Modification of bio-char derived from fast pyrolysis of biomass and its application in removal of tetracycline from aqueous solution

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 121; pp. 235 - 240
• Main Authors: Liu, Pei, Liu, Wu-Jun, Jiang, Hong, Chen, Jie-Jie, Li, Wen-Wei, Yu, Han-Qing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Adsorption mechanisms; Bio-char; Biomass; Byproducts; Charcoal - chemical synthesis; Charcoal - metabolism; Fourier transforms; Hot Temperature; Modification; Nitrogen - chemistry; Photoelectron Spectroscopy; Pyrolysis; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Surface chemistry; Tetracycline; Tetracycline - metabolism; Tetracyclines; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Purification - methods; Modification; Adsorption mechanisms; Bio-char; Tetracycline
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.085

► Bio-char, a by-product of pyrolysis, can remove TC in wastewater effectively. ► Alkali modification could enhance the bio-char adsorption capacity. ► The TC adsorption is attributed mainly to π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding. In this work, bio-char, a mass productive by-product of biomass fast pyrolysis, was adopted as an adsorbent to remove tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solution. To enhance the adsorption capacity, a simple modification of bio-char with acid and alkali was carried out. Bio-char samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm. The results show that the alkali treated bio-char possesses larger surface area than those of raw and acid treated bio-chars, and accordingly exhibits a more excellent adsorption performance (58.8mg/g) than the other two bio-chars and other adsorbents reported previously. The graphite-like structure of bio-char facilitates the formation of π–π interactions between ring structure in tetracycline molecule and graphite-like sheets. The surface area showed significant effects on TC adsorption as well as O-containing functional groups, whereas the initial pH of solution has small effects on TC adsorption under the experimental conditions.