Sustainable Treatment of Industrial Wastewater Using Orang Peel-Based Activated Carbon: Adsorption of Contaminants and COD Reduction

El Shafie, Merna; Gomaa, Ahmed M.; Ashraf, Seif E.; Fatouh, Aya M.; Hamed, Karim M.; Hamed, Ali A.; El-Majeed, Salma A.

doi:10.21608/ijeaid.2025.417534.1007

Sustainable Treatment of Industrial Wastewater Using Orang Peel-Based Activated Carbon: Adsorption of Contaminants and COD Reduction

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, The Higher Institute of Engineering and Technology Fifth Settlement, Egypt

² Assistant Professor at Department of Construction and Building Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/ijeaid.2025.417534.1007

Abstract

Industrial wastewater contains toxic organic and inorganic pollutants, posing significant environmental risks. Adsorption using activated carbon is an effective, simple, and scalable treatment method. This study investigates Orange Peel-derived activated carbon (OPAC) as a sustainable, low-cost adsorbent for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from industrial effluents. OPAC exhibited a high surface area of 510.4 m²/g, with FTIR, SEM, and XRD analyses confirming its porous structure and abundant functional groups. Adsorption was strongly influenced by pH, achieving maximum capacity of 464 mg/g and COD removal of 92.8% at pH 6. Optimal performance was observed at 30 °C, with higher temperatures reducing efficiency. Adsorbent dose and contact time were critical, with maximum COD reduction of 96.6% and equilibrium capacity of 484 mg/g at 3 g/L and 45 minutes, respectively. Agitation speed at 200 rpm further enhanced adsorption, yielding 484 mg/g capacity and 96.8% COD removal. Comparative analysis showed that OPAC outperformed commercial activated carbon in both adsorption capacity and COD reduction. Utilizing orange peel, an abundant agricultural waste, for activated carbon production promotes efficient wastewater treatment and resource valorization. Overall, OPAC demonstrates significant potential as an eco-friendly, cost-effective adsorbent for industrial wastewater treatment.

Keywords