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Dynamic adsorption behavior of bio-based adsorbent for multicomponent wastewater.
Hang Xu1, Xiaorui Zhang2, Bo Li2
1School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, China; Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
|June 27, 2026
Summary
A novel bio-based adsorbent, Fe@PEI@KT, effectively removes diverse contaminants like dyes, nanoparticles, and solvents from water. This functionalized kapok fiber offers a cost-effective solution for complex wastewater remediation.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Wastewater often contains a complex mixture of organic dyes, solvents, engineered nanoparticles, and nanoplastics.
- The co-occurrence of these diverse contaminants challenges water quality and ecosystem health.
- Effective remediation requires understanding contaminant interactions with advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a bio-based multifunctional adsorbent for simultaneous removal of diverse contaminants.
- To investigate the adsorption performance of functionalized kapok fibers in dynamic packed-column experiments.
- To quantitatively assess contaminant fate and transport using kinetic and column models.
Main Methods:
- Functionalization of natural kapok hollow fibers (KT) with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and immobilization of Fe(III) ions (Fe@PEI@KT).
- Dynamic packed-column experiments simulating continuous-flow water treatment.
- Adsorption kinetics, breakthrough curve analysis using Thomas and Yoon-Nelson models.
Main Results:
- Fe@PEI@KT demonstrated significantly improved contaminant removal compared to raw KT.
- Maximum adsorption capacities: MO (28.75 mg/g), MB (20.12 mg/g), PMMA NPs (33.01 mg/g), MeOH (23.19 mg/g).
- Multi-adsorbent columns further enhanced performance in mixed-pollutant systems.
Conclusions:
- Functionalized Fe-PEI-KT fibers show potential as a biodegradable, cost-effective adsorbent for complex wastewater.
- The study provides quantitative insights into mixed contaminant sorption and transport.
- This approach has implications for point-of-use treatment and in-situ remediation strategies.
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