An innovative “Up-and-Down” adsorption processes for pyrene removal from acid wastewater as new approach in water remediation

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) pose a risk to human health because they are highly toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. In the context of water remediation, hybrid biopolymers are green materials that can reduce the pollutants in environmental matrices. This study aims to propose a new “up-and-down” wastewater treatment system based on the adsorption of contaminants from the bulk and their transport to the surface to promote future remediation processes. Pyrene was selected as a model pollutant for PAH, and hybrid alginate beads, such as thermally modified hematite montmorillonite alginate calcium carbonate beads (@H@MACaBs), were prepared to investigate their use in water remediation. The synthesized beads were characterized using FT-IR SEM and ion-TOF mass spectrometry techniques, and adsorption studies were performed to quantify the remediation process efficiency and investigate the adsorption processes. Approximately 50 % of pyrene was removed from the aqueous solution without stirring after 90 min of contact. A double increase in pyrene removal was observed when the classical hybrid alginate beads were compared with the new modified hybrid alginate beads. This study contributes to efforts to deploy innovative remediation strategies to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry, which is a significant contributor to global manufacturing and pollution. © 2024 The Author(s)