Polyaromatic hydrocarbon removal from wastewater using sustainable carbon-based adsorbents: A recent update

Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are severely toxic and degradation-resistant pollutants of environmental distress. They regularly pollute water systems, presenting significant risks to ecosystems and public health. PAH exposure leads to cancer, affects embryonic development and immune systems of various life forms. Biomasses possess remarkable surface properties with distinct functional groups exhibiting enhanced affinity towards xenobiotics. Utilization of sustainable carbon-based adsorbents, when employed for PAH removal, offer an additional advantage of waste reutilization, thereby employing the rules of circular bioeconomy. In this context, the present review provides a detailed insight into emerging research in the synthesis and application of sustainable carbon-based adsorbents in PAH removal. A thorough understanding of various sustainable adsorbent types, and the adsorptive mechanism, substantiated by kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics is presented in this review. Additionally, the drawbacks, challenges, and future perspectives to overcome them are also elaborated upon.