Competitive adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) onto chitosan-pyromellitic dianhydride modified biochar

Fabrication of chitosan-modified magnetic durian shell biochar for removal of the microplastics

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems and have attracted global attention. In this study, durian shell was used as biochar raw material to provide magnetism, and then it was modified with chitosan to make chitosan-modified magnetic biochar (CMBC). The prepared CMBC was used to simulate the adsorption of MPs in sewage. Experimental results showed that the amount of CMBC was 0.1 g, pH was 10, the concentration of 160 mg/L had the optimal adsorption effect, the adsorption rate reached up to 97.22 %, and the adsorption capacity was 15.56 mg/g. According to the adsorption kinetic analysis, the adsorption process conformed to be the Freundlich model. The removal rate of MPs still remained at 76.41 % when CMBC, a green environmentally friendly adsorption material, was recycled for five times. This research broadens the understanding for the evaluation of magnetic biochar effectiveness in the adsorption of MPs pollution.

Adsorptive immobilization of cadmium and lead using unmodified and modified biochar: A review of the advances, synthesis, efficiency and mechanisms

Biochar is an environmentally friendly adsorbent material with excellent adsorption performance due to its extensive pore structure, large specific surface area, and numerous surface functional groups. It is commonly used to treat inorganic and organic pollutants. In recent years, with increasing focus on controlling soil pollution caused by heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), the potential application of biochar has attracted much attention. This review used Citespace to quantitatively analyze the literature on the application of biochar from 2021 to 2024. It then explains the preparation techniques of unmodified and modified biochar and presents the physical and chemical properties and adsorption capacity of different biochar types for Cd and Pb. It also illustrates and compares the preparation process, modification methods, and adsorption mechanisms of biochar. Additionally, it evaluates the impacts of biochar application on heavy metal removal from rice, wheat, and corn, as well as their yields. This article contributes to the identification of the most effective materials and methods for biochar synthesis. It provides suggestions for remediation of soil heavy metal pollution and yield increase.

Highly Efficient Removal of Cr(VI) by Biochar Derived from Vietnamese Young Durian Fruit: Comparison of Traditional and Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis

This study compares the material characteristics and evaluates the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of biochar derived from a novel byproduct (young durian fruit, YDF), synthesized using two pyrolysis methods (traditional and microwave-assisted). The optimal pyrolysis conditions for porosity were 800 °C and 800 W for 30 min, respectively. The traditional pyrolysis method yielded a very high surface area and pore volume (668 m2/g; 0.332 cm3/g). XRD patterns and FTIR spectra demonstrated structural and functional group differences, significantly impacting the Cr(VI) removal efficiency in water. pH was a critical factor with optimal adsorption at pH 2.0. The adsorption process reached equilibrium at 180 and 100 min at initial concentrations of 100 and 125 mg/L for biochar synthesized by traditional and microwave-assisted pyrolysis, respectively. The adsorption mechanisms proposed based on modern analytical methods include adsorption-reduction, ion exchange, electrostatic interaction, and surface complexation. Industrial wastewater containing chromium was effectively treated under natural conditions (pH = 5.88; Co = 129.9 mg/L) using biochar synthesized via microwave, achieving a Qe of 21.41 mg/g. The research results pave the way for new directions in the synthesis and application of biochar in environmental treatment, specifically using young fruit materials and microwave methods.

Microalgae realizes self N-doped biochar for heavy metal polluted sediment remediation

Heavy metal contamination in sediment has become a significant global environmental challenge. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of modified biochar to solve heavy metal contamination in sediment. However, the modification process with complex methods and expensive modifiers prevented its large-scale application. In this study, an N self-doped biochar was obtained by pyrolysis of Spirulina sp. (SBC). Meanwhile, the K2CO3 impregnation method was utilized to prepare Spirulina sp. biochar (KSBC), which demonstrated a higher specific surface area (874 m2/g) and richer O, N functional groups. The adsorption capacity of KSBC550-120 for Cu (Ⅱ), Zn (Ⅱ), and Cd (Ⅱ) was 57.9 ± 0.3 mg/g, 43.6 ± 0.7 mg/g, and 63.9 ± 0.6 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption process is primarily governed by chemical processes, mainly through ion exchange, surface complexation, dissolution-precipitation, electrostatic interactions, adsorption-reduction, and cation-π interactions. Moreover, utilizing KSBC550-120 for mixing or capping effectively reduced heavy metal concentrations in both the overlying and pore water of the sediments. 1.0 wt% KSBC550-120 with capping treatment significantly reduced the release of heavy metals from the sediment by 80.3-91.9%. This study provides effective theoretical support for re-utilizing waste algal residues and remediation of the heavy metal-contaminated river and lake sediments using microalgae biochar.

Preparation of chitosan/cellulose nanofibril composite aerogel and its adsorption performance for Cu(II)-MO binary pollutant

Heavy metals and organic dyes commonly coexist in water, which pose a serious threat to human health. Herein, a functional aerogel for adsorption of Cu(II)-methyl orange binary-polluted system was prepared. Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) was prepared by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (TEMPO)-NaBr-NaClO system using abandoned pineapple leaves as the main raw material, and chitosan/cellulose nanofibril (CS/CNF) composite aerogel was constructed by sol-gel method combined with freeze-drying. The structure of composite aerogel was characterized by XRD, FTIR, TG and SEM. The fabricated aerogels were ultra-lightweight and exhibited a highly porous 3D network structure. The effects of adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, solution pH, adsorbent concentration, adsorption time, and temperature on the adsorption of Cu(II) and methyl orange (MO) by composite aerogel were studied. The adsorption of composite aerogel towards mono-polluted of Cu(II) and MO reached equilibrium after 100 min with a maximum adsorption capacity of 116.69 and 295.86 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption of Cu(II) and MO by CS/CNF aerogel was mainly achieved through electrostatic attraction, metal chelation and hydrogen bonding interactions. More importantly, the adsorption of Cu(II) by CS/CNF aerogel has an inhibitory effect on its adsorption of MO in Cu(II)-MO binary-polluted system.

Experimental study on the adsorption and interaction of P and Cd in polluted sediment from Dongting Lake

A series of experiments was performed to elucidate the effects of the adsorption and interaction of different concentrations of P and Cd on the availability of P and Cd. First, the sediments before and after maturation were subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results revealed that the composition and main components of the sediment were unchanged by maturation. The adsorption results fitted by the Freundlich equation revealed that the maximum concentration of Cd in the sediment changed from 979.12 mg/L to 980.92 mg/L and 1215 mg/L after the addition of 1 mg/L and 2 mg/L P, respectively. The maximum concentration of P in the sediments increased from 397.57 mg/L to 403.19 mg/L and 422.89 mg/L after the addition of Cd concentrations of 5 mg/L and 50 mg/L, respectively. A batch experiment was subsequently performed with multiple groups of P and Cd at the same concentration. The results revealed that the content of available Cd was the highest when the content of P was 180 mg/kg and that the content of available P was the highest when the content of Cd was 1 mg/kg. However, when the concentrations of P and Cd exceeded a certain level, Cd3(PO4)2 precipitated. Finally, the experimental results were reverified by XPS, and the results revealed that the contents of P and Cd in the sediments increased through adsorption and precipitation between P and Cd.

Enhanced Adsorption of Cadmium by a Covalent Organic Framework-Modified Biochar in Aqueous Solution

In the environmental field, the advancement of new high-efficiency heavy metal adsorption materials remains a continuous research focus. A novel composite, covalent organic framework-modified biochar (RH-COF), was fabricated via an in-situ polymerization approach in this study. The COF-modified biochar was characterized by elemental analysis, BET analysis, SEM, FT-IR, and XPS. The nitrogen and oxygen content in the modified material increased significantly from 0.96% and 15.50% to 5.40% and 24.08%, respectively, indicating the addition of a substantial number of nitrogen- and oxygen-containing functional groups to the RH-COF surface, thereby enhancing its adsorption capacity for Cd from 4.20 mg g-1 to 58.62 mg g-1, representing an approximately fourteen-fold increase. Both the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model were suitable for describing the kinetics and isotherms of Cd2+ adsorption onto RH-COF. The adsorption performance of Cd2+ by RH-COF showed minimal sensitivity to pH values between 4.0 and 8.0, but could be slightly influenced by ionic strength. Mechanistic analysis showed that the Cd2+ adsorption on RH-COF was dominated by surface complexation and chelation, alongside electrostatic adsorption, surface precipitation, and Cπ-cation interactions. Overall, these findings suggest that the synthesis of COF-biochar composite may serve as a promising remediation strategy while providing scientific support for applying COF in environmental materials.

