Design and application of geopolymer adsorbents incorporating biomaterials and hybrid nanocomposites for high-efficiency wastewater remediation

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

4-1-2026

Abstract

Geopolymer (GP) materials offer a sustainable method for the removal of contaminants from wastewater, in accordance with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). This study combines qualitative and quantitative methods, utilizing meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of GP adsorbents in the elimination of dyes and heavy metals from aqueous solutions. This review examines the synthesis of geopolymers, bio-composite sorbents, and hybrid nanomaterials, as well as the underlying mechanisms that govern adsorption processes. A quantitative study revealed that GP-based systems attained an overall pollutant removal efficiency between 65% and 70%, with optimal performance noted at a dosage of 2 g/mL.The assessment of the model's performance was carried out using the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), a statistical metric that quantifies predictive accuracy. The adsorption efficiency of methylene blue increased with temperature, rising from 20.50% at 293 K to 16.22% at 313 K and 5.38% at 323 K, suggesting an endothermic process. The adsorption capacity (qe), defined as the amount of pollutant adsorbed per unit mass of adsorbent, and the equilibrium concentration (Ce) were employed to elucidate the adsorption behavior of the system. The metakaolin-based GP (0.1 g/100 mL) exhibited notable effectiveness in the elimination of methyl orange, which can be ascribed to its porous architecture and strong electrostatic interactions. The findings of this study offer significant contributions to the improvement of large-scale water purification systems and bolster global initiatives aimed at achieving clean and safe water supplies.

Publication Title

Environmental Research

ISSN

00139351

DOI

10.1016/j.envres.2026.123878

Volume

296

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