Waste‐Derived Functional Carbon for Rapid PAHs Removal: A Sustainable Pathway for Co‐Remediation and Resource Valorization of Oily Sludge

ABSTRACT

Oily sludge (OS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in wastewater represent two of the most hazardous contaminants at petroleum‐polluted sites, necessitating integrated strategies for simultaneous solid–liquid phase remediation. This study proposes a sustainable waste‐to‐resource approach by converting OS into functionalized 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane/co‐pyrolytic carbon (APTES/CPC) for the rapid removal of PAHs from wastewater. Results indicate that the adsorption capacity of APTES/CPC is 2.11 times higher than that of co‐pyrolytic carbon (CPC). Rapid anthracene adsorption occurs within 1 min, and adsorption equilibrium is reached within 10 min. This demonstrates its potential for emergency treatment of petroleum‐contaminated wastewater. Mechanistic studies using density functional theory (DFT) revealed that ethoxy functional groups played a pivotal role by inducing electron relaxation, promoting sp ³ ‐like hybridization, and facilitating stable C─C bond formation with anthracene. This shift from physical to chemical adsorption underpins the exceptional kinetics of APTES/CPC. These findings offer a promising strategy for in situ treatment of petroleum‐contaminated wastewater using pyrolysis residues derived from OS.