Harnessing volcanic ash for benzene mitigation and maize seed enhancement
2025
Vinoth, K N | Jerlin , R | Eevera, T | Djanaguiraman, M | Manonmani, V | Kavitha , S | Vakeswaran, V | Renugadevi, J | Thirusendura Selvi, D
The presence of Benzene in aqueous solution is a great concern for the health-related issues of the living things that consume the same. Among various removal methods, the adsorption method with volcanic ash is a less laborious and eco-friendly process. With this notion, the seeds and grains of maize COH (M) 8 were coated with volcanic ash and they are utilized in this study as a biological entity to remove the benzene from the aqueous solution. Volcanic ash was characterized using FTIR, XRD, and FE-SEM-EDAX analyses, revealing key structural features, including sulfoxide functional groups, a crystalline size of 179.06 nm, and particle sizes ranging from 36.24 to 234.60 nm. Batch experiments were conducted to optimize adsorption and degradation efficiencies under different conditions. A maximum degradation efficiency of 80.62 % was achieved at a benzene concentration of 10 µg/mL within 1 hr. The efficiency increased to 87.96 % with a higher catalyst dosage at a benzene concentration of 50 µg/mL over 5 hr. Acidic conditions (pH 3) further enhanced the efficiency to 81.43 % over 5 hr. Under sunlight irradiation, a maximum degradation efficiency of 83.54 % was achieved within 1 hr. These findings establish volcanic ash as a promising, eco-friendly material for benzene adsorption in aqueous solutions, with the added advantage of enhancing seed germination and growth parameters. Its abundant availability and cost-effectiveness make it a sustainable solution for environmental remediation and agricultural applications.
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