Recent trends in surface impregnation techniques on activated carbon for efficient pollutant removal from wastewater

In the coming years, the escalation of waste discharge into diverse water sources is an inevitable trajectory. Despite numerous advancements in water treatment technologies, water pollution remains a persistent global crisis. Conventional wastewater treatment processes have demonstrated limited efficacy in eliminating organic and inorganic pollutants. Consequently, researchers are intensively directing their efforts towards advancing water treatment methods, propelled by the urgent need to address rising environmental pollution and mitigate ecosystem damage. Among the array of treatment methods previously explored, adsorption stands out as one of the most effective approaches for targeting pollutant removal. Activated carbon (AC), widely recognized as a low-cost and highly porous adsorbent material, has been extensively employed for adsorption globally. However, a transformative era in adsorption technology emerges with the surface modification of AC. Modification enhances the surface characteristics, which in turn improves theadsorption capacity, selectivity, and promotes regeneration ability. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent methodologies undertaken for surface modification of AC through impregnation, utilizing various chemicals/modifiers, applicable for adsorption studies. The study delves into the existing barriers to commercialization, technological challenges, and economic relevance associated with the application of AC in adsorption. Furthermore, it offers forward-looking future recommendations for modified AC in dynamic landscape of wastewater treatment.