75.46 mg g −1 , respectively. The morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, and specific surface area were determined by SEM, FTIR, XRD, and BET techniques, respectively. Kinetic results reveal that the experimental data fit the pseudo-second-order model and the Temkin isotherm model. In conclusion, these results illustrate the potential of biochar produced from biowaste coffee grounds could play an important role in environmental pollution mitigation by enhancing removal of pharmaceuticals from conventional wastewater treatment effluent, thereby minimizing their potential risks in the environment.

Keywords: biochar; biowaste coffee grounds; emerging contaminants; adsorption; pyrolysis; wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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