Corncobs as a potentially low-cost biosorbent for sulfamethoxazole removal from aqueous solution

Abstract

This work examines corncobs adsorption capacity sulfamethoxazole removal from aqueous solutions. Various parameters have been optimized and kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic evaluated. The characteristics of corncobs were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), point of zero charge and chemical analysis. The adsorption kinetic of SMX followed the pseudo-second-order model, reaching the equilibrium at 60 min. In equilibrium, data fitted BET model, the removal efficiency was 48% (pH = 6, SMX concentration 5 mg L−1, 30 g L−1 of adsorbent). The adsorption was sensitive to the pH of solution. The thermodynamic indicates an exothermic process workable under ambient temperatures.