Remediation of Pharmaceutical Industrial Wastewater Using Activated Carbon from Seeds of Mangifera indica and Husks of Treculia Africana : Optimization, Kinetic, Thermodynamic and Adsorption Studies

Excessive discharge of pharmaceutical industrial wastewater (PIW) has become a global concern due to its unwanted impact on humans and the ecosystem. In this study, cost-effective adsorbents were developed to eradicate pollutants present in PIW. Activated carbon from seeds of Mangifera indica ( MSA ) and husks of Treculia africana ( BFHA ) was successfully synthesized using the carbonization-chemical activation method. The efficacy of the adsorbents was tested on the adsorption of Total dissolved and suspended solids (TDSS) from pharmaceutical industrial wastewater (PIW). The effect of process parameters such as pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time for the application of the adsorbent was studied using one factor at a time (OFAT) and Design of experiment (DOE) methods. The adsorbents are highly porous with a large surface area and pore volume which is suitable for their adsorption capacity. Among the adsorbent studied, BFHA-AC gave the best performance of 98% at optimum operating conditions of pH of 4, 1.0 g/L adsorbent dosage, and within 45 min. The most significant operating parameter is the stirring time which was determined using the DOE method. The PIW was analysed after treatment and the quality of the wastewater meets the standard for irrigation water, not drinking water. Thus, the adsorbents have proven effective in converting wastewater for a useful purpose.