Abstract
In comparison to other conventional methods like adsorption and reverse osmosis (RO), capacitive deionization (CDI) has only been investigated extensively for the removal of inorganic pollutants from water, demonstrating limited practicality. Herein, the study investigated the use of CDI for the removal of paraquat (PQ) herbicide from water by using commercial activated carbon (AC) electrodes. The CDI performance was examined as a function of the initial PQ concentration, applied voltage, flowrate, treatment time, and cycle stability testing in the batch mode approach. The applied voltage had a beneficial effect on the removal efficiency, whereas the removal efficiency of PQ declined as the initial PQ concentration increased. However, the electrosorption capacity gradually increased with the increase of initial feed solutions’ concentration. The maximum removal efficiency and electrosorption capacity achieved at 5 mg/L and 20 mg/L PQ initial concentrations, an applied voltage of 1.2 V, and 5 mL/min flowrate were 100% and 0.33 mg/g and 52.5% and 0.7 mg/g, respectively. Washing the electrodes with distilled water achieved sequential desorption of PQ, and the process produces a waste stream that can be disposed of or treated further. Therefore, the CDI method is considered a promising and efficient method for removing organic pollutants from water including pesticides.
Highlights
The demand for safe and clean water has been rising as the earth’s population keeps increasing
The suitability of commercial activated carbon (AC) as capacitive deionization (CDI) electrode materials for the removal of PQ pollutants from water was studied in the current study
The result showed that CDI can be thought as an alternative for the removal of PQ from wastewater
Summary
The demand for safe and clean water has been rising as the earth’s population keeps increasing. Activities that are associated with population growth have a great impact on environmental pollution as different compounds are released into the environment as a result of human and industrial activities [1]. Pesticides, hormones, food additives, laundry detergents, plasticizers, surfactants, wood preservatives, disinfectants, and flame retardants are examples of these contaminants discharged to the environment [2]. Pesticides in agricultural activities are increasing to meet the food demand for population growth. The usage of various kinds of pesticides has contaminated all of life’s necessities: food, water, and air [3]. The release of agricultural wastewater into the environment without proper regulation poses a major hazard to human health and the environment in general [4]. According to Dulio and Slobodnik [5] around two (2) million tons of effluent is being discharged into freshwater, polluting water sources
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