Valorization of Biomass-Derived Low-Cost Adsorbents for Sustainable Pesticide Remediation from Aqueous Solutions: A Comparative Study

Melkamu Birlie Genet; Nikoletta Kovács; Etelka Tombácz; Gábor Maász

doi:10.33927/hjic-2025-18

Authors

Melkamu Birlie Genet Soós Ernő Research and Development Center, University of Pannonia, Zrínyi Miklós utca 18, Nagykanizsa, H-8800, HUNGARY
Nikoletta Kovács Soós Ernő Research and Development Center, University of Pannonia, Zrínyi Miklós utca 18, Nagykanizsa, H-8800, HUNGARY
Etelka Tombácz Soós Ernő Research and Development Center, University of Pannonia, Zrínyi Miklós utca 18, Nagykanizsa, H-8800, HUNGARY
Gábor Maász Soós Ernő Research and Development Center, University of Pannonia, Zrínyi Miklós utca 18, Nagykanizsa, H-8800, HUNGARY

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33927/hjic-2025-18

Keywords:

low-cost adsorbent, pesticides, surface modification, wheat straw, ground branches

Abstract

Escalating pesticide usage over recent decades has severely compromised global water resources, necessitating cost-effective remediation. Adsorption employing affordable sorbents has emerged as a promising solution. This research evaluates two low-cost adsorbents, derived from wheat straw and ground branches, to remove the pesticides atrazine, imidacloprid, metolachlor and tebuconazole from aqueous solutions. Surface modification with NaOH and citric acid enhances the specific surface area and functionality of adsorbents. A batch adsorption experiment was quantified using a UPLC-MS/MS measurement method. Citric acid-modified wheat straw demonstrated superior removal efficiencies for atrazine (76.03%), imidacloprid (59.32%) and metolachlor (70.34%) compared to the other sorbents investigated due to enhanced functional groups on its surface (–COOH, –OH). However, untreated wheat straw and ground branches exhibited suboptimal pesticide removal, with a singular exception for ground branches, which showed a notable 75.08% removal efficiency for tebuconazole. Generally, these economical adsorbents are suitable for the remediation of low-concentration pesticides from aqueous solutions.