Sulfur functionalized biocarbon sorbents for low-concentration mercury isolation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Green Chemistry

Background:

• Mercury contamination in aqueous solutions poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Developing efficient and cost-effective sorbent materials is crucial for mercury remediation.
• Biomass-derived materials offer a sustainable platform for creating advanced sorbents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize sulfur-functionalized biocarbons from lignin alkali.
• To investigate the efficacy of these biocarbons in removing mercury from aqueous solutions.
• To understand the role of surface area and sulfur doping in mercury adsorption.

Main Methods:

• Lignin alkali was treated with sodium thiocyanate to create sulfur-functionalized biocarbons.
• The biocarbon sorbents were characterized for their surface properties.
• Mercury removal efficiency was tested using simulated wastewater with controlled mercury concentrations.

Main Results:

• The synthesized biocarbons exhibited high surface area and significant sulfur doping.
• A small amount of biocarbon (0.05 g) removed 99% of mercury from 250 mL of wastewater (initial concentration 10 mg L^-1).
• Sulfur doping and high surface area were identified as key factors enhancing mercury uptake.

Conclusions:

• Sulfur-functionalized biocarbons derived from lignin are highly effective mercury sorbents.
• These materials present a sustainable and efficient approach for mercury removal from contaminated water.
• The study highlights the potential of biomass-derived materials in environmental remediation applications.