Potentials of activated carbon produced from biomass materials for sequestration of dyes, heavy metals, and crude oil components from aqueous environment

Abstract Carbon adsorbents derived from biomass (agricultural and household residues) have been widely used in the sequestration of hazardous substances from the environment due to their distinctive qualities of large internal surface area, mechanical integrity, and regeneration. The need for carbon adsorbents for sequestration of dyes, heavy metals, and crude oil components has increased because of environmental concerns. This has led to studies of carbon adsorbents derived from agricultural and household biomass residues. These adsorbents have been used to remove pollutants. Although numerous reviews have been published before, analogy of results obtained using different adsorbents is hard due to dissimilarities in research data. Against this backdrop, the purpose of the research survey was to review the contemporary publications regarding the production of activated carbon from biomass sources highlighting specifically its utilization in removing toxic wastes from water solution such as oil spill, dyes, and sundry hazardous substances. Also the work focuses on the methods for the restoration of the spent adsorbents and their end use.