Adsorption Mechanisms for Organic Pollutant Removal in Wastewater Treatment
Summary
Adsorption is a pivotal process for the abatement of diverse organic pollutants—such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, dyes and endocrine disruptors—from industrial and municipal wastewater streams. The efficacy of adsorption derives from the interplay of surface area, porosity and surface chemistry of the adsorbent with the physicochemical properties of the target molecules. Physical adsorption (physisorption) relies on van der Waals forces and hydrophobic interactions, while chemical adsorption (chemisorption) involves the formation of stronger bonds, often through electron sharing or transfer. Key mechanisms include π-π stacking between aromatic rings, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attractions and pore-filling effects. Process parameters such as pH, temperature, ionic strength and contact time govern equilibrium uptake and kinetics. Advanced adsorbents—ranging from activated carbon and biochar to carbon nanotubes, metal–organic frameworks and mesoporous silica—offer tailored pore structures and surface functionalities. Optimisation of these properties enhances selectivity and capacity, facilitating practical applications in textile effluent treatment, petrochemical wastewater polishing and removal of micropollutants in water reuse schemes.
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Technical terms
Adsorption capacity: Maximum mass of pollutant adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent under equilibrium conditions.
Isotherm model: Mathematical description of the equilibrium relation between pollutant concentration in solution and adsorbed amount at constant temperature.
Kinetic model: Mathematical framework describing the rate and mechanism of adsorption as a function of contact time.
Chemisorption: Adsorption process involving chemical bond formation between adsorbate and adsorbent surface.
Physisorption: Adsorption process driven by weak van der Waals forces without chemical bond formation.
π-π interactions: Attractive forces between aromatic rings of adsorbate molecules and aromatic or conjugated domains on the adsorbent.
References
- An Overview and Evaluation of Highly Porous Adsorbent Materials for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phenols Removal from Wastewater. Water (2020).
- Utilization of activated carbon derived from waste plastic for decontamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons laden wastewater. Water Science & Technology (2021).
- Activated carbon‐based magnetic composite as an adsorbent for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous phase: Characterization, adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances (2022).
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