Multifunctional bacterial cellulose-bentonite@polyethylenimine composite membranes for enhanced water treatment: Sustainable dyes and metal ions adsorption and antibacterial properties

Developing multifunctional materials for water treatment remains a significant challenge. Bacterial cellulose (BC) holds immense potential as an adsorbent with high pollutant-binding capacity, hydrophilicity, and biosafety. In this study, N-acetylglucosamine was used as a carbon source to ferment BC, incorporating amide bonds in situ. Bentonite, renowned for its adsorption properties, was added to the culture medium, resulting in BC-bentonite composite membranes via a one-step fermentation process. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was crosslinked with amide bonds on the membrane via glutaraldehyde through Schiff base reactions to enhance the performance of the composite membrane. The obtained membrane exhibited increased hydrophilicity, enhanced active adsorption sites, and enlarged specific surface area. It not only physically adsorbed contaminants through its unique structure but also effectively captured dye molecules (Congo red, Methylene blue, Malachite green) via electrostatic interactions. Additionally, it formed stable complexes with metal ions (Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺) through coordination and effectively adsorbed their mixtures. Moreover, the composite membrane demonstrated the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of tested bacteria. This study introduces an innovative method for fabricating composite membranes as adsorbents for complex water pollutants, showing significant potential for long-term wastewater treatment of organic dyes, heavy metal ions, and pathogens.

Optimal biochar selection for cadmium pollution remediation in Chinese agricultural soils via optimized machine learning

Biochar is effective in mitigating heavy metal pollution, and cadmium (Cd) is the primary pollutant in agricultural fields. However, traditional trial-and-error methods for determining the optimal biochar remediation efficiency are time-consuming and inefficient because of the varied soil, biochar, and Cd pollution conditions. This study employed the machine learning method to predict the Cd immobilization efficiency of biochar in soil. The predictive accuracy of the random forest (RF) model was superior to that of the other common linear and nonlinear models. Furthermore, to improve the reliability and accuracy of the RF model, it was optimized by employing a root-mean-squared-error-based trial-and-error approach. With the aid of the optimized model, the empirical categories for soil Cd immobilization efficiency were biochar properties (60.96 %) > experimental conditions (19.6 %) ≈ soil properties (19.44 %). Finally, this study identified the optimal biochar properties for enhancing agricultural soil Cd remediation in different regions of China, which was beneficial for decision-making regarding nationwide agricultural soil remediation using biochar. The immobilization effect of alkaline biochar was pronounced in acidic soils with relatively high organic matter. This study provides insights into the immobilization mechanism and an approach for biochar selection for Cd immobilization in agricultural soil.

Fe Crystalline Phases in Fe/C Composites Modulated the Selective Adsorption of Pb(II) from Industrial Wastewater with Cd(II): An Electronic-Scale Perspective

Fe oxide or Fe0-based materials display weak removal capacity for Pb(II), especially in the presence of Cd(II), and the electronic-scale mechanisms are not reported. In this study, Fe3C(220) modified black carbon (BC) [Fe3C(220)@BC] with high adsorption and selectivity for Pb(II) from industrial wastewater with Cd(II) was developed. The quantitative experiment suggested that Fe species accounted for 80.5-100 and 18.4-33.8% of Pb(II) and Cd(II) removal, respectively. Based on X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis, 57.3% of adsorbed Pb2+ was reduced to Pb0; however, 61.6% of Cd2+ existed on Fe3C@BC. Density functional theory simulation unraveled that Cd(II) adsorption was attributed to the cation-π interaction with BC, whereas that of Pb(II) was ascribed to the stronger interactions with different Fe phases following the order: Fe3C(220) > Fe0(110) > Fe3O4(311). Crystal orbital bond index and Hamilton population analyses were innovatively applied in the adsorption system and displayed a unique discovery: the stronger Pb(II) adsorption on Fe phases was mediated by a combination of covalent and ionic bonding, whereas ionic bonding was mainly accounted for Cd(II) adsorption. These findings open a new chapter in understanding the functions of different Fe phases in mediating the fate and transport of heavy metals in both natural and engineered systems.

Enhanced Cu2+ and Cd2+ removal by a novel co-pyrolysis biochar derived from sewage sludge and phosphorus tailings: adsorption performance and mechanisms

The reutilization of municipal wastes has always been one of the hottest subjects of sustainable development study. In this study, a novel biochar co-pyrolyzed from municipal sewage sludge and phosphorus tailings was produced to enhance the adsorption performance of the composite on Cu2+ and Cd2+. The maximum Cu2+ and Cd2+ adsorption capacity of SSB-PT were 44.34 and 45.91 mg/g, respectively, which were much higher than that of sewage sludge biochar (5.21 and 4.58 mg/g). Chemisorption dominated the whole adsorption process while multilayer adsorption and indirect interaction were also involved. According to the result of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS), the load of CO32-, Mg2+, and Ca2+ on the surface of SSB-PT enhanced the precipitation and ion exchange effect. Posnjakite and CdCO3 were formed after the adsorption of Cu2+ and Cd2+, respectively. Besides, complexation, and metal-π interaction were also involved during the adsorption process. Therefore, this study offered a promising method to reuse sewage sludge and phosphorus tailings as an effective adsorbent.

Switchable metal extractant integrated miniaturized 3D-printed device: A semi-online multi-metal separation system for matrix-free ICP-MS analysis

BACKGROUND

This study tackles the critical challenges in metal analysis by presenting an innovative miniaturized metal extraction device prototype. This device features a functional nanocomposite (FNC) enhanced 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) metal extractant (FNC@3D PLA). The research is motivated by the constraints of traditional solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods, specifically their limitations in handling competitive metal ion environments and matrix interference during inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. The designed prototype aims to overcome these challenges and enhance the extraction efficiency of diverse metals.

RESULTS

The FNC, designed to incorporate various functional groups critical for metal ion extraction efficiency, was meticulously engineered through the reaction of acid-treated and delaminated graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (Thiol-gCN NSs) with 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The competitive metal ion extraction efficiency of FNC@3D PLA was demonstrated, showcasing notable limit of detection values of 3.2 ± 0.7 ng mL-1 and 8.57 ± 3.05 ng mL-1 for Cu and Ag, respectively. Furthermore, the miniaturized 3D-printed metal-preconcentration setup incorporating FNC@3D PLA exhibited favorable intraday relative standard deviation (RSD) percentage (%) values ranging from 1.23 to 8.6 for both Cu and Ag. Interday RSD % between 1.41 and 8.14 were observed under spiked real urine sample conditions. The sustainability and robustness of the proposed approach were underscored by substantial recovery % values exhibited by FNC@3D PLA, even after eight consecutive regeneration processes.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study significantly contributes to the advancement of analytical methodologies by providing a reliable and efficient platform for metal extraction and preconcentration in practical metal analysis applications. Developed FNC@3D PLA system demonstrates its potential to address the challenges associated with SPE in metal analysis, especially in complex sample matrices. We believe implications of this research can be extended to various fields, from environmental monitoring to clinical diagnostics, where accurate and reliable metal analysis is paramount.

Monitoring of copper adsorption on biochar using spectral induced polarization method

Copper contaminant generated from mining and industrial smelting poses potential risks to human health. Biochar, as a low-energy and cost-effective biomaterial, holds value in Cu remediation. Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) technique is employed in this study to monitor the Cu remediation processes of by biochar in column experiments. Cation exchange at low Cu2+ concentrations and surface complexation at high Cu2+ concentrations are identified as the major mechanisms for copper retention on biochar. The normalized chargeability (mn) from SIP signals linearly decreased (R2 = 0.776) with copper retention under 60 mg/L Cu influent; while mn linearly increases (R2 = 0.907, 0.852) under high 300 and 700 mg/L Cu influents. The characteristic polarizing unit sizes (primarily the pores adsorbing Cu2+) calculated from Schwartz equation match well with experimental results by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). It is revealed that Cu2+ was driven to small pores (∼3 μm) given high concentration gradient (influent Cu2+ concentration of 700 mg/L). Comparing to activated carbon, biochar is identified as an ideal adsorbent for Cu remediation, given its high adsorption capacity, cost-effectiveness, carbon-sink ability, and high sensitivity to SIP responses - the latter facilitates its performance assessment.

