Abstract
The persistent herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) poses a greater risk to the contamination of water bodies, thus asking for other means of reclaiming water and reuse. The conventional treatment processes, however, are generally not capable of removing this contaminant, which makes scientists search for ways to replace them. This study goes deeper into the use of activated carbon as a powerful yet all-surfacing adsorbent with tremendous abilities to eliminate 2,4-D from water. The chemical and physical characteristics of 2,4-D, such as their incompatibility with endosulfan, instability, and hydrophobicity, are some aspects that make purification difficult by the traditional purification method. Activated carbon, retrieved from materials such as the shells of coconuts and even wood, is among the best options with its porosity, as it has an endless surface area for adsorption, thereby increasing the rate of absorption of 2,4-D. Parameters that determine the adsorption behavior, inclusive of pH, temperature, and initial concentration, are discussed in this study to understand how water pollution can be conducted. The study focuses on activated carbon species, in particular powdered, granular, and activated carbon fibers with unique advantages in achieving 2,4-D removal. There are two methods, intrinsic and extrinsic, that can be used to trigger the surface, and the physicochemical action consists of hydrogen bonding between the activated carbon as an adsorbent and cellulose, which is the main determinant of surface activation. Both molecules interact, as is proven in the application of isotherm models such as Langmuir and Freundlich types, which lead some research reports to indicate challenges and future directions requiring refined purification processes, involving AI in predictive modeling, and interdisciplinarity in addressing 2,4-D contamination in surface waters. Keywords: Activated carbon, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, adsorption, environmental pollution, water contamination.