Chapter 10 - Agricultural and agro-wastes as sorbents for remediation of noxious pollutants from water and wastewater

Abstract

Water is necessary for life, wellbeing, and human health. Various industrial activities have wreaked havoc on the environs in recent years. Water resources have become more polluted as a result of rapid industrial growth. Organic and inorganic waste from household, industrial, and commercial sources flooded waterways. Heavy metals and metalloids are continuously discharged into the environment, posing a threat to human health. Dyes, especially textile dyes, are significant hazardous contaminants in water and wastewater. Adsorption is the preferred approach for removing refractory dyes, heavy metals, metalloids, and other pollutants from water. Activated carbon was formerly the most widely used adsorbent for extracting pollutants from wastewater. Agricultural wastes are low-cost adsorbents that may be used in place of activated carbon to treat contaminated wastewater. Agricultural waste is generated due to different agricultural operations and is high in both organic and inorganic components. Using agro-waste adsorbents promotes waste management’s “3R” rule: reduce, reuse, and recycle. This book chapter summarizes the use of agro-waste adsorbents to remove pollutants from water and wastewater.