Work

Recycling corn stalks as an effective biosorbent for heavy metal removal from wastewater: Investigation on the adsorption performance and mechanism

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A cellulose-based biosorbent (DCC) was successfully prepared from corn stalks and applied to simultaneously remove Cu2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ from wastewater. Compared with raw corn stalk cellulose, DCC was characterized with plenty of amino groups, larger specific surface area and higher chemical polarity. Batch experiments were carried out to optimize adsorption dependent parameters, involving pH value, contact time and initial concentration. The adsorption data followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm model better, and the adsorption amount for Cu2+, Pb2+ and Zn2+ in ternary system were 59.10, 68.92 and 60.79 mg/g, respectively. FT-IR and XPS studies revealed that the O-containing and N-containing groups on DCC surface worked as the major roles in heavy metal adsorption by forming chelating complex with multiligand. Additionally, the DCC biosorbent presented good regeneration performance after 5 cycles. The findings in this paper revealed the DCC biosorbent had promising efficiency in heavy metal removal from effluents, and also offered an alternative strategy to recycle corn stalks for the purpose of ‘waste treatment by waste’.

Source: Environmental Technology & Innovation

DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2025.104140

Authors: Dezhi Zhao, Haiping Chen, Qingxin Zhao, Wenyue Qi, Yuan Liu, Yuyang Tian

Institutions: Yanshan University, State Key Laboratory of Metastable Materials Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal

Subfield: Water Science and Technology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,930