Zinc Recovery from Fly Ash for Preparation of a Porous Metal–Carbon Composite (PMCC) using Pyrolysis of Zinc-Terephthalate Composite: Adsorption of Bisphenol a from Contaminated Waters

Abstract

This research presents a groundbreaking approach to address water contamination by Bisphenol A (BPA) using a sustainable and environmentally friendly porous metal–carbon composite (PMCC) derived from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) remnants. The study focuses on extracting of zinc (Zn) from MSWI fly ash, and subsequently utilizing the recovered metal for synthesizing an innovative PMCC. The composite with a high surface area (225.6 m² g⁻¹) demonstrates remarkable efficiency in adsorbing BPA, a significant water pollutant with adverse health effects. The successful preparation of the composite was confirmed by various analytical techniques, including FTIR, FESEM, XRD, and BET. The research employs response surface methodology to optimize the removal process and validates the model through statistical analysis. Maximum removal efficiency of 99.6% was achieved under the optimal values for adsorbent and reaction time of 0.862 g L⁻¹ and 50 min, respectively, for BPA with a concentration of 23.8 mg L⁻¹. Additionally, this study investigated BPA adsorption isotherms and kinetic models, revealing the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model as the most appropriate models for characterizing the adsorbent behavior. The regeneration and reusability of the PMCC were explored, indicating its potential for industrial applications. Overall, this research pioneers a sustainable approach to water treatment by integrating waste-derived material into the synthesizing of effective adsorbents for environmental remediation.