Iron slag is a byproduct generated in huge quantities from recycled remnants of iron and steel factories; therefore, the possibility of using this waste in the removal of benzaldehyde from contaminated water offers an excellent topic in sustainability field. Results reveal that the removal efficiency was equal to 85% for the interaction of slag and water contaminated with benzaldehyde at the best operational conditions of 0.3 g/100 mL, 6, 180 min, and 250 rpm for the sorbent dosage, initial pH, agitation time, and speed, respectively with 300 mg/L initial concentration. The maximum uptake capacity of iron slag was 118.25 mg/g which was calculated by the Langmuir model. Physical sorption may be the major mechanism for the removal of benzaldehyde onto iron slag based on the analysis of isotherm and kinetic sorption data and thermodynamically, the process was spontaneous and endothermic. Finally, the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscope (EDS) tests for reactive material certified that the dissolution of calcium oxide can enhance the removal of benzaldehyde by the formation of bridge cations.