Preparation of 4-Amino-3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazol-5-thiol-Modified Graphene Oxide and Its Greatly Enhanced Selective Adsorption of Gallium in Aqueous Solution

Efficient recovery of gallium (Ga) from vanadium slag processing residue (VSPR) solution is of great significance for environmental protection and resource utilization, but improving its selective adsorption against the coexisting Sc3+ and In3+ is still challenging. Herein, a novel adsorbent consisting of 4-amino-3-hydrazino-1,2,4-triazol-5-thiol (AHTZT)-modified graphene oxide (GO-AHTZT) was successfully synthesized that exhibits a higher adsorption selectivity for Ga3+ in VSPR solution with coexisting Sc3+ and In3+. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption capacity of GO-AHTZT for Ga3+ can reach 23.92 mg g-1, which is 4.9 and 12.6 times higher than that for Sc3+ (4.87 mg g-1) and In3+ (1.90 mg g-1) adsorption, indicating the excellent anti-interference ability of GO-AHTZT against Sc3+ and In3+. The process and mechanism of Ga3+ adsorption onto GO-AHTZT was also studied and discussed in detail. By measuring the adsorption process and by characterizing the adsorbent before and after adsorption, we demonstrate that the selective interaction between the Ga3+- and N-containing groups in AHTZT is the main reason for the improved adsorption selectivity. This work opens up an avenue for the design and synthesis of highly selective adsorbents for Ga3+ in complex VSPR solutions.

Recent advances in environmental and agricultural applications of hydrochars: A review

Hydrochar is a carbonaceous material that is generated through the process of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) from biomass, which has garnered considerable attention in recent years owing to its potential applications in a diverse range of fields, such as environmental remediation and agriculture. Hydrochar is produced from a diverse range of biomass waste materials and retains exceptional properties, including high carbon content, stability, and surface area, making it an optimal candidate for various enviro-agricultural applications. Moreover, it delves into the production process of hydrochar, with explicit emphasis on the optimization of certain properties during the production of hydrochar from bio-waste. Furthermore, the potential of hydrochar as an adsorbent and catalyst support for heavy metals and dyes was extensively explored, along with a soil remediation potential that can improve the physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. This comprehensive review aims to provide a thorough overview of hydrochar with a particular focus on its production, properties, and prospective applications. The significance of hydrochar is accentuated and the growing need for alternative sources of energy and materials that are environmentally sustainable is highlighted in this paper. Besides, the consequence of hydrochar on soil properties such as water-holding capacity, nutrient retention, and total soil porosity, as well as its influence on soil chemical properties such as cation exchange capacity, electrical conductivity, and surface functionality is scrutinized.

Metal organic framework anchored onto biowaste mediated carbon material (rGO) for remediation of chromium (VI) by the photocatalytic process

Groundwater contaminated with hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) causes serious health concerns for the ecosystem. In this study, a hybrid amino functionalized MOF@rGO nanocatalyst was produced by utilization of a biowaste mediated carbon material (reduced graphene oxide; rGO) and its surface was modified by in situ synthesis of a nanocrystalline, mixed ligand octahedral MOF containing iron metal and NH2 functional groups and the prepared composite was investigated for Cr (VI) removal. The photocatalytic degradation of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions was carried out under UV irradiation. Using a batch mode system, the effect of numerous control variables was examined, and the process design and optimization were carried out by response surface methodology (RSM). The photocatalyst, NH2-MIL(53)-Fe@rGO, was intended to be a stable and highly effective nanocatalyst throughout the recycling tests. XRD, SEM, EDS, FTIR examinations were exploited to discover more about surface carbon embedded with MOF. 2 g/L of NH2-MIL-53(Fe)/rGO was utilized in degrading 200 mg/L of Cr(VI) in just 100 min, implying the selective efficacy of such a MOF-rGO nanocatalyst. Moreover, the Eg determinations well agreed with the predicted range of 2.7 eV, confirming its possibility to be exploited underneath visible light, via the Tauc plot. Thus, MOF anchored onto biowaste derived rGO photo-catalyst was successfully implemented in chromium degradation.

Environmental applications of lignin-based hydrogels for Cu remediation in water and soil: adsorption mechanisms and passivation effects

Heavy metal pollution, particularly the excessive release of copper (Cu), is an urgent environmental concern. In this study, sodium lignosulfonate/carboxymethyl sa-son seed gum (SL-Cg-g-PAA) designed for remediation of Cu-contaminated water and soil was successfully synthesized through a free radical polymerization method using lignin as a raw material. This hydrogel exhibits remarkable Cu adsorption capability when applied to water, with a maximum adsorption capacity reaching 172.41 mg/g. Important adsorption mechanisms include surface complexation and electrostatic attraction between Cu(Ⅱ) and oxygen-containing functional groups (-OH, -COOH), as well as cation exchange involving -COONa and -SO3Na. Furthermore, SL/Cg-g-PAA effectively mitigated the bioavailability of heavy metals within soil matrices, as evidenced by a notable 14.1% reduction in DTPA extracted state Cu (DTPA-Cu) content in the S4 treatment (0.7% SL/Cg-g-PAA) compared to the control group. Concurrently, the Cu content in both the leaves and roots of pakchoi exhibited substantial decreases of 55.19% and 36.49%, respectively. These effects can be attributed to the precipitation and complexation reactions facilitated by the hydrogel. In summary, this composite hydrogel is highly promising for effective remediation of heavy metal pollution in water and soil, with a particular capability for the immobilization of Cu(Ⅱ) and reduction of its adverse effects on ecosystems.

Sustainable Zn2+ removal using highly efficient, novel, and cost-effective chitosan-magnetic biochar composite

This study focused on the development of a sustainable and low-cost adsorbent derived from the chitosan-biochar composite for the removal of Zn2+ from an aqueous solution. Biochar was prepared from cotton stalk residue by pyrolysis at 600 °C for 2 h, modified with FeCl3, and composed with chitosan in various ratios (1:3, 1:1, 3:1), leading to the formation of an efficient, thermally stable, and rich with functional groups chitosan-biochar composite denoted as CHB-Fe-CS. Functional groups (hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine) were identified as key contributors to the adsorption mechanism. Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.99) and Pseudo-Second order (R2 = 0.99) were best fitted models with the experimental results indicating chemisorption-driven monolayer adsorption. The results revealed CHB-Fe-CS (3:1) composite obtained the highest adsorption capacity of 117.50 mg/g for Zn2+ under optimal conditions viz., 180 min batch time, 500 mg/l metal concentration, 4 g/l adsorbent dosage, 40 °C solution temperature, and 5.0 pH. Regeneration of the used adsorbent was performed using 0.2 mol/l HCl and obtained desorption efficiency of 67.48% and 51.48% after the 4th and 8th cycles. The adsorption mechanisms were dominated by ion exchange, surface complexation, and electrostatic attraction compared to intra-particle diffusion and physisorption. The CHB-Fe-CS demonstrated an economical, environment friendly, and good performing adsorbent for water decontamination.

From scraps to purification: innovative use of food waste-derived hydrochar in eradicating pharmaceutical pollutants

Chemical products (CPs) such as carbamazepine and naproxen, present in aquatic environments, pose significant risks to both aquatic life and human health. This study investigated the use of hydrothermally carbonized food waste-derived hydrochar (AC-HTC) at three distinct temperatures (200, 250, and 300 °C) as an adsorbent to remove these CPs from water. Our research focused on the impact of hydrothermal carbonization temperature on hydrochar properties and the effects of chemical activation with phosphoric acid on adsorption capacity. Hydrothermal carbonization increased the hydrochar's surface area from 1.47 to 7.52 m2/g, which was further enhanced to 32.81 m2/g after activation with phosphoric acid. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that hydrochar produced at 250 °C (AC-HTC-250) demonstrated high adsorption capacities of 49.10 mg/g for carbamazepine and 14.35 mg/g for naproxen, outperforming several conventional adsorbents. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 4, aligning well with the Langmuir and pseudo-first-order models. The hydrochar showed potential for regeneration and multiple uses, suggesting its applicability in sustainable wastewater treatment. Future research will explore scalability and effectiveness against a broader range of pollutants.

Exploring recyclable alginate-enhanced GCN-LDO sponge for U(VI) and Cd(II) removal: Insights from batch and column studies

Developing effective water treatment materials, particularly through proven adsorption methods, is crucial for removing heavy metal contaminants. This study synthesizes a cost-effective three-dimensional material encapsulating graphitic carbon nitride-layered double oxide (GCN-LDO) in sodium alginate (SA) through the freeze-drying method. The material is applied to remove uranium (U(VI)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) in real water systems. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses conclusively verified the elemental composition and successful encapsulation of GCN-LDO within the SA matrix. Removal effectiveness was tested under various conditions, including adsorbent dose, ionic strength, contact time, temperature, different initial pollutant concentrations, and the impact of co-existing ions. The adsorption of U(VI) and Cd(II) conformed to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model, signifying a chemical interaction between the sodium alginate-graphitic carbon nitride-layered double oxide (SA-GCN-LDO) sponge and the metal ions. The Langmuir isotherm indicated monolayer, homogeneous adsorption for U(VI) and Cd(II) with capacities of 158.25 and 165.00 mg/g. SA-GCN-LDO recyclability was found in up to seven adsorption cycles with a removal efficacy of 70%. The temperature effect study depicts the exothermic nature of the U(VI) and Cd(II) ion removal process. Various mechanisms involved in U(VI) and Cd(II) removal were proposed. Further, continuous fixed bed column studies were performed, and Thomas and the Yoon-Nelson model were studied. These insights from this investigation contribute to advancing our knowledge of the material's performance within the context of U(VI) and Cd(II) adsorption, paving the way for optimized and sustainable water treatment solutions.

