Comparative analysis of 13 types of adsorbent materials for water pollutant removal via a multi-criteria evaluation of performance cost circular economy green chemistry and durability
- 1Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Applied Chemistry and Environment Laboratory, Hassan First University, Settat, Morocco
- 2National School of Applied Sciences, LaSTI Laboratory, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Khouribga, Morocco
- 3Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment, ENSA, University Ibn Zohr, P.O.Box 1136, 80000, Agadir, Morocco
Abstract
This comprehensive review presents a critical evaluation of thirteen distinct categories of adsorbent materials—raw bio-adsorbents, natural clays and minerals, synthetic chemical adsorbents, biochars, activated carbons, chemically modified materials, hydrogels, polymers and resins, synthetic carbon aerogels, nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), ionogels, and composites—through an innovative multicriteria framework that integrates technical performance, economic viability, circular economy principles, and sustainability indicators. Our systematic analysis reveals a fundamental performance-sustainability paradox: advanced materials like MOFs and carbon aerogels achieve exceptional adsorption capacities (50–1000 mg/g) but face scalability challenges and high environmental footprints, while natural adsorbents like agricultural waste offer ecological advantages but exhibit variable effectiveness. Intermediate materials, particularly waste-derived activated carbons and engineered biochars, emerge as optimal compromises, especially when integrated into circular systems through innovative regeneration and valorization pathways. This review introduces a novel classification system, develops integrated performance-sustainability metrics, and provides the first systematic assessment of adsorbent contributions to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Our findings underscore the urgency of developing standardized evaluation protocols, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and industrial-scale validations. Future research should prioritize smart stimuli-responsive materials, optimization of hybrid composites exploiting material synergies, and comprehensive life cycle analyses to advance sustainable water treatment solutions aligned with global sustainability imperatives.
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BibTeX
@article{meftah2026comparative,
title = {{Comparative analysis of 13 types of adsorbent materials for water pollutant removal via a multi-criteria evaluation of performance cost circular economy green chemistry and durability}},
author = {Said Meftah and Khadija Meftah and Mourad Addich and Ayoub Chahid},
journal = {Discover Environment},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1007/s44274-026-00769-2},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-026-00769-2},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Comparative analysis of 13 types of adsorbent materials for water pollutant removal via a multi-criteria evaluation of performance cost circular economy green chemistry and durability
AU - Said Meftah
AU - Khadija Meftah
AU - Mourad Addich
AU - Ayoub Chahid
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/04
JO - Discover Environment
DO - 10.1007/s44274-026-00769-2
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-026-00769-2
AB - This comprehensive review presents a critical evaluation of thirteen distinct categories of adsorbent materials—raw bio-adsorbents, natural clays and minerals, synthetic chemical adsorbents, biochars, activated carbons, chemically modified materials, hydrogels, polymers and resins, synthetic carbon aerogels, nanoparticles, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), ionogels, and composites—through an innovative multicriteria framework that integrates technical performance, economic viability, circular economy principles, and sustainability indicators. Our systematic analysis reveals a fundamental performance-sustainability paradox: advanced materials like MOFs and carbon aerogels achieve exceptional adsorption capacities (50–1000 mg/g) but face scalability challenges and high environmental footprints, while natural adsorbents like agricultural waste offer ecological advantages but exhibit variable effectiveness. Intermediate materials, particularly waste-derived activated carbons and engineered biochars, emerge as optimal compromises, especially when integrated into circular systems through innovative regeneration and valorization pathways. This review introduces a novel classification system, develops integrated performance-sustainability metrics, and provides the first systematic assessment of adsorbent contributions to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Our findings underscore the urgency of developing standardized evaluation protocols, appropriate regulatory frameworks, and industrial-scale validations. Future research should prioritize smart stimuli-responsive materials, optimization of hybrid composites exploiting material synergies, and comprehensive life cycle analyses to advance sustainable water treatment solutions aligned with global sustainability imperatives.
SN - 2731-9431
ER -