Nitrogen Removal from Landfill Leachate Using Biochar Derived from Wheat Straw

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Materials Science
• Water Treatment

Background:

• Landfill leachate (LLCH) presents significant disposal challenges due to its high pollutant load.
• Nitrogen removal from LLCH is crucial for environmental protection and preventing water contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of wheat straw-derived biochar (BC) for nitrogen removal from LLCH.
• To evaluate the adsorption capacity and isotherm models for nitrogen adsorption by BC.

Main Methods:

• Laboratory experiments were conducted to assess nitrogen adsorption from ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) solutions and LLCH using BC and commercial activated carbon (AC).
• Elemental analysis was performed to determine the carbon content of BC.
• Adsorption isotherm models (Langmuir, Jovanovich, Harkins-Jura) were applied to analyze the adsorption data.

Main Results:

• BC demonstrated high nitrogen removal efficiency (95.08%) from NH4Cl, surpassing AC (93.11%).
• BC's superior performance is linked to its higher carbon content (57.74%).
• Adsorption data for BC/NH4Cl and AC/NH4Cl best fitted the Langmuir model, indicating chemisorption and ion exchange processes.

Conclusions:

• Wheat straw biochar is a promising material for landfill leachate remediation, particularly for nitrogen removal.
• The study provides insights into the adsorption mechanisms and suitability of biochar for treating complex wastewater matrices.
• Further research into biochar-based materials for environmental remediation is warranted.