SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOMASS-DERIVED ACTIVATED CARBON FROM PALM SEEDS FOR THE ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF METRONIDAZOLE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS: INFLUENCE OF OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS

Abstract

Pharmaceutical contaminants, especially antibiotics such as metronidazole, pose a growing environmental threat due to their persistence in aquatic systems and resistance to conventional wastewater treatment. This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and adsorption performance of biomass-derived activated carbon prepared from palm kernel shells and chemically modified through acrylonitrile grafting for the removal of metronidazole from aqueous solutions. The adsorbent was characterized using FTIR, SEM-EDS, and XRD analyses, which confirmed successful chemical modification and the development of a porous, nitrogen-rich carbon structure. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of key operational parameters, including pH, agitation speed, contact time, and temperature. The results demonstrated that adsorption was most effective under acidic conditions (pH 2), at moderate agitation (250 rpm), and elevated temperatures (45°C), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 45.83 mg/g achieved after 15 minutes. Kinetic revealed that the process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, suggesting a predominantly physical adsorption mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of chemically modified palm-based adsorbents as low-cost, sustainable alternatives for the efficient removal of pharmaceutical contaminants from water.