DEVELOPMENT OF LOW-COST NANOSTRUCTURED ADSORBENTS FROM INDIGENOUS AGRICULTURAL WASTE FOR THE REMOVAL OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The increasing discharge of emerging contaminants, including dyes, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals, from industrial effluents poses significant environmental and health risks. This study investigates the development of low-cost nanostructured adsorbents derived from indigenous agricultural waste for the effective removal of such contaminants from industrial wastewater in Pakistan. Adsorbents were synthesized from sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, wheat straw, and corn cobs and characterized using FTIR, SEM, and BET surface area analysis. Batch adsorption experiments evaluated the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and contaminant concentration. Results indicated that sugarcane bagasse-based nanostructures exhibited the highest adsorption efficiency, achieving up to 95% removal of dyes and 92% removal of heavy metals. Adsorption data fit the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, confirming monolayer chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. These findings demonstrate the potential of agricultural-waste-derived nanoadsorbents as sustainable, cost-effective solutions for industrial wastewater treatment, offering both environmental and economic benefits.