Effective multi-functional biosorbent derived from corn stalk pith for dyes and oils removal

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Wastewater contamination by dyes and oils poses significant environmental challenges.
• Development of sustainable and efficient sorbent materials is crucial for remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare and characterize malic acid-modified corn stalk pith (MA-CSP) as a multi-functional bio-sorbent.
• To evaluate the sorption capacity and mechanisms for dyes and oils removal.
• To assess the influence of co-existing salts on dye sorption.

Main Methods:

• Modification of corn stalk pith with malic acid.
• Sorption experiments for single and binary dyes (methylene blue, crystal violet) and various oils (lubricating, soybean, diesel, isopropyl alcohol).
• Application of physical and statistical models to analyze adsorption behavior.
• Investigation of sorption mechanisms including electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals force, and hydrophobic interaction.

Main Results:

• MA-CSP exhibited high sorption capacities for dyes (328.46–566.27 mg/g) and oils (29.3–44.1 g/g).
• Sorption of methylene blue and crystal violet was influenced by co-existing salts.
• Dye sorption primarily involved electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding.
• Oil sorption was mainly driven by van der Waals force and hydrophobic interactions.

Conclusions:

• MA-CSP is an eco-friendly, economical, and efficient multi-functional bio-sorbent for removing dyes and oils from contaminated water.
• The material shows significant promise for environmental remediation and potential applications in other fields.