Functional ZnONPs-modified biochar derived from Funtumia elastica husk as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of sulfamethoxazole from wastewater

Funtumia elastica husk was employed as an efficient and economically viable adsorbent to supplement traditional treatment methods in the removal of sulfamethoxazole from wastewater by converting it into usable material. The purpose of this study was to make biochar (FHB) from Funtumia elastica husk through the pyrolysis process and further modify the biochar using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to a nanocomposite (FBZC). The antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics as well as the potential of FBZC and FHB to sequester sulfamethoxazole from wastewater were investigated. Uptake capacities of 59.34 mg g^-1 and 26.18 mg g^-1 were attained for the monolayer adsorption of SMX onto FBZC and FHB, respectively. SEM and FTIR spectroscopic techniques were used to determine the surface morphology and chemical moieties of adsorbents, respectively. Brunauer-Emmett-teller (BET) surface analysis was used to assess the specific surface area of FHB (0.5643 m² g^-1) and FBZC (1.2267 m² g^-1). The Elovich and pseudo-first-order models are both well-fitted by the experimental data for FHB and FBZC, according to kinetic results. Nonetheless, the equilibrium data for FHB and FBZC were better explained by the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models, respectively. The pH_PZC values of 6.83 and 5.57 were determined for FBZC and FHB respectively. Optimum solution pH, dosage, and contact time of 6, 0.05 g, and 120 min were estimated for FHB and FBZC. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the strong potential of FBZC to simultaneously arrest the spread of pathogenic microbes and sequester sulfamethoxazole from wastewater.