Agro-waste-based functionalized mesoporous activated carbon for the effective remediation of Cr (VI) from wastewater
摘要
This study investigates the potential of mung bean husk, an agricultural waste, as a precursor for producing activated carbon (ACzm) to remove Cr (VI) from water. ZnCl2 activation was employed to develop a mesoporous (2.30 nm) ACzm with a high surface area (1594.15 m2/g) and abundant functional groups. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated efficient Cr (VI) removal (97.88%) under optimal conditions (pH 2, temperature 25 °C, and adsorbent dose 1 g/L). Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models accurately described the adsorption process. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of Cr (VI) adsorption. Moreover, the AC exhibited good reusability, maintaining 87.94% removal efficiency after five cycles. This research highlights the potential of agricultural waste–derived AC as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for Cr (VI) remediation.