2024/10/10 by Ben Ali, Majda, Flayou, M., Boutarba, Y. +8
paper · doi:10.48317/imist.prsm/morjchem-v12i4.50578
The treatment of urban wastewater generates a significant amount of sludge, posing major ecotoxicological and environmental challenges. This sludge contains a complex mix of organic and inorganic materials. Its management is crucial, as traditional disposal methods, such as agricultural application and landfill, carry risks. Agricultural use can lead to environmental contamination by pollutants, while landfill disposal raises concerns about solid waste management and the preservation of landfill sites. Our research focuses on converting this urban sludge into activated carbon. We used various techniques to characterize the KOH-activated biochar, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared analysis (IR). BET analysis revealed a specific surface area of 84.68 m²/g, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the porous structure created during activation. The KOH-activated biochar, when used to adsorb methylene blue (MB), was evaluated. The calculation of the SSE error indicated a second-order adsorption, while the isotherms showed a Sips model, suggesting heterogeneous adsorption (ns = 0.5). Our study highlights the adsorption of dyes such as methylene blue (MB).