Alginate-based hydrogels modified with olive pomace and lignin to removal organic pollutants from aqueous solutions

In this study, new hybrid biopolymers based on alginate and low cost materials belong lignocellulose group such as lignin and olive pomace were used to removal organic pollutants. The organic carbon content, granule size, average mass, zero charge point, water uptake and swelling of the resulting alginate-based modified adsorbents were measured. The homogeneity, complexity and encapsulation viability of the novel biopolymers were studied by FT-IR, TGA and SEM. As model of emerging contaminants belong to glucocorticoids group prednisolone drug was selected. 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) was chosen as aniline derivate pollutant. The efficiency of the bioadsorbents to removal 3,4-dichloroaniline and prednisolone was performed by kinetic and equilibrium batch adsorption studies. The experimental data was found well correlated to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The adsorption of 3,4-DCA and prednisolone was mainly affected by the organic carbon content of the bioadsorbent. A higher adsorption capacity was observed for lignin-alginate based bioadsorbents. The removal efficiency was higher than 90% for 3,4-DCA in all prepared bioadsorbents, reached up to 49% for prednisolone using the bioadsorbent with the higher lignin content. These results suggest the promising potential for the prepared eco-friendly bioadsorbents to removal organic pollutants from water, mainly for aniline derivate such as 3,4-DCA.