Degradation of Phenol Using Adsorption Method

Abstract

Phenol is one of the most hazardous organic pollutants released into the environment from industrial processes such as petrochemical manufacturing, resin and plastic production, pulp and paper bleaching, and pharmaceutical synthesis. It is characterized by high solubility, persistence, and toxicity even at trace concentrations, making its removal from wastewater a major environmental challenge. This study focuses on the degradation of phenol using the adsorption method, emphasizing the use of natural and low-cost bio-adsorbents such as rice husk. The experimental framework involved calibration of phenol concentration using UV–Visible spectrophotometry and batch adsorption experiments under controlled conditions. A calibration curve between absorbance and concentration yielded a strong linear correlation (R² = 0.9813), ensuring high analytical accuracy. The rice husk demonstrated an adsorption efficiency ranging from 36% to 65%, depending on treatment and pH, with optimum removal near neutral pH. The adsorption mechanism followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and conformed to the Langmuir isotherm, suggesting monolayer chemisorption. The results indicate that rice husk, as an eco-friendly alternative to activated carbon, offers a sustainable pathway for phenol removal in industrial wastewater treatment. The study concludes that adsorption is a robust, cost-effective, and scalable method that can significantly reduce the environmental burden of phenolic contamination when properly optimized.