Pb(II) sorption from aqueous solution by novel biochar loaded with nano-particles

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Heavy metal contamination in wastewater poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Developing efficient and cost-effective sorbents for heavy metal removal is crucial.
• Existing sorbents often face challenges with capacity, separation, and reusability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel magnetic biochar nanocomposite (HBC) for heavy metal removal.
• To investigate the sorption performance of HBC for lead ions (Pb(II)).
• To evaluate the potential of HBC as an effective sorbent for wastewater treatment.

Main Methods:

• Biochar nanocomposite (HBC) synthesized by incorporating Maghemite and EDTA-functionalized layered double hydroxides nanoparticles onto biochar.
• Characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS).
• Sorption experiments conducted to study the effects of pH, kinetics, and isotherms for Pb(II) removal.

Main Results:

• HBC exhibited strong Pb(II) sorption capacity, reaching up to 146.84 mg g⁻¹.
• Sorption behavior followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models.
• The presence of magnetic nanoparticles facilitated easy separation of the sorbent from aqueous solutions.
• Sorption efficiency was significantly influenced by solution pH.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized HBC is a highly efficient magnetic sorbent for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions.
• HBC offers a superior sorption capacity compared to many previously reported sorbents.
• The magnetic properties enable facile recovery and potential reuse, making HBC a viable option for wastewater remediation.