Exploring Mechanistic Insights Into Coagulation-flocculation-aided Adsorption Design: a Comprehensive Study On the Removal of Toxic Metals and Organic Pollutants From Vegetable Oil Processing Wastewater
Prosper Eguono Ovuoraye, Victor Ifeanyi Ugonabo, Christian Ebere Enyoh, Chinenye Adaobi Igwegbe, Titus Chinedu Egbosiuba, Ismaila Ibrahim
{"title":"Exploring Mechanistic Insights Into Coagulation-flocculation-aided Adsorption Design: a Comprehensive Study On the Removal of Toxic Metals and Organic Pollutants From Vegetable Oil Processing Wastewater","authors":"Prosper Eguono Ovuoraye, Victor Ifeanyi Ugonabo, Christian Ebere Enyoh, Chinenye Adaobi Igwegbe, Titus Chinedu Egbosiuba, Ismaila Ibrahim","doi":"10.1007/s10661-025-13732-0","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Industrial wastewater treatment is crucial for environmental protection and public health. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the coagulation-flocculation-aided adsorption (C/F-A) system utilizing aluminum salt (AS) coagulant and characterized acid-activated kaolin clay adsorbent (KC) for the removal of pollutants from vegetable oil processing industrial wastewater (VOPIW). The objectives were to optimize the operational parameters of the C/F-A system, evaluate the adsorption capacity of KC, analyze the removal mechanisms, and assess the feasibility of scale-up for industrial applications. Batch experiments were conducted at 25 °C and pH 6–8 to determine optimal conditions for turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS) removal. The Smoluchoski kinetic model and various isotherms (Redlich-Peterson, Elovich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich) were employed for mechanistic analysis. Optimal conditions of 0.2 g/L dosage, pH 6, and 12 min settling time resulted in 96% turbidity and 97% TSS removals. Significant reductions were achieved for various pollutants, including Cu (84%), Fe (80%), Mn (85%), Pb (71%), and Al (98%). The sorption capacities of KC for various pollutants were determined, with the highest recorded for Cu at 35.47 mg/g C. Scale-up analysis was conducted to meet WHO effluent discharge requirements resulting in organic loading corresponding to TDS (2.94 × 10<sup>9</sup> mg/day), DO (5.1 × 10<sup>8</sup> mg/day), BOD (4.33 × 10<sup>8</sup> mg/day), and COD (3.99 × 10<sup>8</sup> mg/day). The mechanistic parameters confirmed an optimum sweep-flocculation constant, 6.2 × 10<sup>−3</sup> L/g·min, and half-life, 101 min<sup>−1</sup>. The study highlighted the effectiveness of the C/F-A system using KC for removing contaminants from VOPIW, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective and sustainable method for industrial wastewater treatment, thereby aiding environmental protection.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\n<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":544,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","volume":"197 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Environmental Monitoring and Assessment","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-025-13732-0","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Industrial wastewater treatment is crucial for environmental protection and public health. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of the coagulation-flocculation-aided adsorption (C/F-A) system utilizing aluminum salt (AS) coagulant and characterized acid-activated kaolin clay adsorbent (KC) for the removal of pollutants from vegetable oil processing industrial wastewater (VOPIW). The objectives were to optimize the operational parameters of the C/F-A system, evaluate the adsorption capacity of KC, analyze the removal mechanisms, and assess the feasibility of scale-up for industrial applications. Batch experiments were conducted at 25 °C and pH 6–8 to determine optimal conditions for turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS) removal. The Smoluchoski kinetic model and various isotherms (Redlich-Peterson, Elovich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich) were employed for mechanistic analysis. Optimal conditions of 0.2 g/L dosage, pH 6, and 12 min settling time resulted in 96% turbidity and 97% TSS removals. Significant reductions were achieved for various pollutants, including Cu (84%), Fe (80%), Mn (85%), Pb (71%), and Al (98%). The sorption capacities of KC for various pollutants were determined, with the highest recorded for Cu at 35.47 mg/g C. Scale-up analysis was conducted to meet WHO effluent discharge requirements resulting in organic loading corresponding to TDS (2.94 × 109 mg/day), DO (5.1 × 108 mg/day), BOD (4.33 × 108 mg/day), and COD (3.99 × 108 mg/day). The mechanistic parameters confirmed an optimum sweep-flocculation constant, 6.2 × 10−3 L/g·min, and half-life, 101 min−1. The study highlighted the effectiveness of the C/F-A system using KC for removing contaminants from VOPIW, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective and sustainable method for industrial wastewater treatment, thereby aiding environmental protection.
期刊介绍：
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment emphasizes technical developments and data arising from environmental monitoring and assessment, the use of scientific principles in the design of monitoring systems at the local, regional and global scales, and the use of monitoring data in assessing the consequences of natural resource management actions and pollution risks to man and the environment.
京公网安备 11010802042870号
京ICP备2023020795号-1
分享
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
扫码关注我们
