Acetaminophen Sorption\nUsing Invasive Lantana camara Biochar\ntoward Achieving Sustainable\nDevelopment Goals

Lantana camara L., or\nsimply <i>Lantana</i>, a widespread weed, was chosen to\ndevelop an eco-friendly\nbiochar. <i>Lantana</i> contains toxic compounds such as\ntriterpenoids and alkaloids, which can cause skin irritation and allergic\nreactions. Ingesting <i>Lantana</i> leaves can lead to severe\nsymptoms, including nausea and liver damage. <i>Lantana</i> pollen can exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma. Effective\nmanagement strategies are essential to mitigate these health risks.\nPharmaceutical pollution is an emerging crisis in wastewater and even\ngroundwater. This is exacerbated by the huge global consumption of\npharmaceuticals. Converting <i>Lantana</i> into biochar\noffers a solution that was tested for removing acetaminophen (ACM)\nas a model pharmaceutical compound, addressing both environmental\nand health concerns. <i>Lantana</i> is globally ranked among\nthe top 10 worst invasive species. In India, ∼132,000 km<sup>2</sup> of pasture lands and ∼303,607 km<sup>2</sup> of forest\nlands are colonized by <i>Lantana</i>, making it a reliable\nbiochar feedstock. <i>Lantana</i> biochar (LB700) was produced\nthrough slow pyrolysis of dried <i>Lantana</i> at 700 °C\n(ramp rate = 7 °C/min) and subsequently employed for aqueous\nACM sorption. LB700 was characterized by its Brunauer–Emmett–Teller\n(BET) surface area, morphology, functional groups, crystallinity,\nand elemental composition. Batch ACM sorption was performed to find\nthe influence of pH, initial ACM concentration, LB700 dose, and temperature.\nEquilibrium sorption data were interpreted using Freundlich, Langmuir,\nTemkin, Toth, Redlich–Peterson, and Sips isotherm models, while\nkinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first- and second-order rate\nequations. Maximum ACM adsorption (4.5 mg/g) occurred at pH 2 with\n1.0 g/L of LB700 dose. ACM sorption drastically reduced after pH 8\ndue to electrostatic repulsion between deprotonated ACM and negatively\ncharged LB700. Pseudo-second-order equation best-fitted with kinetic\ndata (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.91–0.97). A maximum\nLangmuir adsorption capacity of 13.2 mg/g was obtained at 40 °C.\nThe spontaneity and endothermicity of the reaction were inferred from\nnegative Δ<i>G</i>° (−19.73 to −24\nkJ/mol) and positive Δ<i>H</i>° (20.82 kJ/mol)\nvalues, respectively. The π–π stacking, H-bonding,\nvan der Waals interactions, and pore diffusions are the dominant interactions.\nThis study ingeniously addresses two pressing issues, <i>Lantana</i> invasion and pharmaceutical wastewater management, by providing\nan alternative solution through large-scale conversion of <i>Lantana</i> into biochar for treating pharmaceutical wastewater.\nMoreover, by converting <i>Lantana</i> into biochar, it\neffectively mitigates the health effects associated with this invasive\nplant, ensuring the preservation of environmental health and safety.\nFurthermore, it emphasizes the paramount importance for pharmaceutical\nindustries to proactively treat their effluents, thereby safeguarding\nboth environmental health and safety. Thus, this work strongly aligns\nwith the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including Clean\nWater and Sanitation (Goal 6) and Good Health and Well-Being (Goal\n3).