Enhancing copper and lead adsorption in water by in-situ generation of calcium carbonate on alginate/chitosan biocomposite surfaces

Chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA)-based biocomposites (CSA) were prepared with the in-situ generation of Calcium Carbonate (CSAX_Ca) through a simple, straightforward, economical, and eco-friendly procedure. Different drying conditions (X) were tested to achieve suitable structural and surface characteristics to enhance adsorption capacity: freeze-dried (L), vacuum-dried with methanol (M), and freeze-dried + vacuum-dried with methanol (LM). Temperature and adsorbent dosage effects on the adsorption capacity of Cu2+ or Pb2+ were examined. Results showed that the higher-yielding biocomposite (CSALM_Ca) exhibited rapid adsorption and good diffusion properties, achieving removal above 90 % within contaminant initial concentration ranges of 10-100 mg/L. At 35 °C, a pseudo-second-order kinetic and the Langmuir model effectively described kinetics and isotherms, revealing maximum adsorption (qe, max) of 429 mgCu2+/L and 1742 mgPb2+/g. Characterization through FTIR, XRD, and SEM of the as-prepared adsorbents confirmed the presence of CaCO3 in vaterite and calcite forms and the influence of drying conditions on the material morphology. Post-adsorption material characterization, in combination with adsorption findings, revealed chemisorption processes involving Ca2+ ion exchange for Cu2+ or Pb2+, resulting in surface-insoluble compounds. The best-performing material showed that after three reuse cycles, the removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ decreased to 75 % and 62 %, respectively.

Unlocking the potential of biochar: an iron-phosphorus-based composite modified adsorbent for adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in aqueous environments and response surface optimization of adsorption conditions

In this work, iron-phosphorus based composite biochar (FPBC) was prepared by modification with potassium phosphate and iron oxides for the removal of heavy metal ions from single and mixed heavy metal (Pb and Cd) solutions. FTIR and XPS characterization experiments showed that the novel modified biochar had a greater number of surface functional groups compared to the pristine biochar. The maximum adsorption capacities of FPBC for Pb(II) and Cd(II) were 211.66 mg·g-1 and 94.08 mg·g-1 at 293 K. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by FPBC followed the proposed two-step adsorption kinetic model and the Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, suggesting that the mechanism of adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by FPBC involved chemical adsorption of multiple layers. Mechanistic studies showed that the introduction of -PO4 and -PO3 chemisorbed with Pb(II) and Cd(II), and the introduction of -Fe-O increased the ion exchange with Pb(II) and Cd(II) during the adsorption process and produced precipitates such as Pb3Fe(PO4)3 and Cd5Fe2(P2O7)4. Additionally, the abundant -OH and -COOH groups also participated in the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II). In addition, FPBC demonstrated strong selective adsorption of Pb(II) in mixed heavy metal solutions. The Response Surface Methodology(RSM) analysis determined the optimal adsorption conditions for FPBC as pH 5.31, temperature 26.01 °C, and Pb(II) concentration 306.30 mg·L-1 for Pb(II). Similarly, the optimal adsorption conditions for Cd(II) were found to be pH 5.66, temperature 39.34 °C, and Cd(II) concentration 267.68 mg·L-1. Therefore, FPBC has the potential for application as a composite-modified adsorbent for the adsorption of multiple heavy metal ions.

Application of machine learning in prediction of Pb2+ adsorption of biochar prepared by tube furnace and fluidized bed

Data mining by machine learning (ML) has recently come into application in heavy metals purification from wastewater, especially in exploring lead removal by biochar that prepared using tube furnace (TF-C) and fluidized bed (FB-C) pyrolysis methods. In this study, six ML models including Random Forest Regression (RFR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Kernel Ridge Regression (KRR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) were employed to predict lead adsorption based on a dataset of 1012 adsorption experiments, comprising 422 TF-C groups from our experiments and 590 FB-C groups from literatures. The XGB model showed superior accuracy and predictive performance for adsorption, achieving R2 values for TF-C (0.992) and FB-C (0.981), respectively. Contrasting inferior results were observed in other models, including RF (0.962 and 0.961), GBR (0.987 and 0.975), SVR (0.839 and 0.763), KRR (0.817 and 0.881), and LGBM (0.975 and 0.868). Additionally, a hybrid dataset combining both biochars in Pb adsorption also indicated high accuracy (0.972) as obtained from XGB model. The investigation revealed that the influence of char characteristics and adsorption conditions on Pb adsorption differs between the two biochar. Specific char characteristics, particularly nitrogen content, significantly influence lead adsorption in both biochar. Interestingly, the influence of pyrolysis temperature (PT) on lead adsorption is found to be greater for TF-C than for FB-C. Consequently, careful consideration of PT is crucial when preparing TF-C biochar. These findings offer practical guidance for optimizing biochar preparation conditions during heavy metal removal from wastewater.

Definitive Review of Nanobiochar

Nanobiochar is an advanced nanosized biochar with enhanced properties and wide applicability for a variety of modern-day applications. Nanobiochar can be developed easily from bulk biochar through top-down approaches including ball-milling, centrifugation, sonication, and hydrothermal synthesis. Nanobiochar can also be modified or engineered to obtain "engineered nanobiochar" or biochar nanocomposites with enhanced properties and applications. Nanobiochar provides many fold enhancements in surface area (0.4-97-times), pore size (0.1-5.3-times), total pore volume (0.5-48.5-times), and surface functionalities over bulk biochars. These enhancements have given increased contaminant sorption in both aqueous and soil media. Further, nanobiochar has also shown catalytic properties and applications in sensors, additive/fillers, targeted drug delivery, enzyme immobilization, polymer production, etc. The advantages and disadvantages of nanobiochar over bulk biochar are summarized herein, in detail. The processes and mechanisms involved in nanobiochar synthesis and contaminants sorption over nanobiochar are summarized. Finally, future directions and recommendations are suggested.

Lanthanum-doped magnetic biochar activating persulfate in the degradation of florfenicol

In this study, lanthanum-doped magnetic biochar (LaMBC) was synthesized from bagasse by co-doping iron salt and lanthanum salt, and it was characterized for its application in the activation of persulfate (PS) in the degradation of Florfenicol (FLO). The results indicated that the LaMBC/PS system consistently achieved a degradation efficiency of over 99.5 %, with a reaction rate constant 4.71 times as that of MBC. The mechanism of FLO degradation suggested that O2•- and •OH played dominant roles, contributing 40.92 % and 36.96 %, respectively, during FLO degradation. Through physicochemical characterization and quenching experiments, it can be concluded that the key reasons for the enhancement of MBC activation performance are as follows: (1) Lanthanum doping in magnetized biochar increased the Fe(II) content in MBC. (2) Lanthanum doping significantly improved the adsorption capacity of LaMBC, increased the concentration of pollutants on the catalyst surface and effectively enhancing the reaction rate. (3) Lanthanum doping effectively increased the surface Fe(II) content during the reaction process in LaMBC, promoted the generation of active oxygen species in PS. This study delves into synthesizing and applying LaMBC for PS activation and FLO removal. The emphasis is on comprehensively characterizing and experimenting to elucidate the mechanism, proposing an innovative approach for efficiently degrading antibiotic wastewater.

Spectra metrology for interaction of heavy metals with extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OMCS-1 reveals static quenching and complexation dynamics of EPS with heavy metals

The adsorption behavior and interaction mechanisms of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa OMCS-1 towards chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) were investigated. EPS-covered (EPS-C) cells exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.0001; two-way ANOVA) removal of Cr (85.58 ± 0.39%), Pb (81.98 ± 1.02%), and Cd (73.88 ± 1%) than EPS-removed (EPS-R) cells. Interactions between EPS-heavy metals were spontaneous (ΔG<0). EPS-Cr(VI) and EPS-Pb(II) binding were exothermic (ΔH<0), while EPS-Cd(II) binding was endothermic (ΔH>0) process. EPS bonded to Pb(II) via inner-sphere complexation by displacement of surrounding water molecules, while EPS-Cr(VI) and EPS-Cd(II) binding occurred through outer-sphere complexation via electrostatic interactions. Increased zeta potential of Cr (29.75%), Pb (41.46%), and Cd (46.83%) treated EPS and unchanged crystallinity (CIXRD=0.13), inferred EPS-metal binding via both electrostatic interactions and complexation mechanism. EPS-metal interaction was predominantly promoted through hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, and phosphate groups. Metal adsorption deviated EPS protein secondary structures. Strong static quenching mechanism between tryptophan protein-like substances in EPS and heavy metals was evidenced. EPS sequestered heavy metals via complexation with C-O, C-OH, CO/O-C-O, and NH/NH2 groups and ion exchange with -COOH group. This study unveils the fate of Cr, Pb, and Cd on EPS surface and provides insight into the interactions among EPS and metal ions for metal sequestration.

