Adsorptive removal of acetamiprid pesticide from aqueous solution using environmentally friendly natural and agricultural wastes

The potentiality of eco-friendly low cost natural and agricultural wastes of orange peels (OPAC) and almond shells (ASAC) prepared for the removal of acetamiprid pesticide from aqueous solution has been investigated in batch experiments. Structure and morphology of OPAC and ASAC were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive x-ray analyzer (SEM-EDX) and surface area (BET) was determined by the nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherm. The effect of various physicochemical parameters such as initial acetamiprid concentrations, adsorbent dose and contact time has been studied. The percent removal of acetamiprid onto OPAC and ASAC were 99.46 and 99.45% from aqueous solutions. The adsorption process was attained an equilibrium within 120 min of contact time. The experimental isotherms data were analyzed using Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkvich (D-R) isotherm equations. Results showed that adsorption isotherms of acetamiprid onto OPAC and ASAC can be slightly better-fitted data by the Freundlich model than Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities were 151.515 and 370.37 mg g(-1) for OPAC and ASAC, respectively. The energy of adsorption for OPAC and ASAC were 0.791 and 0.845 KJ/mol, indicating that the adsorption process is physical in nature. The kinetic adsorption of acetamiprid was fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetic model for OPAC and ASAC, respectively.