Effective acrylamide adsorption in aqueous environments using maize straw nanobiochar (MNBC)

High concentrations of pollutants can harm the air, water, and soil, which negatively impact the quality of life. It is thus crucial to determine the most efficient process for removing these pollutants. Nano-biochar adsorption is a great method for cleaning pollutants due to its large surface area and versatility. It is a cheap and eco-friendly solution, often made from waste materials. Maize biochar is fantastic for cleaning because it traps pollutants in its tiny spaces. It is affordable and eco-friendly, made from leftover maize. You can use it to enhance soil or purify water. In essence, choosing maize biochar is a smart move for a greener world. This study focuses on the utilization of maize straw nanobiochar (MNBC) for the purpose of adsorbing acrylamide. Maize straw nano biochar (MNBC) is created from maize straw biochar (MBC) through alkali treatment followed by acid treatment. The MNBC particles had a size of 6.9 nm and a Zeta potential of − 88.5 mV. In this research study, the surface area, surface morphology, and active groups of MNBC were analyzed. MNBC is proving to be highly effective in adsorbing acrylamide due to its larger surface area and pores. The structural investigation of MNBC is being conducted both before and after the adsorption of acrylamide. The capacity for removing acrylamide increases from 10 to 120 min of contact time, reaching equilibrium at 100 min. A higher MNBC dose of 30 mg/L shows greater removal efficiency (92.0%) compared to the lower dose of MNBC (10 mg/L), which has a removal efficiency of 75.2%. MNBC has been observed to have superior acrylamide adsorption capability at a pH of 7.0. The maximum amount of acrylamide adsorbed by MNBC is 80 mg/g and its adsorption behavior is in agreement with both the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The MNBC from the experiment can be reused for acrylamide removal and remains effective for up to six cycles. The primary process of adsorption involves the pores of MNBC, effective binding regions and interactions with the functional groups of acrylamide. We conducted experiments using a fixed bed setup, adjusting the MNBC bed height to generate breakthrough curves. In each scenario, we calculated the time required for complete bed saturation under conditions of infinitely rapid adsorption (T_S) and determined the associated breakthrough times (T_b). Based on these findings, the cost-effective MNBC can be successfully used to treat water. This is the first report on the removal of acrylamide from an aqueous environment using MNBC. Furthermore, MNBC serves as an effective adsorbent, potentially reducing acrylamide contamination in aquatic ecosystems. This work may inspire future research in nanobiochar-based adsorbents for diverse contaminants and the development of efficient water treatment systems, benefiting both industrial and municipal wastewater treatment.