Adsorption and aggregation of Cu2+ on carboxymethylated sugarcane bagasse: Adsorption behavior and mechanism

Abundant biomass resources provide us with sufficient material basis, while a large amount of bio-waste is also produced and the high-value utilization of bio-waste is still highly desirable. Herein, we reported a facile one-pot fabrication approach towards efficient utilization of sugarcane bagasse via carboxymethylation to adsorb and recycle Cu2+ ions. The modified sugarcane bagasse possessed outstanding adsorption efficiency, with a maximum capacity of 263.7 mg g-1, owing to the functional groups such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, as well as aromatic structure. It was noted that the carboxymethylated sugarcane bagasse (MSB40) swelled rapidly when suffering Cu2+ ions solution, and more adsorption sites were available since the physical diffusion barrier was removed, thereby enhancing the absorption capacity. Interestingly, Cu2+ ions could induce the aggregation of MSB40 due to the Cu2+ ions compress colloid double layer, neutralizes surface charges, which benefited the following separation process. Ultimately, copper oxide was recovered and the purity reached 97.9%. Additionally, in the presence of both Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, MSB40 exhibited excellent selectivity for the adsorption of Cu2+ ions. This strategy offers a facile and novel clue for the high-value utilization of bio-waste and the recovery of copper for biomaterial and environmental applications.

Effect of montmorillonite modified straw biochar on transfer behavior of lead and copper in the historical mining areas of dry-hot valleys

Due to the rapid development of human beings, heavy metals are occurred in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Panxi Plateau, the special dry and hot climate areas. Pb and Cu can be quickly transferred through water-plant-animal, further harm to human health by food chain. Therefore, the study of heavy metal treatment is imminent. In this study, Biochar-montmorillonite composites were prepared by co-pyrolysis and characterized, and their ability to remove lead and copper from water-soil process were tracked. And their effectiveness in remediating soil contaminated by lead and copper was documented. The composite material has the rich pore structure, large specific surface area (81.5 m2/g) and a variety of surface functional groups such as C-C, CO, ester-metal and metal-oxygen bonds. Pb and Cu can be effectively adsorbed and fixed to the level of no harm to human health. The adsorption reaction of lead and copper on the Biochar-montmorillonite composites is more suitable to be described by Langmuir adsorption and pseudo-second-order kinetics models. The saturation adsorption capacity of the composite for Pb was measured as 212.5 mg/g. For Cu, it was 136.5 mg/g. The data were fitted by a two-compartment first-order kinetic model. ffast for Pb and Cu is estimated to be 0.81 and 0.78, respective. Fast adsorption is dominant and belongs to typical chemical adsorption, which is consistent with the second-order kinetic results. With 5 % of the composite, approximately 80 % of exchangeable heavy metals in those soils collected from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and Panxi Plateau were reduced. The biochar-montmorillonite composites made Pb and Cu change to stable residual state, up to 35 %. Besides, it effectively restored the activity of urease and sucrase in soils. Results indicated that biochar-montmorillonite composites can be effectively used as an environment-friendly adsorbent or passivator to purify heavy metals in soils.

Competitive adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of Cd, Ni, and Cu by biochar when coexisting with microplastics under single, binary, and ternary systems

In this study, the effects of coexistence with microplastics and co-ageing with the soil on adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of biochar for heavy metals were investigated. Adsorption experiments of Cd, Ni, and Cu by microplastics, biochar, and their combination were conducted in single, binary, and ternary systems. The results indicated that the heavy metal adsorption by microplastics was ranked as Ni > Cd > Cu, which increased with decreasing particle size, and the adsorption capacity of microplastics was enhanced after dry-wet and freeze-thaw ageing. Biochar preferentially adsorbed Cd in the single system, while the maximum adsorption of Cu was observed in the binary and ternary systems due to the minimizing impact of competition on the Cu adsorption by biochar. The heavy metal adsorption by the combination of microplastics and biochar was less than that by single biochar, and the smaller the particle size of microplastics, the greater the negative effects on heavy metal adsorption. Coexistence with microplastics reduced Cd adsorption of biochar by 0.72 %-50.35 %, Ni adsorption by 1.17 %-30.43 %, and Cu adsorption by 5.78 %-47.88 %, respectively. Moreover, coexistence with microplastics exacerbated the adverse impacts of competition on biochar adsorption for heavy metals. The contribution percentages of biochar mineral mechanisms for heavy metal adsorption were ranked as Cu > Cd > Ni. When coexisting with microplastics or after ageing, the mineral mechanisms of heavy metal adsorption by biochar significantly decreased. This study investigated the competitive adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of heavy metals by biochar when coexisting with microplastics, which highlighted that the application of biochar for the remediation of heavy metal pollution should be concerned with the impacts of microplastics.

Quantification of the effect of biochar application on heavy metals in paddy systems: Impact, mechanisms and future prospects

Biochar (BC) has shown great potential in remediating heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) contamination in paddy fields. Variation in feedstock sources, pyrolysis temperatures, modification methods, and application rates of BC can result in great changes in its effects on HM bioavailability and bioaccumulation in soil-rice systems and remediation mechanisms. Meanwhile, there is a lack of application guidelines for BC with specific properties and application rates when targeting rice fields contaminated with certain HMs. To elucidate this topic, this review focuses on i) the effects of feedstock type, pyrolysis temperature, and modification method on the properties of BC; ii) the changes in bioavailability and bioaccumulation of HMs in soil-rice systems applying BC with different feedstocks, pyrolysis temperatures, modification methods, and application rates; and iii) exploration of potential remediation mechanisms for applying BC to reduce the mobility and bioaccumulation of HMs in rice field systems. In general, the application of Fe/Mn modified organic waste (OW) derived BC for mid-temperature pyrolysis is still a well-optimized choice for the remediation of HM contamination in rice fields. From the viewpoint of remediation efficiency, the application rate of BC should be appropriately increased to immobilize Cd, Pb, and Cu in rice paddies, while the application rate of BC for immobilizing As should be <2.0 % (w/w). The mechanism of remediation of HM-contaminated rice fields by applying BC is mainly the direct adsorption of HMs by BC in soil pore water and the mediation of soil microenvironmental changes. In addition, the application of Fe/Mn modified BC induced the formation of iron plaque (IP) on the root surface of rice, which reduced the uptake of HM by the plant. Finally, this paper describes the prospects and challenges for the extension of various BCs for the remediation of HM contamination in paddy fields and makes some suggestions for future development.

A novel ZIF-8@IL-MXene/poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocomposite hydrogel toward multifunctional adsorption

Phenols, dyes, and metal ions present in industrial wastewater can adversely affect the environment and leach biological carcinogens. Given that the current research focuses only on the removal of one or two of those categories. Herein, this work reports a novel ZIF-8@IL-MXene/Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NIPAM) nanocomposite hydrogel that can efficiently and conveniently absorb and separate multiple pollutants from industrial wastewater. Ionic liquid (IL) was grafted onto MXene surfaces using a one-step method, and then incorporated into NIPAM monomer solutions to obtain the IL-MXene/PNIPAM composite hydrogel via in-situ polymerization. ZIF-8@IL-MXene/PNIPAM nanocomposite hydrogels were obtained by in-situ growth of ZIF-8 on the pore walls of composite hydrogels. As-prepared nanocomposite hydrogel showed excellent mechanical properties and can withstand ten repeated compressions without any damage, the specific surface area increased by 100 times, and the maximum adsorption capacities for p-nitrophenol (4-NP), crystal violet (CV), and copper ion (Cu2+) were 198.40, 325.03, and 285.65 mg g-1, respectively, at room temperature. The VPTTs of all hydrogels ranged from 33 to 35 °C, so the desorption process can be achieved in deionized water at 35-40 °C, and its adsorption capacities after five adsorption-desorption cycles decreased to 79%, 91%, and 29% for 4-NP, CV, and Cu2+, respectively. The adsorption data fitting results follow pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich models, which is based on multiple interactions between the functional groups contained in hydrogels and adsorbent molecules. The hydrogel is the first to realize the high-efficiency adsorption of phenols, dyes and metal ions in industrial wastewater simultaneously, and the preparation process of hydrogels is environmentally friendly. Also, giving hydrogel multifunctional adsorption is beneficial to promote the development of multifunctional adsorption materials.

