Investigation of the sorption capacity of non-traditional materials towards dihydric phenols (hydroquinone and pyrocatechol) from aqueous solutions

Purpose. Comparative assessment of the sorption capacity and kinetics of the removal process of isomeric dihydric phenols – hydroquinone and pyrocatechol – from aqueous solutions using three types of non-traditional waste-based sorbents: lignocellulosic (wheat husk), protein (leather shavings), and synthetic (polyethylene).

Methods. Sorption was studied under static conditions at room temperature, varying the contact time from 5 to 30 minutes. The concentration of phenols was determined spectrophotometrically by colored complexes with iron (III) chloride. Kinetic data were processed within the framework of pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. The main sorption characteristics were calculated: recovery degree, equilibrium sorption capacity, distribution coefficient, and rate constant.

Results. All studied sorbents demonstrated high and comparable efficiency, providing >98.5% phenol recovery within the first 10 minutes. A systematic slight advantage of pyrocatechol over hydroquinone (by 0.1–0.3%) was established, due to its higher acidity (pKa₁ = 9.45) and hydrophobicity (log Kow = 0.88). The process kinetics in all cases are satisfactorily described by a pseudo-first order model. The highest values of sorption parameters for both phenols were obtained for non-food wheat processing waste, which allows us to recommend it as the most effective material. For this sorbent, the dominant sorption mechanisms are proposed: hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions with aromatic fragments of lignin.

Conclusion. Non-food wheat processing waste is a highly effective, affordable and promising sorbent for the removal of hydroquinone and pyrocatechol from aqueous solutions, superior in a set of characteristics to leather shavings and polyethylene. The process is limited by the diffusion of the sorbate to the surface.

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