Abstract
The removal of contaminants from wastewaters is a major challenge in the field of water pollution. Among numerous techniques available for contaminant removal, adsorption using solid materials, named adsorbents, is a simple, useful and effective process. The adsorbent matter can be mineral, organic or biological. Activated carbon is the preferred, conventional material at the industrial scale. Activated carbon is extensively used not only for removing pollutants from wastewater streams, but also for adsorbing contaminants from drinking water sources, e.g., groundwater, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. However, the widespread use of activated carbon is restricted due to a high cost. In the last three decades, numerous approaches using non-conventional adsorbents have been studied for the development of cheaper and more effective adsorbents to eliminate pollutants at trace levels. This review gives an overview of liquid–solid adsorption processes using conventional and non-conventional adsorbents for pollutant removal. The manuscript outlines the principles of adsorption and proposes a classification for adsorbent materials. Finally, the various mechanisms involved in the adsorption phenomena are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aksu Z (2005) Application of biosorption for the removal of organic pollutants: a review. Process Biochem 40:997–1026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2004.04.008
Aktas Ö, Ceçen F (2007) Bioregeneration of activated carbon: a review. Int. Biodeterior Biodegrad 59:257–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2007.01.003
Ali I (2014) Water treatment by adsorption columns: evaluation at ground level. Sep Purif Rev 43:175–205. https://doi.org/10.1080/15422119.2012.748671
Allen SJ (1996) Types of adsorbent materials. In: McKay G (ed) Use of adsorbents for the removal of pollutants from wastewaters, chapter 5. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 59–97
Allen SJ, Koumanova B (2005) Decolourisation of water/wastewater using adsorption (review). J Univ Chem Technol Metall 40:175–192
Ania CO, Parra JB, Pis JJ (2002) Influence of oxygen-containing functional groups on active carbon adsorption of selected organic compounds. Fuel Process Technol 79:265–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3820(02)00184-4
Asgher M (2012) Biosorption of reactive dyes: a review. Water Air Soil Pollut 223:2417–2435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-011-1034-z
Babel S, Kurniawan TA (2003) Low-cost adsorbents for heavy metals uptake from contaminated water: a review. J Hazard Mater 97:219–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(02)00263-7
Bajpai AK, Rajpoot M (1999) Adsorption techniques—a review. J Sci Ind Res 58:844–860
Bhattacharyya KG, Gupta SS (2008) Adsorption of a few heavy metals on natural and modified kaolinite and montmorillonite: a review. Adv Colloid Int Sci 140:114–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2007.12.008
Blackburn RS (2004) Natural polysaccharides and their interactions with dye molecules: applications in effluent treatment. Environ Sci Technol 38:4905–4909. https://doi.org/10.1021/es049972n
Cox M, Négré P, Yurramendi L (2007) Industrial liquid effluents. INASMET Tecnalia, San Sebastian, p 283
Crini G (2003) Studies on adsorption of dyes on beta-cyclodextrin polymer. Bioresour Technol 90:193–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(03)00111-1
Crini G (2005) Recent developments in polysaccharide-based materials used as adsorbents in wastewater treatment. Prog Polym Sci 30:38–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2004.11.002
Crini G (2006) Non-conventional low-cost adsorbents for dye removal. Bioresour Technol 97:1061–1085. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2005.05.001
Crini G (2010) Wastewater treatment by sorption. In: Crini G, Badot PM (eds) Sorption processes and pollution, chap 2. PUFC, Besançon, pp 39–78
Crini G (2014) Review: a history of cyclodextrins. Chem Rev 114:10940–10975. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr500081p
Crini G (2015) Non-conventional adsorbents for dye removal. In: Sharma SK (ed) Green chemistry for dyes removal from wastewater. Scrivener Publishing LLC, Beverly, pp 359–407
Crini G, Badot PM (eds) (2007) Traitement et épuration des eaux industrielles polluées. PUFC, Besançon, p 353
Crini G, Badot PM (2008) Application of chitosan, a natural aminopolysaccharide, for dye removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption processes using batch studies: a review of recent literature. Prog Polym Sci 33:399–447. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2007.11.001