Highly efficient Ni(II) adsorption by industrial lignin-based biochar: a pivotal role of dissolved substances within biochar

In the context of carbon neutrality, promoting resource utilization of industrial alkali lignin addressing heavy metal pollution is crucial for China's pollution alleviation and carbon reduction. Microwave pyrolysis produced functionalized biochar from industrial alkali lignin for Ni(II) adsorption. LB400 achieved 343.15 mg g-1 saturated adsorption capacity in 30 min. Pseudo-second-order kinetic and Temkin isotherm models accurately described the adsorption, which was endothermic and spontaneous (ΔGϴ < 0, ΔHϴ > 0). Quantitative analysis revealed that both dissolved substances and carbon skeleton from biochar contributed to adsorption, with the former predominates (93.76%), including mineral precipitation NiCO3 (Qp) and adsorption of dissolved organic matter (QDOM). Surface complexation (Qc) and ion exchange (Qi) on the carbon skeleton accounted for 6.3%. Higher biochar preparation temperature reduced Ni(II) adsorption by dissolved substances. Overall, biochar which comes from the advantageous disposal of industrial lignin effectively removes Ni(II) contamination, encouraging ecologically sound treatment of heavy metal pollution and sustainable resource utilization.

Biochar derived from tobacco waste significantly reduces the accumulations of cadmium and copper in edible parts of two vegetables: an in-situ field study

Biochar, as a soil amendment, can be applied to remediate heavy metal (HM) contaminated farmland. However, there is little research on the effect of tobacco biochar (TB) derived from tobacco waste on HM controlling in edible parts of vegetables. In this study, the impact of two TB levels on the plant growth, copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum, and on Cu and Cd bioavailability of rhizosphere soil was investigated through in-situ field experiments. The results showed that TB has rich oxygen containing functional groups, high porosity, high nitrogen adsorption capacity. The addition of 5 t ha-1 and 10 t ha-1 TB significantly increased the shoot biomass of chrysanthemum, but had no effect on the growth of lettuce. Two levels of TB significantly increased the pH value, but decreased the available Cu and Cd concentrations of rhizosphere soil, thereby reducing the Cu and Cd accumulations in the edible parts of lettuce and chrysanthemum. The findings provided effective evidences that TB derived from tobacco waste is an efficient strategy for controlling Cu and Cd accumulation in the edible parts of vegetables to ensure agri-product safety production in HM-polluted farmland.

Bio-Based Aerogels for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Oils from Water: Novel Solutions for Environmental Remediation

Contamination of the aqueous environment caused by the presence of heavy metal ions and oils is a growing concern that must be addressed to reduce their detrimental impact on living organisms and safeguard the environment. Recent efficient and environmentally friendly remediation methods for the treatment of water are based on third-generation bioaerogels as emerging applications for the removal of heavy metal ions and oils from aqueous systems. The peculiarities of these materials are various, considering their high specific surface area and low density, together with a highly porous three-dimensional structure and tunable surface chemistry. This review illustrates the recent progress in aerogels developed from cellulose and chitosan as emerging materials in water treatment. The potential of aerogel-based adsorbents for wastewater treatment is reported in terms of adsorption efficacy and reusability. Despite various gaps affecting the manufacturing and production costs of aerogels that actually limit their successful implementation in the market, the research progress suggests that bio-based aerogels are ready to be used in water-treatment applications in the near future.

Biochar Derived from Urban Green Waste Can Enhance the Removal of Cd from Water and Reduce Soil Cd Bioavailability

The beneficial utilization of potentially increasing urban green waste (UGW) is critical for sustainable urban development in China. In this study, UGW was pyrolyzed at different temperatures, and the resulting biochar was used to amend Cd-contaminated soils to grow cabbage. Our results showed that the Cd adsorption capacity of UGW-biochar was positively correlated with the surface area, O/C, and (O+N)/C value of biochar. Furthermore, UGW-biochar was incorporated into three Cd-contaminated soils, including one acidic soil and two neutral soils, to assess its impact on the availability of Cd. The most substantial reduction in the concentration of available Cd was observed in the acidic soil, of the three tested soils. In the neutral soils, a more substantial reduction was found in the heavily Cd-contaminated soil compared to the lightly Cd-contaminated soil. UGW-biochar amendments to the three Cd-contaminated soils resulted in an increase in the cabbage biomass in acidic soil, whereas in neutral soils, it increased in lightly contaminated soils but decreased in heavily contaminated soils. Additionally, the Cd bioaccumulation factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and removal efficiency (RE), as impacted by the biochar application, were calculated in the lightly Cd-contaminated soil-cabbage system. The BCF decreased from 5.84 to 3.80 as the dosage of the UGW-biochar increased from 0% to 3%, indicating that the UGW-biochar immobilized Cd and reduced its bioaccumulation in cabbage roots. Based on our investigations, UGW-biochar effectively immobilizes Cd by reducing its mobility and bioavailability in a lightly contaminated environment matrix.

Hydrothermal Ammonia Carbonization of Rice Straw for Hydrochar to Separate Cd(II) and Zn(II) Ions from Aqueous Solution

Hydrochar is considered to be a good adsorbent for the separation of metal ions from aqueous solutions. However, the yield of hydrochar from raw straw is generally low, because the hydrothermal carbonization occurs via dehydration, polymerization, and carbonization. In this work, various hydrochar samples were prepared from rice straw with nitrogen and phosphorus salt; moreover, toilet sewage was used instead of nitrogen, and phosphorus salt and water were used to promote the polymerization and carbonization process. The modified carbon was characterized using XRD, XPS, SEM, and FTIR, and the adsorption capacity was investigated. A significant increase in hydrochar yield was observed when toilet sewage was used as the solvent in the hydrothermal carbonization process. The adsorption capacity of N/P-doped rice straw hydrochar for Cd2+ and Zn2+ metal ions was 1.1-1.4 times higher than that those using the rice straw hydrochar. The Langmuir models and pseudo-second-order models described the metal adsorption processes in both the single and binary-metal systems well. The characterization results showed the contribution of the surface complexation, the electrostatic interaction, the hydrogen bond, and the ion exchange to the extraction of Cd2+ and Zn2+ using N/P-doped rice straw hydrochar.

Characterization and application of Fe-modified biochar alleviating Cr(VI) stress in pak choi seedling cultivated in Cr-polluted hydroponics

Chromium (Cr) is one of the common environmental pollutants, which causes severe health hazards on human health and environmental security. In this study, we characterized two biochars, a raw biochar (RBC) and a Fe-modified biochar (MBC) made from poplar wood chips and determined the effect of the two biochars on remediation of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in hydroponic system by monitoring Pak choi growth. Results showed the surface area, pore number and pore volume were significantly higher in MBC than in PBC, but the pore size was larger in PBC than in MBC. When compared to the control, low concentrations of Cr(VI) (≤2 mg L-1) promoted the growth and biomass production of Pak choi by 10-78%. In contrast, the high concentrations of Cr(VI) (≥4 mg L-1) showed a significantly reduction of the growth and biomass production of Pak choi by 10-28%. Fe-modified biochar (MBC) had a more significant impact than RBC on the remediation of Cr in the Cr(VI) pollution and improved growth and biomass production of Pak choi to a greater extent. Our study indicated that MBC has a better effect on degrading Cr(VI) pollution. The findings provide scientific basis and reference for the remediation of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems by using biochar.

Biosorption of U(VI) and mechanisms by live and dead cells of Sphingopyxis sp. YF1

Heavy metal pollution seriously threatens the environment and human health. The biosorption of heavy metals has attracted worldwide attention due to its cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. It is significant to develop biosorbents with excellent adsorption performance. Sphingopyxis is widely used in the removal of various organic pollutants, but its potential application in heavy metal adsorption has been largely overlooked. This study investigates the biosorption of U(VI) onto live and dead cells of a Sphingopyxis strain YF1. The effects of pH, contact time and initial ion concentration on U(VI) adsorption investigated, and kinetic and isothermal models were used to fit the adsorption results. The results show that under pH 3-6, the adsorption of U(VI) by YF1 live cells increased with the increase of the pH. Both the pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order models can satisfactorily interpret the adsorption by live and dead cells. Three isothermal adsorption models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Sips) were used to fit the adsorption process. The adsorption of uranium by live and dead cells was best fitted by the Sips model. The maximal adsorption capacities of U(VI) by live and dead cells were 140.7 mg g-1 and 205.7 mg g-1, respectively. The mechanisms of U(VI) adsorption by Sphingopyxis sp. YF1 were revealed. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) show that U(VI) was deposited on the surface of the bacterial cells. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) shows that amine, hydroxyl, alkyl, amide I, amide II, phosphate, carboxylates and carboxylic acids were the major functional groups that are involved in U(VI) adsorption by live and dead cells. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggests that the main functional groups of live cells involved in adsorption were O = C-O, C-OH/C-O-C and N-C = O. This study indicates Sphingopyxis sp. YF1 is a high-efficiency U(VI)-adsorbing strain, promising to remove U(VI) from aquatic environment.

