Removal ibuprofen from aqueous solution by a noval Al-modified biochar

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Adsorption Science

Background:

• Increasing organic emissions pose significant environmental challenges.
• Effective methods for controlling organic pollutants in water are urgently needed.
• Biochar-based materials show promise for environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize Al-modified biochar (Al-BC) from rice husks.
• To evaluate the adsorption performance of Al-BC and unmodified biochar (BC) for ibuprofen (IBU) removal.
• To investigate the influence of solution pH on IBU adsorption.

Main Methods:

• Hydrothermal carbonization was used to synthesize rice husk-derived biochar.
• Al oxide composite was loaded onto biochar to create Al-BC.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for material characterization.
• Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to assess IBU removal efficiency at various pH levels.
• Langmuir isotherm and thermodynamic analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Al-BC exhibited a higher specific surface area (109.617 m²/g) and smaller average pore diameter (3.969 nm) compared to BC.
• Al-BC demonstrated superior adsorption capacity for IBU (30.24-1.48 mg/g) across a pH range of 2-11, outperforming BC (19.98-0.92 mg/g).
• At pH 7, the saturated adsorption capacity of IBU on Al-BC reached 60.49 mg/g, significantly higher than BC (18.68 mg/g).
• Solution pH was identified as a critical factor influencing IBU adsorption.
• Thermodynamic analysis indicated spontaneous, endothermic adsorption with increased disorder.

Conclusions:

• Al-modified biochar derived from rice husks is an effective adsorbent for organic pollutants like ibuprofen.
• The developed Al-BC material offers enhanced adsorption capacity and performance compared to unmodified biochar.
• This study provides a valuable reference for developing advanced materials for organic pollution control in aquatic environments.