Discernment of Eco Benign Materials as Potent Pops’ Encapsulants and Exploration in the Deployment of Secondary Pollution

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxic substances composed of organic (carbon-based) chemical compounds that adversely affect human health and the environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) interacts with blood proteins and causes various adverse pathological effects, including cancer, reproductive issues and immunological effects in animals. The present study aims to remove PFOA from aqueous environments. Eco-friendly plant wastes, Coleus rotundifolius pellets (CRP) and Magnolia champacca pod shells (MCP), were identified as potent materials, treated and experimentally tested for their PFOA removal capacities. Agitation studies were conducted on PFOA-CRP and PFOA-MCP systems under the influence of operating parameters, such as particle size, initial concentration, dosage, contact time and pH. Among these, treated Coleus rotundifolius pellets (TCRP) showed maximum chelation of PFOA (96%), compared to MCP (91%), under fixed conditions, highlighting the importance of these factors as regulators. Microscopic analysis, SEM/EDAX and FTIR characterized the residues before and after treatment. The fit of the Freundlich isotherm confirmed multi-layer sorption. Batch experimental results were validated through column operation, where TCRP achieved the highest PFOA trapping efficiency (approximately 98%). The exhausted column residues were tested as a part of corrosion mitigation, serving as preventive coatings against rust formation. It is concluded that TCRP has excellent POPs encapsulating capabilities and can serve as an effective corrosion inhibitor.