Supramolecular Cu(ii) nanoparticles supported on a functionalized chitosan containing urea and thiourea bridges as a recoverable nanocatalyst for efficient synthesis of 1H-tetrazoles

A cost-effective and convenient method for supporting of Cu(ii) nanoparticles on a modified chitosan backbone containing urea and thiourea bridges using thiosemicarbazide (TS), pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) linkers was designed. The prepared supramolecular (CS-TDI-PMDA-TS-Cu(ii)) nanocomposite was characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry analysis (TGA/DTA), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), EDS elemental mapping and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The obtained supramolecular CS-TDI-PMDA-TS-Cu(ii) nanomaterial was demonstrated to act as a multifunctional nanocatalyst for promoting of multicomponent cascade Knoevenagel condensation/click 1,3-dipolar azide-nitrile cycloaddition reactions very efficiently between aromatic aldehydes, sodium azide and malononitrile under solvent-free conditions and affording the corresponding (E)-2-(1H-tetrazole-5-yl)-3-arylacrylenenitrile derivatives. Low catalyst loading, working under solvent-free conditions and short reaction time as well as easy preparation and recycling, and reuse of the catalyst for five consecutive cycles without considerable decrease in its catalytic efficiency make it a suitable candidate for the catalytic reactions promoted by Cu species.

Hydrothermal Pretreatment of KOH for the Preparation of PAC and Its Adsorption on TC

The environment has been heavily contaminated with tetracycline (TC) due to its excessive use; however, activated carbon possessing well-developed pores can effectively adsorb TC. This study synthesized pinecone-derived activated carbon (PAC) with high specific surface area (1744.659 cm²/g, 1688.427 cm²/g) and high adsorption properties (840.62 mg/g, 827.33 mg/g) via hydrothermal pretreatment methods utilizing pinecones as precursors. The results showed that PAC treated with 6% KOH solution had excellent adsorption properties. It is found that the adsorption process accords with the PSO model, and a large amount of C=C in PAC provides the carrier for π-πEDA interaction. The results of characterization and the isothermal model show that TC plays a key role in the adsorption process of PAC. It is concluded that the adsorption process of TC on PAC prepared by hydrothermal pretreatment is mainly pore filling and π-πEDA interaction, which makes it a promising adsorbent for TC adsorption.

Physicochemical properties and Pb2+ adsorption capacity of freeze-dried hawthorn pectin fractions by gradient ethanol precipitation

Three fractions of FHP20, FHP40 and FHP60 were obtained from freeze-dried hawthorn pectin by gradient ethanol precipitation (20-60 %), and their physicochemical properties and adsorption performance on Pb²⁺ were investigated. It was found that the content of galacturonic acid (GalA) and esterification of FHP fractions gradually reduced with the increase of ethanol concentration. FHP60 had the lowest molecular weight (60.69 × 10³ Da), and the composition and proportion of monosaccharides were significantly different. The experimental results of Pb²⁺ adsorption showed that the adsorption process fitted well with the Langmuir monolayer adsorption and the pseudo-second-order models. Our findings suggested that pectin fractions with good homogeneity of molecular weight and chemical construction can be obtained by gradient ethanol precipitation, and hawthorn pectin could be developed as a potential adsorbent for Pb²⁺ removal.

Enhanced adsorption and co-adsorption of heavy metals using highly hydrophilicity amine-functionalized magnetic hydrochar supported MIL-53(Fe)-NH2: performance, kinetics, and mechanism studies

It is a "kill two birds with one stone" method to convert invasive plants into hydrochar via hydrothermal carbonization as well as coinciding with 3R rules (reduction, recycling, and reuse). In this work, a series of hydrochars (pristine, modified, and composite) derived from invasive plants Alternanthera philoxeroides (AP) were prepared and applied to the adsorption and co-adsorption of heavy metals (HMs) such as Pb(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), and Ni(II). The results show that MIL-53(Fe)-NH₂- magnetic hydrochar composite (M-HBAP) displayed a strong affinity for HMs, which the maximum adsorption capacities for HMs were 153.80 (Pb(II)), 144.77 (Cr(VI)), 80.58 (Cd(II)), 78.62 (Cu(II)), 50.39 (Zn(II)), and 52.83(Ni(II)) mg/g (c₀ = 200 mg/L, t = 24 h, T = 25 ℃, pH = 5,2,6,4,6,5). This may be because the doping of MIL-53(Fe)-NH₂ enhanced the surface hydrophilicity of hydrochar, which allows hydrochar to disperse in the water within 0.12 s and possessed excellent dispersibility compared with pristine hydrochar (BAP) and amine-functionalized magnetic modified hydrochar (HBAP). Furthermore, the BET surface area of BAP was improved from 5.63 to 64.10 m²/g after doing MIL-53(Fe)-NH₂. M-HBAP shows a strong adsorption effect on the single HMs system (52-153 mg/g), while it decreased significantly (17-62 mg/g) in the mixed HMs system due to the competitive adsorption. Cr(VI) can produce strong electrostatic interaction with M-HBAP, Pb(II) can react with CaC₂O₄ on the surface of M-HBAP for chemical precipitation, and other HMs can react with functional groups on the surface of M-HBAP for complexation and ion exchange. In addition, five adsorption-desorption cycle experiments and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) curves also proved the feasibility of the M-HBAP application.

Performance and Mechanism of Functionalized Water Hyacinth Biochar for Adsorption and Removal of Benzotriazole and Lead in Water

In this paper, water hyacinth is used to prepare biochar (WBC). A biochar-aluminum-zinc-layered double hydroxide composite functional material (WL) is synthesized via a simple co-precipitation method which is used to adsorb and remove benzotriazole (BTA) and lead (Pb²⁺) in an aqueous solution. In particular, this research paper uses various characterization methods to analyze WL and to explore the adsorption performance and adsorption mechanism of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ in an aqueous solution through batch adsorption experiments combined with model fitting and spectroscopy techniques. The results indicate that the surface of WL contains a thick sheet-like structure with many wrinkles which would provide many adsorption sites for pollutants. At room temperature (25 °C), the maximum adsorption capacities of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ are 248.44 mg·g^-1 and 227.13 mg·g^-1, respectively. In a binary system, during the process of using WL to adsorb BTA and Pb²⁺, compared with that in the absorption on Pb²⁺, WL shows a stronger affinity in the adsorption on BTA, and BTA would thus be preferred in the absorption process. The adsorption process of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ is spontaneous and is endothermic monolayer chemisorption. In addition, the adsorption of WL on BTA and Pb²⁺ involves many mechanisms, but the main adsorption mechanisms are different. Among them, hydrogen bonding dominates the adsorption on BTA, while functional groups (C-O and C=O) complexation dominates the adsorption on Pb²⁺. When WL adsorbs BTA and Pb²⁺, the coexistence of cations (K⁺, Na⁺, and Ca²⁺) has a strong anti-interference ability, and WL can use a lower concentration of fulvic acid (FA) (<20 mg·L^-1) to improve its adsorption performance. Last but not least, WL has a stable regenerative performance in a one-component system and a binary system, which indicates that WL has excellent potential for the remediation of BTA and Pb²⁺ in water.

Arsenic removal and stabilization behavior of schwertmannite@BC (Sch@BC) in contaminated dual media (water/soil): Via sulfate exchange and chemical complexation

Arsenic (As) is extremely harmful to the ecological environment and human health owing to its high toxicity. The composite that biochar (BC) modified by Schwertmannite (Sch), marked as Sch@BC, were prepared to remediate As-contaminated water and soil with a high efficiency. The characterization results showed that the Sch particles were successfully loaded on the BC, providing more active sites for As(V) adsorption. Compared with the pristine BC, the adsorption capacity of Sch@BC-1 was significantly improved (50.00 mg/g), of which the adsorption capacity kept stable over a wide pH range (pH = 2-8). The adsorption process conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm model, which indicated that chemical adsorption was the dominant mechanism and the adsorption rate was controlled by intraparticle diffusion. Sch@BC could adsorb As(V) through electrostatic interaction and ion exchange, forming a FeAsO₄ complex and removing As(V). The 5-week soil incubation experiment showed that 3% Sch@BC showed the optimal stabilization effect, while the proportion of stable crystalline Fe/Mn-bound fractionation (F4) increased. Moreover, the results of microbial community diversity showed that Sch@BC interacted with As-resistant dominant microorganisms such as Proteobacteria in soil, promoted their growth and reproduction, and improved the stability of As in soil. In summary, Sch@BC is an excellent agent with broad application prospects for remediating As-contaminated water and soil.

