Microfibrillar Polysaccharide-Derived Biochars as Sodium Benzoate Adsorbents

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Polysaccharide-derived biochars are emerging as sustainable adsorbents.
• Effective removal of organic pollutants like sodium benzoate from aqueous systems is crucial.
• Developing novel adsorbents with tailored properties is essential for environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate microfibrillar biochars from chitin, chitosan, and cellulose.
• To investigate their efficacy as adsorbents for sodium benzoate removal.
• To correlate biochar structure and composition with adsorption performance.

Main Methods:

• Green homogenization and pyrolysis for biochar synthesis.
• Characterization of biochar structure, morphology, and composition (e.g., BET surface area, pore volume).
• Adsorption experiments to evaluate sodium benzoate removal capacity.

Main Results:

• Microfibrillar biochars exhibited a foam-like network morphology and enhanced surface area and pore volume after pyrolysis.
• N-doped porous chitin (CTF) and chitosan (CSF) biochars showed superior sodium benzoate adsorption compared to precursors.
• Pyrolysis induced significant chemical transitions, increasing aromatic and carbonaceous content.

Conclusions:

• Polysaccharide-derived microfibrillar biochars are effective adsorbents for sodium benzoate.
• Tailoring biochar's chemical composition and porous structure enhances adsorption capacity.
• These biochars hold potential for environmental treatment and bioenergy applications.