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Corncobs as a potentially low-cost biosorbent for sulfamethoxazole removal from aqueous solution

Abstract:

This work examines corncobs adsorption capacity sulfamethoxazole removal from aqueous solutions. Various parameters have been optimized and kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic evaluated. The characteristics of corncobs were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), point of zero charge and chemical analysis. The adsorption kinetic of SMX followed the pseudo-second-order model, reaching the equilibrium at 60 min. In equilibrium, data fitted BET model, the removal efficiency was 48% (pH = 6, SMX concentration 5 mg L−1, 30 g L−1 of adsorbent). The adsorption was sensitive to the pH of solution. The thermodynamic indicates an exothermic process workable under ambient temperatures.