Eco-friendly granular adsorbent based activated carbon from spent coffee grounds for wastewater treatment

Abstract

This study discovers the development of an eco-friendly granular adsorbent derived from spent coffee grounds for wastewater treatment. Activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from spent coffee grounds and combined with chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (AL) to form a composite material, CAA, for enhanced dye removal. The synthesis process was optimized by adjusting key parameters, including AC mass, NaOH concentration, and soaking time, to maximize adsorption efficiency. The effectiveness of the material was evaluated using Malachite Green (MG) dye as a model pollutant. Comprehensive structural and chemical characterizations, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), confirmed the successful formation of the composite adsorbent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a uniform particle size distribution, rough surface morphology, and well-developed porous structure. With a specific surface area of 11.231 m²/g and a mesoporous structure featuring a pore diameter of 12.887 Å, the adsorbent demonstrates strong potential for wastewater treatment. These findings highlight the promising use of coffee-ground-derived activated carbon as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for the removal of organic pollutants, specifically dyes, from wastewater.