Agrowaste derived biochars impregnated with ZnO for removal of arsenic and lead in water

Mondal, D; Cruz, GJF; Rimaycuna, J; Soukup, K; Gomez, MM; Solis, JL; Lang, J

Abstract

Using residual biomass for biochar production to be applied for water treatment is a cost effective and environmental-friendly alternative to activated carbon. However, biochars are materials with low textural properties (total specific area and total pore volume) and hence lower adsorption capacity compared to activated carbon. In that sense, this study aimed to impregnate ZnO on biochar derived from agricultural residual biomass to improve its As(V) and Pb(II) adsorption capacity. Biochars derived from corn cob and coffee husk were prepared by carbonization in mild conditions and then impregnated with ZnO using precipitation method. The resulting materials were comprehensively characterized describing their textural, chemical, surface, morphological and structural properties. Adsorption capacity of the produced materials was tested with As(V) and Pb(II) in kinetic and equilibrium experiments. The ZnO impregnation of the biochars derived from both precursors improves their adsorption capacities and, in most cases, accelerates the rate of adsorption of both pollutants. The best results were obtained by corncob derived ZnO impregnated biochar (CC-ZnO) reaching a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity of 25.9 mg of As(V)/g and at least 25.8 mg of Pb(II)/g. The corncob derived ZnO impregnated biochar is a suitable adsorbent candidate for the use in the removal of As and Pb from polluted water.

Citation

Mondal, D., Cruz, G., Rimaycuna, J., Soukup, K., Gomez, M., Solis, J., & Lang, J. (2020). Agrowaste derived biochars impregnated with ZnO for removal of arsenic and lead in water. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8(3), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.103800

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 21, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 22, 2020
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 24, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering
• Print ISSN: 2213-3437
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.103800
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.103800
• Related Public URLs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-environmental-chemical-engineering
• Additional Information: Funders : European Regional Development Fund;European Social Fund;Universidad Nacional de Tumbes; Projects : Institute of Environmental Technology – Excellent Research;Science without borders;CANON Project - Resolution; Grant Number: CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000853; Grant Number: CZ.02.2.69/0.0./0.0./16_027/0008463; Grant Number: 180-2016/UNT-R