مشخصات پژوهش

This study focuses on the modification of lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) with sulfuric acid, potassium hydroxide, and sulfuric acid-potassium hydroxide to enhance the removal efficiency of the highly hazardous herbicide (paraquat) from the aqueous solution. The modification results showed that samples activated with sulfuric acid before KOH yielded higher removal efficiency (70.8%) than those activated with acid or base (25.6% and 35.8%, respectively). The paraquat uptake mechanism by LECA was investigated using XRD, XRF, FTIR, FESEM, BET, and zeta potential measurements. Batch adsorption tests were conducted under different conditions using LECA and acid-base-modified LECA. The results indicated the maximum removal efficiency for PQ at 240 min contact time, adsorbent dose of 3.5 g L−1, and pH 9 was achieved with the acid-base treated sample. Experimental data were evaluated with different isothermal, thermodynamic, and kinetic models. The pseudo-second-order model with a correlation coefficient of R2 > 0.99 was congruent with experimental results for LECA and acid-base-activated LECA through kinetic investigations. The highest adsorption capacities for the LECA and acid-base-activated LECA samples, respectively, were 6.12 mg g−1 and 21.23 mg g−1 according to the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm, which offered greater agreement with the experimental results. A negative standard enthalpy change (−21.09 kJ mol−1) and Gibbs free energy change for PQ uptake at 15, 25, and 35 °C indicated an exothermic and spontaneous process. Reusability studies confirmed that the treated adsorbent could successfully remove paraquat even after four regeneration cycles.