The potential of pistachio shell-based activated carbons for metal removal from aqueous solutions: a review

ABSTRACT

Metal ions are discharged from various industrial effluents, causing an adverse effect on the human health and environment. Although numerous technologies are employed to treat these effluents, the biosorption process is a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of removing metal ions. Agricultural biomasses are a type of biosorbent that has a number of advantages, including their low cost, natural availability, and ease of collection and use as adsorbents. The purpose of this review paper is to demonstrate the utilization of pistachio shell as an agricultural biomass for metal ion removal from aqueous solutions. The preparation of raw and modified forms of this biosorbent is addressed. Under optimal experimental settings, the adsorption capability of the pistachio shell is demonstrated, and its characterization and possible application as a bisorbent are discussed. In addition, the isotherm and equilibrium constants for metal ion adsorption by the pistachio shell are considered. Overall, these considerations demonstrate the significant potential of adsorbents originated from pistachio shells for metal ion removal from aqueous solutions.

Highlights

• Pistachio shell-based activated carbons are specifically reviewed.

• Pistachio shell-based activated carbons are considered as a potential biosorbent.

• Pistachio shell-based activated carbons have excellent adsorption capacity.

• Pistachio shell-based activated carbons are low-cost and environmentally friendly biosorbents.

KEYWORDS:

• Pistachio shell
• activated carbon
• biosorbent
• adsorption
• metal removal

Acknowledgements

Sait is grateful to Dr. Soner Top from Abdullah Gul University for the visualization of the figures. The authors thank the Editor-in-Chief and anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript.

Credit authorship contribution statement

Sait Kursunoglu: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing-original draft, Writing-review&editing, Visualization

Idris Demir: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing-review&editing, Visualization

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).