Removal of heavy metals from binary and multicomponent adsorption systems using various adsorbents - a systematic review

The ecosystem and human health are both significantly affected by the occurrence of potentially harmful heavy metals in the aquatic environment. In general, wastewater comprises an array of heavy metals, and the existence of other competing heavy metal ions might affect the adsorptive elimination of one heavy metal ion. Therefore, to fully comprehend the adsorbent's efficiency and practical applications, the abatement of heavy metals in multicomponent systems is important. In the current study, the multicomponent adsorption of heavy metals from different complex mixtures, such as binary, ternary, quaternary, and quinary solutions, utilizing various adsorbents are reviewed in detail. According to the systematic review, the adsorbents made from locally and naturally occurring materials, such as biomass, feedstocks, and industrial and agricultural waste, are effective and promising in removing heavy metals from complex water systems. The systematic study further discovered that numerous studies evaluate the adsorption characteristics of an adsorbent in a multicomponent system using various important independent adsorption parameters. These independent adsorption parameters include reaction time, solution pH, agitation speed, adsorbent dosage, initial metal ion concentration, ionic strength as well as reaction temperature, which were found to significantly affect the multicomponent sorption of heavy metals. Furthermore, through the application of the multicomponent adsorption isotherms, the competitive heavy metals sorption mechanisms were identified and characterized by three primary kinds of interactive effects including synergism, antagonism, and non-interaction. Despite the enormous amount of research and extensive data on the capability of different adsorbents, several significant drawbacks hinder adsorbents from being used practically and economically to remove heavy metal ions from multicomponent systems. As a result, the current systematic review provides insights and perspectives for further studies through the thorough and reliable analysis of the relevant literature on heavy metals removal from multicomponent systems.

Selective removal behavior of lead and cadmium from calcium-rich solution by MgO loaded soybean straw biochars and mechanism analysis

Modified biochars has great potential for removing heavy metals from aquatic environments, but the removal of heavy metals by biochars is usually significantly affected by the co-presence of the macro amount of metal ions, such as Ca. Enhancing the ion exchange capacity of biochar by increasing its alkali metal content is a very prospective method to improve its selectivity. In this paper, MgO loaded biochar (MBC) was synthesized by co-pyrolysis of soybean straw and MgCl₂·6H₂O for selective remove Pb and Cd from calcium-rich wastewater. MBC exhibited excellent selective adsorption performance for Pb and Cd in calcium-rich wastewater due to the successful loading of MgO. The adsorption capacities of MBC for Pb and Cd were 582.57 and 167.40 mg/g, and the removal efficiency of Ca below 2.5% with an initial concentration of 800 mg/L. The ion exchange capacities of Pb and Cd enhanced almost 27 and 23 times than BC. By analyzing the results of BET, XRD, SEM-EDS, XPS and FTIR, the adsorption mechanisms of MBC were mainly including ion exchange, precipitation with minerals, and interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups. The easy preparation method and high selective adsorption capacity makes MBC an ideal alternative for efficiently selective removal Pb and Cd from calcium-rich wastewater.

Effect of combined aging treatment on biochar adsorption and speciation distribution for Cd(II)

As a passivation material for heavy metals in-situ remediation, biochar (BC) has often been expected to maintain long-term adsorption performance for target pollutants. There is still lack of consensus about the impact of aging processes on biochar properties, particularly with respect to its long-term sorption performance. In this study, the changes to immobilization mechanisms as well as the speciation distribution of Cd(II) triggered by combined aging simulation (dry-wet, freeze-thaw cycle and oxidation treatment) on BC prepared under three levels of pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500 and 700 °C) were investigated. The results showed significant inhibition of aging on adsorption performance with the adsorptive capacity of BC300, BC500 and BC700 for Cd(II) decreased by 31.12 %, 50.63 % and 14.94 %, respectively. However, sequential extraction results indicated little influence of the aging process on the relative fractionation of Cd(II) speciation. The distribution of readily bioavailable, potentially bioavailable and non-bioavailable fractions of Cd(II) on BC showed only minimal changes post-aging. Overall, there was less Cd(II) sorption following aging, but the fractional availability (in relative terms) remained the same. Compared with 300 and 700 °C, the biochar prepared under 500 °C accounted the highest fraction of non-bioavailable Cd(II) (67.23 % of BC500, 59.17 % of Aged-500), and thus showed most promising for Cd(II) immobilization. This study has important practical significance for the long-term application of biochar in real environment.

Hybrid lignin particles via ion-crosslinked for selective removal of anionic dyes from water

Hybrid lignin (HL) particles were synthesized by compounding lignosulfonate and carboxylated chitosan through a simple ionic cross-linking method, and modifying by polyvinylpolyamine. Due to the synergistic effect of recombination and modification, the material exhibits excellent adsorption performance for anionic dyes in water. The structural characteristics and adsorptive behavior were systematically investigated. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model were revealed to well describe the sorption procedure of HL for anionic dyes. The results exhibited that the sorption capacities of HL on sodium indigo disulfonate and tartrazine were 1099.01 mg/g and 436.68 mg/g, respectively. Simultaneously, the adsorbent behaved no significant adsorption capacity loss after five adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating its superb stability and recyclability. Additionally, the HL exhibited excellent selective adsorption of anionic dyes form binary dye adsorption systems. The interaction forces between adsorbent and dye molecules, such as hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, electrostatic attraction and cation bonding bridge, are discussed in detail. The facile preparation process and superior dyes removal performance of HL were considered a potential adsorbent to remove anionic dyes from wastewater.

Functionalization of pine sawdust biochars with Mg/Al layered double hydroxides to enhance adsorption capacity of synthetic azo dyes: Adsorption mechanisms and reusability

This study determined that the adsorption of azo dyes, Methyl Orange (MO) and Sunset Yellow FCF (SYF), using the pristine pine sawdust biochar (PSB) and post-modified PSB with Mg/Al layered double hydroxides (PSB-LDH_MgAl) was examined to offer valuable information into the differences in their adsorption mechanisms. Although a lower specific surface area of PSB-LDH_MgAl (147.2 m² g^-1) than PSB (495.7 m² g^-1), LDH_MgAl were successfully functionalized on the PSB surface through co-precipitation, which was highly related to the improvements of adsorption capacity of PSB-LDH_MgAl toward MO and SYF. The MO and SYF adsorption kinetics by PSB and PSB-LDH_MgAl were confirmed to the pseudo-second-order and considered chemisorption. The adsorption capacity of MO and SYF adsorbed onto PSB-LDH_MgAl (MO = 21.8 mg g^-1, SYF = 23.6 mg g^-1) were significantly higher than that of PSB (MO = 2.2 mg g^-1, SYF = 1.6 mg g^-1). The adsorption isotherms of MO and SYF by PSB were well fitted by Freundlich isotherm, whereas the MO and SYF via PSB-LDH_MgAl were by Langmuir isotherm. Even after 3 adsorption-desorption cycles using desorbents, the PSB-LDH_MgAl remained excellent reusability (reuse efficiency: >81.2%). These findings suggest that post-modification with LDH_MgAl might accelerate the adsorption performance (i.e., electrostatic interaction) of azo dyes to PSB in water.

Tracing the synergistic migration of biochar and heavy metals based on 13C isotope signature technique: Effect of ionic strength and flow rate

Understanding the transport of biochar and heavy metals is important for evaluation of the long-term stability and ecotoxicity of heavy metals after biochar remediation. In this study, ¹³C-labelled biochar was prepared to investigate the synergistic down migration of biochar and heavy metals in the soil profile, and the effect of ionic strength (IS) and flow rate was examined. Results showed that the ¹³C-labelled biochar with high δ¹³C (249.3 ‰) was suitable for tracing the migration of biochar without influencing its adsorption for heavy metals (i.e., Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺). Both higher IS and flow rate were favorable for the release of biochar, but higher IS inhibited the transport of biochar in soil profile, which was attributed to the enhanced primary- and secondary-minimum deposition based on the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) analysis. The transport of Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ was facilitated by high IS and flow rate. The release of Cd from biochar was mainly affected by IS, due to ion exchange and a weaker electrostatic attraction to biochar at higher IS, while that of Cu was mainly affected by flow rate related to co-migration of metal with biochar. Metal-biochar particle was the dominant form to migrate in upper soil layer, whereas, soluble Cd²⁺ and Cu²⁺ desorbed from biochar were the dominant forms that migrated to the deeper soil. The synergistic down migration of biochar and heavy metals might pose less risks than the sole migration of soluble metals. That is, high IS might cause higher risks than high flow rate even though biochar and metals might transport further with high flow rate. These findings will advance the current knowledge on the migration risk involved in the in-situ remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils by biochar.