An efficient adsorptive removal of nitrate from agricultural effluent by alkaline modified sepiolite clay using response surface approach
Keywords:
Sepiolite clay, alkaline modification, nitrate removal, adsorption, agricultural effluentAbstract
To tackle the issues related to the discharge of contaminants like nitrate from agricultural runoff, this study utilized alkaline Modified Sepiolite clay (MS) as an adsorbent for the elimination of nitrate from agricultural effluent. The optimal conditions for examining the effects of pH, temperature, dosage, and contact time on the removal process were assessed within the following ranges: pH 4-11, temperature 25-60°C, time 30-120 minutes, and adsorbent dosage 0.2-4 g, using a 100 mL adsorbate solution analyzed with Design Expert (version 13). Various characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), were used to examine the MS before and after the adsorption process. At equilibrium, the maximum percentage of nitrate removal reached 95%, which was accomplished under three specific conditions: pH = 11, time = 75 minutes, temperature = 25°C, and MS dosage = 2.1 g. The mechanism of nitrate removal by MS aligned most closely with the Blanchard pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.9253), while the adsorption isotherm was best represented by the Langmuir Isotherm (R² = 0.9944).
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Published on: 25-12-2025
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