Page 267 - C:\Users\am_se\OneDrive - Higher Education Commission\Desktop\FlipBook\

International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/44

The potential of agricultural waste as a sorptive media for the removal of arsenic from
aqueous medium
Maham Nagra1, Muhammad Shahid*1, Natasha1, Sana Khalid1, Muhammad Shafique
Khalid1, Nasir Masood1
1Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari- Campus,
61100 Pakistan

Correspondence: muhammadshahid@cuivehari.edu.pk
Abstract

Owing to the negative impact of Arsenic (As) on human health, it has received considerable
attention globally. Nowadays, alarming levels of As has been reported in aquifers worldwide.
This study was designated to explore the efficiency of various biosorbents (tea waste, wheat
straw and peanut shells) for As removal from As-contaminated water. Four As-contaminated
water samples (having concentrations of 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg L-1) were synthesized by
diluting aqueous standards/reference material (1000 mg L-1) of As. A column scale experiment
was performed to remediate As from As-contaminated water at a pH range of 5-8 using three
adsorbents. It was observed that all of the adsorbents efficiently remove As from all water
samples. Moreover, the high removal (up to 92%) was observed from initial As concentration
of 400 µg L-1. It was observed that at low As concentration (50 and 100 μg L-1) high pH (pH-
7 and 8) favor As removal while at high initial As (200 and 400 μg L-1) low pH facilitate As
removal (pH-5). Overall, Peanut shells removed more As (up to 92%). Moreover, the initial
concentration of As showed greater influence on the adsorption efficiencies of biosorbents.
Hence, it can be concluded that by using agricultural biosorbents As can be remediated form
contaminated groundwater efficiently and cost-effectively. The pilot study suggests designing
a low-cost, efficient and ecofriendly unit to remediate As-contaminated water.

Keywords: Agricultural biosorbents, Remediation, Arsenic, Aqueous medium

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

234