Utilization of the Corncob Agro-Industrial Residue as a Potential Adsorbent in the Biosorption of Bisphenol-A

Abstract

The presence of plastic waste in water bodies has led to a growing concern due to the impact on human health. Among the most important plastic additive molecules is bisphenol-A (BPA). On the other hand, micro-pollutant removal processes that make use of agro-industrial waste have aroused the interest of researchers. This is because the accumulation of lignocellulosic materials is also an environmental problem. The objective of this work is to use corncob agro-industrial residue (CC) as an adsorbent in the removal of BPA in aqueous matrix. The adsorption studies were carried out in reaction media containing the ground vegetable fiber and BPA solution in concentrations of 10, 25 and 50 mg L-1, as well as at pHs 3, 5, 7 and 9. Isotherms models and kinetic models were evaluated. The results showed that CC is a potent BPA adsorbent in aqueous solution, leading to about 90% of removal. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model and isotherm that best suited was the Lagmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 51.25 mg per gram of adsorbent fiber, after 20 min of contact. The thermogravimetric analysis allowed us to conclude that CC is a material resistant to high temperatures, due to the presence of a considerable amount of lignin. Finally, the best results of BPA removal efficiency by CC compared to activated carbon corroborate its high biosorption capacity.

Corn Cob as a Green Support for Laccase Immobilization—Application on Decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R

“…However, it is important to stress that corn cob is a lignocellulosic residue, and as all materials of this class, it presents variations in its content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and other components, which are influenced by several factors, such as soil, season, harvesting period, and other processing performed. Thus, data on the surface characterization of CC are still scarce in the literature [ 68 , 69 ]. The corn cob needs to be a condensed structure in order to support the corn grains, but it is not the main supporting element of the plant, which is classified as a monocot.…”

“…The use of CC as a support for compound removal has also been reported. In the work of Golveia et al, 2021 [ 69 ], in natura CC was used for the adsorption of bisphenol-A, a toxic component from the plastic industry. Due to its porous characteristics, in addition to its thermal resistance, the material was able to adsorb up to about 90% of the compound in aqueous solution, making it a promising detoxification agent.…”

Environmental persistence, detection, and mitigation of endocrine disrupting contaminants in wastewater treatment plants – a review with a focus on tertiary treatment technologies

“…A corncob agro-industrial residue was employed for the biosorption of BPA from water, evaluating the effect of BPA concentration and varying pH (123). Corncob grounded fibers maximum adsorption capacity was 51.25 mg/g after 20 min, and the results fitted to the monolayer adsorption model of Langmuir.…”

“…A corncob agro-industrial residue was employed for the biosorption of BPA from water, evaluating the effect of BPA concentration and varying pH. 123 The maximum adsorption capacity of corncob ground fibers was 51.25 mg g −1 after 20 min, and the results were fitted to the monolayer adsorption model of Langmuir. The overall adsorption efficiency of the biosorbent was approximately 90%.…”