Synthesized bioadsorbent using Aged Refuse for heavy metal removal in aqueous solution

Heavy metal contamination of water threatens the environment, humans, animals, plants, and marine life. Heavy metals like zinc, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, nickel, and mercury enter groundwater through industrial effluents and geochemical interactions. Removing these metals is crucial, and using affordable adsorbents for metal removal by adsorption is necessary to overcome chemical treatment issues. This research focuses on removing cadmium and zinc ions from water using Aged Refuse as an adsorbent at room temperature. Aged Refuse, solid waste from landfills stabilized over years, is treated with concentrated sulfuric acid. Variables such as contact time, initial ion concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH, and agitation speed were tested for their influence on removal effectiveness. Characterization of samples was done using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Atomic absorption spectroscopy results revealed optimal parameters for process equilibrium. The zinc and cadmium absorption efficiency of the proposed aged refuse bio-adsorbent is 30 % and 17 % higher than other methods.