Removal of (2,4-Dichlorophenoxy)acetic Acid from Aqueous Solutions Using Low-cost Sorbents

• Published in: Air, Soil and Water Research Soil and Water Research, 2015-01, Vol.2015 (8), p.59-65
• Main Authors: Arefieva, Olga D., Zemnukhova, Lyudmila A., Morgun, Natalya P., Rybin, Viacheslav G., Tsvetnov, Michael A., Kovshun, Anastasia A., Panasenko, Alexander E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1178-6221; 1178-6221
• DOI: 10.4137/ASWR.S31623

Despite reducing the consumption of the pesticide (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D), it can still be occasionally found in natural waters. The most effective method for its removal is adsorption on a solid surface using carbonaceous sorbents; however, these sorbents are considered highly priced. Therefore, diverse waste products have been increasingly used in recent years. In this study, the sorption possibility of 2,4-D from aqueous solutions with low concentration (1 μg L−1) of carbon- and silicon-containing sorbents of different nature was investigated. It was observed that precipitated silica from rice husk could be used for sorption posttreatment of 2,4-D. There was almost a complete removal of the pesticide with the carbon sorbent by “Sibunit”. Mesoporous sorbents derived from rice husk and straw showed a sorption efficiency of 23%-35%, indicating their use for treatment of natural waters.