Iron-engineered mesoporous biocarbon composite and its adsorption, activation, and regeneration approach for removal of paracetamol in water.

Three-dimensional multi-porous Iron Oxide/carbon (FeO/C) composites derived from tamarind shell biomass were synthesized by a single-step co-pyrolysis technique and utilized for Paracetamol (PAC) dismissal in the combined adsorption, and advanced oxidation such as electrochemical regeneration techniques. The FeO/C composites were prepared by different pyrolysis temperatures, and named as TS750 (without FeOat 750 °C), MTS450 BCs (Low-450 °C), MTS600 BCs (Moderate-600 °C) and MTS750 BCs (high-750 °C), respectively. As-prepared FeO/C composite was characterized by FE-SEM, XRD, BET, and XPS analysis. The specific surface area and the spatial interaction between the interlayers of FeO and C were significantly improved by increasing the pyrolysis temperatures from 450 to 750 °C, which improved the adsorption capacity of FeO/C composites in terms of higher rate constants and chemisorption kinetics. The Pseudo-second-order kinetics model fitted in the adsorption test results of FeO/C composites with the highest correlation co-efficiency. The Langmuir-isotherms model fitted in the adsorption test of the TS750 and MTS450 BCs. The Freundlich isotherms model is more fit with MTS600 and MTS750 BCs. Based on the isotherm results, the MTS750 BCs achieved 46.9 mg/g of maximum PAC adsorption capacity. The optimized MTS750 composites could be completely recovered by using an advanced electrochemical oxidation regeneration approach within 180 min. Also, with the adsorption and recovery process, the TOC removal rate improved to ∼79.4%. After the 6th cycle electrochemical oxidation process, the obtained results of the re-adsorption test showed the stabile adsorption activity of the sorbent material. The data outcomes herein propose that this type of combined adsorption and electrochemical approach will be useful in commercial water treatment plants.