Fixed-bed Adsorption of Congo red dye and Bisphenol A from solution onto surfactant modified walnut shell

Abstract Wastewater stemming from industries may contain pollutants such as synthetic dyes and endocrine-disrupting chemicals which are known to be harmful to living organisms. Therefore, to safeguard the wellbeing of humankind and environmental safety, it is imperative for industrial effluents to be sanitized before their discharged into water bodies. Furthermore, to explore the utilization of agricultural byproduct is valuable to study. To achieve this, a Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide functionalized Walnut shells (WNS-CTAB) were prepared to remove pollutants in column approach. The column work was carried out for diverse working conditions. There is in favor of adsorption at low influent pollutant concentration, low flow rate or high bed depth. As the highest breakthrough time of 113 and 23 min at flow rate 6 mL min −1 was recorded for both CR and BPA, respectively, the Yan’s kinetic model best described the breakthrough curve. The adsorbent showed better regeneration capabilities; accordingly can offer practical use for adsorption of CR and BPA from wastewaters.