A Magnetic Hydrochar Nanocomposite as a Potential Adsorbent of Emerging Pollutants

PATIÑO, AURA ALEJANDRA BURBANO; AGOTEGARAY, MARIELA; LASSALLE, VERONICA L.; HORST, FERNANDA

Conferencia; irc 2021 XV. international research conference; 2021

Abstract— Water pollution is of worldwide concern due to its importance as an essential resource for life. Industrial and urbanistic growth are anthropogenic activities that have caused an increase of undesirable compounds in water. In the last decade, emerging pollutants have become of great interest since, at very low concentrations (μg/L and ng/L), they exhibit a hazardous effect on wildlife, aquatic ecosystems, and human organisms. One group of emerging pollutants that are a matter of study are pharmaceuticals. Their high consumption rate and their inappropriate disposal have led to their detection in wastewater treatment plant influent, effluent, surface water, and drinking water. In consequence, numerous technologies have been developed to efficiently treat these pollutants. Adsorption appears as an easy and cost-effective technology. One of the most used adsorbents of emerging pollutants removal are carbon-based materials such as hydrochars. This study aims to use a magnetic hydrochar nanocomposite to be employed as an adsorbent for diclofenac removal. Kinetics models and the adsorption efficiency in real water samples were analyzed.