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Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
Production, characterization and adsorption studies of bamboo-based biochar/montmorillonite composite for nitrate
Eva Viglašová1, Michal Galamboš2, Zuzana Danková3
1Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Energy Department, Environmental Resources and Technologies, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria.
Abstract:
Biochar is a promising immobilization tool for various contaminants in liquid wastes, aqueous solutions and soils. To further improve the sorption characteristics, a biochar/montmorillonite composite was produced and synthesized in an experimental pyrolysis reactor, using bamboo as biomass feedstock. The composite was characterized by physico-chemical and structural methods (FTIR, SEM, SEM/EDX, SSA, Low temperature nitrogen adsorption method). Based on these methods, the successful preparation of a bamboo based biochar/montmorillonite composite preparation has been demonstrated. The particles of montmorillonite were distributed across the biochar surface. The adsorption studies for removal nitrates from aqueous solutions were investigated by a batch method at laboratory temperatures. The experimental data were fitted by three adsorption models (Langmuir, Freundlich and DR; R2 > 0.93). The maximum adsorption capacity achieved by biochar at pH 4, was about 5 mg g-1 and by biochar/montmorillonite composite 9 mg g-1. The results suggest that the bamboo-based biochar/montmorillonite composite can be used effectively in the treatment of industrial effluents or waste water containing anionic pollutants such as nitrates.
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