Crini G, Badot PM (eds) (2010) Sorption processes and pollution. PUFC, Besançon, p 489
Crini G, Lichtfouse É, Wilson LD, Morin-Crini N (2018) Adsorption-oriented using conventional and non-conventional adsorbents for wastewater treatment. In: Crini G, Lichtfouse É (eds) Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world, green adsorbents for pollutant removal—fundamentals and design, chapter 2, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, pp 23–71. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92111-2_2. ISBN 978-3-319-92111-2
Dąbrowski A (2001) Adsorption—from theory to practice. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 93:135–224
Dąbrowski A, Podkościelny P, Hubicki Z, Barczak M (2005) Adsorption of phenolic compounds by activated carbon—a critical review. Chemosphere 58:1049–1070. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.09.067
Davis TA, Volesky B, Mucci A (2003) A review of the biochemistry of heavy metal biosorption by brown algae. Water Res 37:4311–4330. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(03)00293-8
Dias JM, Alvim-Ferraz MCM, Almeida MF, Rivera-Utrilla J, Sánchez-Polo M (2007) Waste materials for activated carbon preparation and its use in aqueous-phase treatment: a review. J Environ Manag 85:833–846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.07.031
Dubinin MM (1966) Porous structure and adsorption properties of activated carbons. In: Walker PL (ed) Chemistry and physics of carbon, vol 2. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 51–120
Elwakeel KZ (2010) Environmental application of chitosan resins for the treatment of water and wastewater: a review. J Dispers Sci Technol 31:273–288. https://doi.org/10.1080/01932690903167178
Furuya EG, Chang HT, Miura Y, Noll KE (1997) A fundamental analysis of the isotherm for the adsorption of phenolic compounds on activated carbon. Sep Purif Technol 11:69–78
Gadd GM (1990) Biosorption. Chem Ind 13:421–426
Gadd GM (2009) Biosorption: critical review of scientific rationale, environmental importance and significance for pollution treatment. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 84:13–28. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.1999
Garnham GW (1997) The use of algae as metal biosorbents. In: Wase J, Forster C (eds) Biosorbents for metal ions, chapter 2. Taylor & Francis Ltd, London, pp 11–37
Gavrilescu M (2004) Removal of heavy metals from the environment by biosorption. Eng Life Sci 4:219–232. https://doi.org/10.1002/elsc.200420026
Gérente C, Lee VKC, Le Cloirec P, McKay G (2007) Application of chitosan for the removal of metals from wastewaters by adsorption—mechanisms and models review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 37:41–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643380600729089
Gupta VK, Suhas (2009) Application of low-cost adsorbents for dye removal—a review. J Environ Manag 90:2313–2342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2008.11.017
Gupta VK, Nayak A, Agarwal S (2015) Bioadsorbents for remediation of heavy metals: current status and their future prospects. Environ Eng Res 20:1–18. https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2014.018
Harvey PJ, Campanella BF, Castro PM, Harms H, Lichtfouse E, Schäffner AR, Smrcek S, Werck-Reichhart D (2002) Phytoremediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, anilines and phenols. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 9:29–47
Houghton JI, Quarmby J (1999) Biopolymers in wastewater treatment. Curr Opin Biotechnol 10:259–262. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0958-1669(99)80045-7
Kannan N, Sundaram MM (2001) Kinetics and mechanism of removal of methylene blue by adsorption on various carbons. Dyes Pigments 51:25–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-7208(01)00056-0
Kentish SE, Stevens GW (2001) Innovations in separations technology for the recycling and re-use of liquid waste streams. Chem Eng J 84:149–159
Khalaf MN (ed) (2016) Green polymers and environmental pollution control. CRC Press, Oakville, p 436
King CJ (1980) Separation processes, 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York
Kyzas GZ, Kostoglou M (2014) Green adsorbents for wastewaters: a critical review. Materials 7:333–364. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7010333
Kyzas GZ, Fu J, Matis KA (2013) The change from past to future for adsorbent materials in treatment of dyeing wastewaters. Materials 6:5131–5158. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma6115131
Landy D, Mallard I, Ponchel A, Monflier E, Fourmentin S (2012a) Cyclodextrins for remediation technologies. In: Lichtfouse E, Schwarzbauer J, Robert D (eds) Environmental chemistry for a sustainable world: nanotechnology and health risk, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, pp 47–81
