Lanthanum ferrite nanoparticles modification onto biochar: derivation from four different methods and high...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry

Background:

• Phosphate pollution poses significant environmental risks.
• Effective phosphate removal and resource recovery are crucial for sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO3)/biochar composites for phosphate removal.
• To investigate the influence of different preparation methods on material properties and performance.
• To understand the adsorption mechanism and regenerability of the developed materials.

Main Methods:

• Straw biochar was functionalized with lanthanum ferrite using four distinct methods: one-step co-precipitation (S-C), two-step co-precipitation (B-C), one-step impregnation (S-E), and two-step impregnation (B-E).
• Materials were characterized using various techniques to analyze morphology and chemical composition.
• Phosphate adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate capacity, kinetics, and the influence of pH.
• Adsorption mechanisms and material regenerability were investigated.

Main Results:

• All four preparation methods yielded LaFeO3/biochar composites with similar chemical compositions but different physical morphologies.
• The LaFeO3/biochar composites demonstrated high phosphate adsorption capacity, well-fitted by pseudo-second-order and Sips models.
• Excellent phosphate adsorption performance was observed across a wide pH range (2.3–10.6).
• Negligible lanthanum ion release occurred above pH 5.27, indicating material stability.

Conclusions:

• Lanthanum ferrite functionalization is a viable strategy for enhancing biochar's phosphate adsorption capabilities.
• The preparation method influences the physical characteristics of the composite material.
• LaFeO3/biochar shows significant potential for efficient phosphate removal from polluted water sources.
• The study provides insights into adsorption mechanisms and preparation technologies for LaFeO3/biochar composites.