Granulated cork as biosorbent for the removal of phenol derivatives and emerging contaminants

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2018-10, Vol.223, p.576-585
• Main Authors: Mallek, Maryam, Chtourou, Mariem, Portillo, Mercè, Monclús, Hèctor, Walha, Khaled, Salah, Abdelhamid ben, Salvadó, Victoria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorption isotherm; Cork; Cosmetic ingredients; Pharmaceuticals; Phenolic compounds; Wastewater
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.069

This study evaluated the ability of cork to adsorb a broad range of phenolic, pharmaceutical and cosmetic compounds: phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol carbamazepine, naproxen, ketoprofen, diclofenac, triclosan, and methyl paraben. The effect of variables such as the compound concentrations and the amount of cork were studied resulting in a highly pH dependence in the case of phenolic compounds. Maximum removal percentages and uptake values of 75% (1.61 mg/g) for 2,4-dichlorophenol, 55% (1.25 mg/g) for 2-nitrophenol, 45% (1.47 mg/g) for 2-chlorophenol, 20% (0.63 mg/g) for phenol, and 100% for pentachlorophenol, were obtained for a 30 mg L−1 solution at pH 6, showing that the adsorption process increased with greater electronegativity of the phenolic substituting group. Removal percentages and uptakes of 82% (3.56 mg/g) for naproxen, 57% (2.31 mg/g) for ketoprofen, 50% (1.84 mg/g) for carbamazepine, 50% (1.78 mg/g) for methyl paraben, 100% for sodium diclofenac, and 100% for triclosan, were obtained using 5 mg of cork and a 1 mg L−1 solution of each compound. The adsorption process was almost complete after 30 min for all the micropollutants. Experimental equilibrium data were analysed by Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models. Cork has proved to be an effective sorbent for the removal of phenols and emerging contaminants from contaminated waters and is a readily available material that can be acquired at minimal or no cost in cork-producing areas. [Display omitted] •Removals from 20 to 100% were obtained for phenolic compounds (30 mg L−1) at pH 6.•Diclofenac and triclosan (0.5–1 mg L−1) were 100% removed using 5–10 mg of cork.•For carbamazepine, methyl paraben, naproxen and ketoprofen removals were of 50–87%.•Freundlich isotherm model fitted to all micropollutant's adsorption isotherm data.•Cork is an effective and cheaper alternative to activated carbon as a sorbent.