A review on microwave-assisted synthesis of adsorbents and its application in the removal of water pollutants

The use of conventional heating techniques in adsorbents preparation involves long synthesis time, high energy consumption, high cost and material fast firing. Recently, Microwave heating technique has been used to replace or complement the conventional heating in adsorbents preparation as it provides rapid, selective, and uniform heating. Consequently, the adsorbent microscopic structure and adsorption performance are affected significantly. The current review critically investigates the effect of using microwave heating technique on Carbon based, minerals and polymeric adsorbents' morphology, surface chemistry, and pore structure. In addition, the adsorption performance of water pollutants using microwave synthesized adsorbents, adsorption kinetics and isotherms were included. A competitive comparison in terms of adsorbent morphology, pore structure and adsorptive behavior between adsorbent prepared by microwave and convention heating technique were discussed. Finally, challenging, and promising routes are suggested for future development of microwave prepared adsorbents for water pollutants removal. On the basis of this review, using microwave technology in adsorbents preparation is promising, however, further development and investigation are substantially still required.

Automated summary

This review critically investigates the effect of using microwave heating technique on the morphology, surface chemistry, and pore structure of Carbon based, minerals and polymeric adsorbents, as well as the adsorption performance of water pollutants using microwave synthesized adsorbents. Competitive comparisons between adsorbents prepared by microwave and conventional heating techniques are discussed, along with suggestions for future development of microwave prepared adsorbents for water pollutants removal. Further development and investigation are still required for using microwave technology in adsorbents preparation.