Present investigation deals with the utilization of Bagasse fly ash (BFA) a
sugar industry waste and Zeolitic material (MZBFA), synthesized from BFA by
combined conventional and microwave reflux method as adsorbents for the
extraction of Acephate (ACP), an organophosphorus pesticide from aqueous
solution. The synthesized adsorbents were characterized using various
techniques such as FTIR, PXRD and SEM. The effect of various experimental
parameters has been investigated using a batch adsorption technique for the
extraction of ACP. The extent of removal is increased with decrease in
initial ACP concentration and particle size of the adsorbent. Adsorption was
fast and the equilibrium was established within 90 min. Pseudo-first-order,
Pseudo-second-order, Bangham and intra-particle particle diffusion models
were used to fit the experimental data. Pseudo-second-order rate equation was
able to provide realistic description of adsorption kinetics. Equilibrium
isotherms were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich and
Tempkin isotherm equations. Langmuir equation was found to best represent the
equilibrium data. The thermodynamic study showed that adsorption of ACP on
MZBFA is higher than that on BFA. The results indicate that such Zeolitic
material could be employed as low cost alternatives to Bagasse fly ash in
wastewater treatment for the removal of pesticides.
Extractive efficacy of microwave synthesized zeolitic material for acephate: Equilibrium and kinetics