Landy D, Mallard I, Ponchel A, Monflier E, Fourmentin S (2012b) Remediation technologies using cyclodextrins: an overview. Environ Chem Lett 10:225–237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-011-0351-1
Li CB, Hein S, Wang K (2008) Biosorption of chitin and chitosan. Mater Sci Technol 24:1088–1099. https://doi.org/10.1179/17438408X341771
Li L, Liu S, Zhu T (2010) Application of activated carbon derived from scrap tires for adsorption of Rhodamine B. J Environ Sci 22:1273–1280. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(09)60250-3
Lim AP, Aris AZ (2014) A review on economically adsorbents on heavy metals removal in water and wastewater. Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol 13:163–181. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11157-013-9330-2
Manes M (1998) Activated carbon adsorption fundamentals. In: Meyers RA (ed) Encyclopedia of environmental analysis and remediation, vol 1. Wiley, New-York, pp 26–68
McKay G (ed) (1996) Use of adsorbents for the removal of pollutants from wastewaters. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 208
Michalak I, Chojnacka K, Witek-Krowiak A (2013) State of the art for the biosorption process—a review. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 170:1389–1416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-013-0269-0
Moreno-Castilla C, Ferro-García MA, Joly JP, Bautista-Toledo I, Carrasco-Marín F, Rivera-Utrilla J (1995) Activated carbon surface modifications by nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonium peroxydisulfate treatments. Langmuir 11:4386–4392
Morin-Crini N, Crini G (eds) (2017) Eaux industrielles contaminées. PUFC, Besançon, p 513
Morin-Crini N, Winterton P, Fourmentin S, Wilson LD, Fenyvesi E, Crini G (2018) Water-insoluble β-cyclodextrin-epichlorohydrin polymers for removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions by sorption processes using batch studies: a review of inclusion mechanism. Prog Polym Sci 78:1–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2017.07.004
Mui ELK, Ko DCK, McKay G (2004) Production of active carbons from waste tyres—a review. Carbon 42:2789–2805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2004.06.023
Naja G, Volesky B (2011) The mechanism of metal cation and anion biosorption. In: Kotrba P, Mackova M, Macek T (eds) Microbial biosorption of metals. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 19–58. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0443-5_3
Ngah WSW, Hanafiah MAKM (2008) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by chemically modified plant wastes as adsorbents: a review. Bioresour Technol 99:3945–3948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.06.011
O’Connell DW, Birkinshaw C, O’Dwyer TF (2008) Heavy metal adsorbents prepared from the modification of cellulose: a review. Bioresour Technol 99:6709–6724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2008.01.036
Oliveira LS, Franca AS (2008) Low cost adsorbents from agro-food wastes. In: Greco LV, Bruno MN (eds) food science and technology: new research. Nova Publishers, New-York, pp 1–39
Ong ST, Keng PS, Lee SL, Hung YT (2014) Low cost adsorbents for sustainable dye containing-wastewater treatment. Asian J Chem 26:1873–1881. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2014.15653
Park D, Yun YS, Park JM (2010) The past, present, and future trends of biosorption. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 15:86–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-009-0199-4
Pereira MFR, Soares SF, Órfão JJM, Figueiredo JL (2003) Adsorption of dyes on activated carbons: influence of surface chemical groups. Carbon 41:811–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6223(02)00406-2
Pollard SJT, Fowler GD, Sollars CJ, Perry R (1992) Low-cost adsorbents for waste and wastewater treatment: a review. Sci Total Environ 116:31–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-9697(92)90363-W
Qu J (2008) Research progress of novel adsorption processes in water purification: a review. J Environ Sci 20:1–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(08)60001-7
Radovic LR, Silva IF, Ume JI, Menéndez JA, Leon CA, Leon Y, Scaroni AW (1997) An experimental and theoretical study of the adsorption of aromatics possessing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating functional groups by chemically modified activated carbons. Carbon 35:1339–1348
Radovic LR, Moreno-Castilla C, Rivera-Utrilla J (2000) Carbon materials as adsorbents in aqueous solutions. Chem Phys Carbon 27:227–405
Rafatullah M, Sulaiman O, Hashim R, Ahmad A (2010) Adsorption of methylene blue on low-cost adsorbents: a review. J Hazard Mater 177:70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.12.047
