Adsorptive removal of recalcitrant organic compounds of compost leachate by epichlorohydrin cross‐linked cyclodextrin copolymer

Abstract Hazardous materials in compost leachate pose a threat to the environment, and its treatment has become a concern in recent years. The adsorption process is a highly effective method that is used for treating these contaminants. This research pioneered the application of cyclodextrin‐epichlorohydrin (ECP) copolymer for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in compost leachate treatment. It offers a practical and effective approach to addressing environmental concerns associated with COD, with an extremely high adsorption capacity of 11,246 mg/g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive x‐ray (EDX) analyses were performed to identify the synthesized ECP. The effects of different parameters on the adsorption process were systematically investigated. Organic compounds removal was also evaluated using response surface methodology (RSM) in relation to process parameters. The maximum removal of COD was achieved in acidic solutions with an agitation speed of 160 rpm and adsorbent dosage of 3 g/L at 60 min. The corresponding maximum removal percentage achieved under the optimum conditions was about 70%. The adsorption process followed pseudo−second order kinetics and Freundlich isotherms models. The adsorption behaviour of ECP was investigated in ionic environment and it was efficiently regenerated for three adsorption–desorption cycles. The ECP showed high adsorption capacity and was found to be cost‐effective for COD removal. It was found to be a sustainable waste management strategy.