Comparative Analysis of Natural and Synthetic Materials for Wastewater Treatment: Plant Powders, Activated Carbon, Biochar, Zeolite, and Nanomaterials
نویسندگان
1 Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
2 Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
3 Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
4 Research Platform for Environmental Science (EDST-PRASE), Doctoral School, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
5 Research Platform for Environmental Science (EDST-PRASE), Doctoral School, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
6 College of Engineering and Technology, American University of the Middle East, Egaila, Kuwait
7 Economic Agricultural Department, Faculty of Agronomy, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
doi
10.48309/jcr.2025.511327.1421چکیده
The world faces numerous problems related to water scarcity and pollution, largely due to inefficient wastewater treatment and inadequate methods. A comparative account of five widely known adsorbents-plant powders, activated carbon, biochar, zeolite, and nanomaterials-includes a comparative analysis of their adsorption capacities, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. On one side, plant powders, being cheap and eco-friendly, on the other side, show lesser performance or lower adsorption capacity, particularly with heavy metals. Activated carbon shows a good degree of adsorption, but its production is costlier and energy-intensive. Due to its moderate performance, biochar also allows carbon sequestration. Zeolites are highly low in their lowness during the ion exchange process and removal of metals, and nanomaterials are good in both adsorption and catalytic activity, though costs and environmental risks delay their applications. This review also emphasizes the case for hybrid systems combining the strengths of different materials and their application in efficient and friendly wastewater treatment.
