Adsorptive Removal of Atrazine From Contaminated Water Using Low-Cost Carbonaceous Materials: A Review

Abstract

Extensive utilization of atrazine (estimated consumption of 70,000–90,000 tons per annum globally) to eliminate undesirable weeds has resulted in the accumulation of atrazine and its metabolites (diaminochlorotriazine, deisopropylatrazine, desethylatrazine, and atrazine mercapturate) in surface and groundwater above maximum permissible limits (drinking water: 3 μg L−1 in the United States, 0.1 μg L−1 in Europe, and 3.0 μg L−1 by the WHO). Atrazine exhibited no to low degradation in aquatic environments; however, poor degradation in soil yields toxic metabolites, which serve as sinks for groundwater resources. Due to mobility, atrazine and its metabolites can persist in various environmental matrices for decades without degradation, posing a serious threat to ecosystem sustainability and, thus, being removed from water resources. Majority of conventional wastewater treatment technologies are either expensive or inefficient. The carbonaceous materials such as activated carbon, biochar, carbon nanotubes, and graphene have been employed as potent adsorbents for the efficient removal of atrazine along with its metabolites from wastewater. Thus, the efficacy of the aforementioned carbonaceous adsorbents for atrazine removal has been discussed in this article by reviewing 161 published articles. The literature survey demonstrated the highest atrazine adsorption capacity of activated carbons (13.95–712.10 mg g−1), followed by biochar (4.55–409.84 mg g−1) and carbon nanotubes (28.21–110.80 mg g−1). Atrazine adsorption onto the carbonaceous adsorbents is a complex process involving single or multiple mechanisms, such as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, van der Waals forces, hydrophobic interactions, π-π electron donor–acceptor interactions, pore filling, and partitioning. It is recommended that monitoring of atrazine and its metabolites in water resources and their impacts on human and animal lives be explored. Furthermore, modification of carbon-based adsorbents with chemical, mechanical, and thermal means, as well as development of hybrid systems, may completely remove the prevailing atrazine and its metabolites from world water resources.

The non-edible and disposable parts of oyster mushroom, as novel adsorbent for quantitative removal of atrazine and its degradation products from synthetic wastewater

“…Furthermore, the occurrence of H-bonds between the amines in analyte molecules and oxygenated groups on the adsorbent surface, including alcohols, may be responsible for adsorption. Similar investigations in the literature have revealed the aforementioned interaction processes for atrazine and its metabolites adsorptive removal utilizing plant-based adsorbents [ 38 , 55 , 56 ].…”

Adsorption isotherm model of Hg2+ with biochar from young coconut waste

“…Hence, the a need to identify the appropriate adsorbent material to use. Biochar has been recognized with diverse functions with carbon-rich materials, as a low-cost alternative in controlling inorganic pollution [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]. The large surface area [12] [11], micro, meso, and macro pores [13] [14], and high pH [15] all contribute to the significant adsorption of pollutants into biochar.…”

“…Biochar has been recognized with diverse functions with carbon-rich materials, as a low-cost alternative in controlling inorganic pollution [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]. The large surface area [12] [11], micro, meso, and macro pores [13] [14], and high pH [15] all contribute to the significant adsorption of pollutants into biochar. Based on the features of biochar, many studies have been conducted on biochar as an ameliorant material to remove contaminants in water and soil [16] [17] [18].…”

Surface Modification of NiO‐Al2O3 Nanocomposites using Stearic Acid as a Modifier and their Applications in Self‐cleaning and Removal of Dyes

“…In literature, there are many reports on use of hydrophobic materials for the removal of water soluble dyes. [47][48][49][50][51][52][53] The hydrophobic interaction between the materials and hydrophobic groups of the dye molecules helps in the removal of dyes.…”