The Potential of Low-Cost Absorbent for Treatment of Potassium-Contaminated Water: An Attempt to Use a Waste-to-Resource Concept

The impact of anthropogenic activities (AP) has severe environmental consequences, viz., groundwater contamination, soil contamination, and GHG gases. An increase in potassium concentration, deterioration of the surface water quality due to agricultural and wastewater discharges, and uncontrollable dumping of solid waste are some significant APs to mention. Thus, this study aims to reduce waste by using the waste-to-resource concept. The characteristics of the municipal solid waste ash (MS) produced in the laboratory were explored under batch-test mode. This low-cost absorbent was compared with commercially available activated charcoal (AC) for the treatment of synthetic potassium-contaminated water. The optimum dosage of activated carbons at different mixing times, pH, and different strengths of contaminated samples was investigated. It was found that corresponding to 60 g/L of K+ ions, the sorption efficiency is recorded as higher for AC than MS. However, the removal efficiency is 5 g/L against the initial concentration of 15 g/L for both acidic and basic surroundings.