Selective removal of zinc from single and industrial aqueous solutions using ecologically sustainable ceramic adsorptive aggregates

• Published in: Euro-Mediterranean journal for environmental integration Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 1243 - 1260
• Main Authors: Boussai, Khawla, Maherzi, Walid, Mosbahi, Mohamed, Dhahri, Mouldi, Abriak, Nor-Edine, Hamdi, Wissem, Mellah, Besma, Hamdi, Noureddine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2024; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Adsorptivity; Aggregates; Aquatic Pollution; Aqueous solutions; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bulk density; By products; Ceramics; Coffee; Cost analysis; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Engineering Sciences; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Management; Environmental Science and Engineering; Fluorides; Heavy metals; Industrial wastes; Metal industry wastewaters; Original Paper; Permeability; Phosphorus; Pollutants; Porosity; Steel industry; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Waste Water Technology; Wastewater treatment; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water treatment; Zeolites; Zinc; Natural zeolite; Sustainable materials; Nanoclay; Wastewater treatment; Coffee grounds
• ISSN: 2365-6433; 2365-7448
• DOI: 10.1007/s41207-024-00547-7

This research endeavors to develop ecologically sustainable ceramic adsorptive aggregate (CAAs) for zinc removal via adsorption techniques. The study synthesized three distinct CAAs employing natural zeolite (65 wt%), nanoclay (15 wt%), spent coffee grounds (15 wt%), and FeSO
4
.7H
2
O (5 wt%). The characterization of these CAAs included assessments of particle and bulk densities, specific surface area (SSA) and total porosity. The findings revealed particle densities ranging from 2.60 to 2.73 g/cm
3
, bulk densities between 0.54 and 0.64 g/cm
3
, SSAs from 40 to 90 m
2
/g, and total porosities of 49.6 to 60.9%. The adsorption kinetics were consistent with pseudo-second order and Elovich models, while the isotherm data were best described by Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson models. The CAAs demonstrated substantial Zn adsorption capacities, varying from 20 to 29.48 mg/g. Moreover, the application of CAAs proved effective in the removal of zinc and other metals from steel mill wastewater, suggesting that these aggregates represent a viable, cost-effective, and environmentally benign solution for wastewater treatment and various other environmental applications.