Ramakrishna KR, Viraraghavan T (1997) Dye removal using low cost adsorbents. Water Sci Technol 36:189–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1223(97)00387-9
Robalds A, Naja GM, Klavins M (2016) Highlighting inconsistencies regarding metal biosorption. J Hazard Mater 304:553–556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazmat.2015.10.042
San Miguel G, Lambert SD, Graham NJD (2006) A practical review of the performance of organic and inorganic sorbents for the treatment of contaminated waters. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 81:1685–1696
Sanghi R, Verma P (2013) Decolorisation of aqueous dye solutions by low-cost adsorbents: a review. Color Technol 129:85–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/cote.12019
Sharma SK (ed) (2015) Green chemistry for dyes removal from wastewater. Scrivener Publishing LLC Wiley, Beverley, p 496
Shukla A, Zhang YH, Dubey P, Margrave JL, Shukla SS (2002) The role of sawdust in the removal of unwanted materials from water. J Hazard Mater B95:137–152
Srivastava S, Goyal (2010) Novel biomaterials. Decontamination of toxic metals from wastewater. Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11329-1
Streat M, Patrick JW, Perez MJC (1995) Sorption of phenol and para-chlorophenol from water using conventional and novel activated carbons. Water Res 29:467–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(94)00187-C
Sud D, Mahajan G, Kaur MP (2008) Agricultural waste material as potential sorbent for sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions—a review. Bioresour Technol 99:6017–6027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.11.064
Sudha S, Giri Dev VR (2007) Low cost-sorbents—an overview. Synth Fibres 36:5–9
Swami D, Buddhi D (2006) Removal of contaminants from industrial wastewater through various non-conventional technologies: a review. Int J Environ Poll 27:324–346. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJEP.2006.010576
Tang X, Zhang X, Zhou A (2007) Research progresses on adsorbing heavy metal ions with crosslinked chitosan. Ion Exch Sorpt 23:378–384
Vandenbossche M, Jimenez M, Casetta M, Traisnel M (2015) Remediation of heavy metals by biomolecules: a review. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 45:1644–1704. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2014.966425
Varma AJ, Deshpande SV, Kennedy JF (2004) Metal complexation by chitosan and its derivatives: a review. Carbohydr Polym 55:77–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2003.08.005
Veglio’ F, Beolchini F (1997) Removal of metals by biosorption: a review. Hydrometallurgy 44:301–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-386X(96)00059-X
Vijayaraghavan K, Balasubramanian R (2015) Is biosorption suitable for decontamination of metal-bearing wastewaters? A critical review on the state-of-the-art of biosorption processes and future directions. J Environ Manag 160:283–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.06.030
Vijayaraghavan K, Yun YS (2008) Bacterial biosorbents and biosorption. Biotechnol Adv 26:266–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.02.002
Volesky B (1990) Biosorption of metals. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 408
Volesky B (2001) Detoxification of metal-bearing effluents: biosorption for the next century. Hydrometallurgy 59:203–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-386X(00)00160-2
Volesky B (2004) Sorption and biosorption. BV-Sorbex Inc, Montreal, p 316
Volesky B (2007) Biosorption and me. Water Res 41:4017–4029. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2007.05.062
Volesky B, Holan ZR (1995) Biosorption of heavy metals. Biotechnol Prog 11:235–250. https://doi.org/10.1021/bp00033a001
Wan Ngah WS, Hanafiah MAKM (2008) Removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater by chemically modified plant wastes as sorbents: a review. Bioresour Technol 99:3935–3948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.06.011
Wang SB, Peng YL (2010) Natural zeolites as effective adsorbents in water and wastewater treatment. Chem Eng J 156:11–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.10.029
Wase J, Forster C (1997) Biosorbents for metal ions. Taylor & Francis, Bristol, p 249
Yang TR (2003) Adsorbents: fundamentals and applications. Wiley, Hoboken, p 424
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Crini, G., Lichtfouse, E., Wilson, L.D. et al. Conventional and non-conventional adsorbents for wastewater treatment. Environ Chem Lett 17, 195–213 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0786-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0786-8