Enhanced Adsorption of Iron and Manganese from Water Using Nano-Metal-Oxide-Biochar Derived from Agricultural Waste

Abstract Submission: Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in contaminated groundwater pose significant environmental and health risks. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and performance of a composite adsorbent prepared by coating of nano-metal oxide (NMO) on biochar derived from date palm waste to remove Fe and Mn from polluted water. The adsorption kinetics of Fe and Mn are evaluated using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. This composite material exhibited an adsorption capacity of 3.169 mg/g and 4.151 mg/g for manganese and iron on biochar, as well as 4.33 mg/g and 4.859 mg/g on NMO, respectively. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models confirmed that monolayer adsorption predominantly governs the removal process, with adsorption capacities reaching 32.28 mg/g for Fe and 31.97 mg/g for Mn in column study at an optimal flow rate of 7 ml/min. In addition, values for R2 provide goodness of fit for the Adam-Bohart and Thomas models. Comprehensive analyses, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), are conducted to evaluate the structural properties of the NMO-biochar composite. The findings suggest that the NMO-biochar, derived from sustainable agricultural waste, is a viable and eco-friendly solution for removing Fe and Mn from contaminated water sources that can contribute to improving water quality management.

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