Recycled-tire pyrolytic carbon made functional: A high-arsenite [As(III)] uptake material PyrC₃₅₀^®

A novel material, PyrC₃₅₀^®, has been developed from pyrolytic-tire char (PyrC), as an efficient low-cost Arsenite [As(III)] adsorbent from water. PyrC₃₅₀^® achieves 31mgg^-1 As(III) uptake, that remains unaltered at pH=4-8.5. A theoretical Surface Complexation Model has been developed that explains the adsorption mechanism, showing that in situ formed Fe₃C, ZnS particles act cooperatively with the carbon matrix for As(III) adsorption. Addressing the key-issue of cost-effectiveness, we provide a comparison of As(III)-uptake effectiveness in conjunction with a cost analysis, showing that PyrC₃₅₀^® stands in the top of [effectiveness/cost] vs. existing carbon-based, low-cost materials.