Benzalkonium Chloride Removal: Insights into Mechanisms, Ecotoxicity Assessment, and Viability of Fixed-Bed Treatment in Aqueous Environments

Benzalkonium Chloride Removal: Insights into Mechanisms, Ecotoxicity Assessment, and Viability of Fixed-Bed Treatment in Aqueous Environments

• Autor
• Letícia Reggiane de Carvalho Costa
• Co-autores
• Gustavo Dall Agnola , Júlia Toffoli de Oliveira , Liliana Amaral Féris
• Resumo

• The study concerns regarding the presence of benzalkonium chloride (BZK) and its contamination of urban waters, which pose risks to aquatic organisms and human health while affecting water treatment plant efficiency. Investigating BZK's toxicity in aqueous matrices, the study proposes adsorption as a tertiary treatment method, evaluating its feasibility and scaling while emphasizing sustainability through solid adsorbent regeneration. In silico toxicity analysis reveals BZK's moderate toxicity, irritating to the eyes and potentially causing skin sensitization. Batch adsorption removes 83.7% of BZK under pH 8.1, with optimal conditions observed at 120 min and carbon concentration = 2 g/100mL. Bayesian analysis highlights the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Sips hybrid model with Langmuir characteristics as the best fits for experimental data. Thermodynamic analysis shows favorable adsorption, with endothermic and spontaneous process, primarily via physisorption. Regeneration efficiency reaches 74.2% after 60 minutes at 300°C, with 50% efficiency after 5 cycles. Fixed-bed tests demonstrate stable efficiency, fitting the Log-Gompetz model, with an adsorptive capacity of 1.5 mg/g, making them suitable for continuous industrial-scale operation. Overall, the study underscores the potential of adsorption as a tertiary treatment method, highlighting its effectiveness, scalability, and sustainability.

• Palavras-chave
• adsorption; benzalkonium chloride; personal care products; toxicity; wastewater
• Área Temática
• Adsorção aplicada ao meio ambiente