Enhanced melanoidin removal by amine-modified Phyllanthus emblica leaf powder

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Biopolymer Degradation

Background:

• Melanoidins are hazardous biopolymers polluting distillery effluent.
• Effective removal methods are crucial for environmental protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a low-cost adsorbent for melanoidin removal.
• To optimize the adsorption process using amine surface-modified Phyllanthus emblica leaf powder (PELP).

Main Methods:

• Amine surface modification of PELP using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs).
• Optimization of adsorption conditions (adsorbent dose, pH, temperature) using Response Surface Methodology-Central Composite Design (RSM-CCD).
• Characterization of adsorbent properties, including point of zero charge (pzc).

Main Results:

• Complete melanoidin decolorization (98.50 ± 1 %) and 93.4 ± 0.2 % COD reduction at optimized conditions (44.0 °C, pH 5.93, 1.34 % w/v dose).
• Surface modification increased adsorption capacity by 2.5-fold to 616.2 mg g⁻¹.
• Achieved 91 ± 3 % color removal and 84 ± 2 % COD reduction from real spentwash.

Conclusions:

• Amine-modified PELP is a highly effective and low-cost adsorbent for melanoidin removal.
• The optimized process offers a sustainable approach for treating distillery effluent.
• Enhanced adsorption capacity demonstrates the potential for industrial application.