Contaminants in drinking water and its mitigation using suitable adsorbents: an overview

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Water pollution poses a significant threat to public health and ecosystems.
• Conventional water treatment methods can be costly and energy-intensive.
• There is a growing need for sustainable and affordable water purification technologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of low-cost adsorbents for removing pollutants from drinking water.
• To characterize the adsorption process using equilibrium isotherms and statistical parameters.
• To evaluate the potential of various natural and modified materials as effective sorbents.

Main Methods:

• Sorption experiments were conducted using various low-cost materials (e.g., activated carbon, fly ash, zeolites, plant products).
• Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were applied to quantify adsorption capacity.
• Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used for sorbent characterization.
• Mass transfer coefficients and multiple regression analysis were employed to elucidate the adsorption mechanism.

Main Results:

• Several low-cost adsorbents demonstrated significant potential for pollutant removal.
• Adsorption capacity was influenced by factors such as adsorbent type, temperature, and pH.
• Isotherm models provided insights into the adsorption mechanisms and capacities.
• Characterization techniques confirmed surface interactions and bonding.

Conclusions:

• Low-cost adsorbents offer a viable and sustainable solution for drinking water purification.
• Comprehensive characterization of sorbents is crucial for optimizing performance and ensuring safety.
• Further research into ecotoxicological assessment and risk management is recommended for regulatory guidance and sustainable implementation.