Electro-oxidation Desorption process for Activated Carbon loaded with Pesticide industry’s Wastewater Pollutants

IJEP 46(3): 280-288 : Vol. 46 Issue. 3 (March 2026)

Full Text

Puni Ashokbhai Patel1, Amruta Shailendra Kuhikar2* and Dimpi Paresh Shah2 2

1. Pollution Control Committee, Bhenslore, Daman – 396 210, Daddra Nagarhaveli and Daman and Diu, India
2. Gujarat Technological University, Department of Environmental Engineering, L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad – 382 424, Gujarat, India

Abstract

The adsorption process using activated carbon as an adsorbent is widely used due to its high removal efficiencies, availability in various materials and forms and its derivation from different carbonaceous sources. Adsorption transports pollutants from one state to another; over time, carbon loses its adsorption efficiency, thus being considered waste. Regeneration and reactivation are two feasible methods to treat exhausted activated carbon. The adsorption process has proven to be an economical and practical solution for treating wastewater from pesticide industries, which are among the major polluters. This study involves the adsorption of pesticides from wastewater onto granular activated carbon (GAC) and the regeneration of this pesticide-loaded GAC through an electrochemical process. The electro-oxidation process is one of the electrochemical regeneration methods, involving desorption followed by oxidation of pollutants from granular activated carbon. The electro-oxidation desorption was studied in a stirred batch reactor using a combined anodic and cathodic regeneration mechanism, with graphite serving as both anode and cathode. A 0.1 N NaCl solution was used as a supporting electrolyte and the process was optimized for voltage and reaction time. The iodine number and adsorption capacity of fresh, exhausted and regenerated activated carbon were examined. Desorption efficiency was further assessed through adsorption capacity. The results showed a maximum efficiency of 90% at 24 V after 120 min. The study also evaluated three regeneration cycles, with desorption efficiency reaching 72.71% after the third cycle.

Keywords

Adsorption, Desorption, Granular activated carbon, Graphite electrode, Iodine number, Pesticides industry, Regeneration cycle

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