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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Preparation of Biomass-based Mesoporous Carbon with Higher Nitrogen-/Oxygen-chelating Adsorption for CuII Through Microwave Pre-Pyrolysis
Published on: February 12, 2019
Adsorption dynamics of Cd2+(aq) on microwave-synthetized pristine biochar from cocoa pod husk: Green, experimental,
Jhonny Correa-Abril1,2, Ullrich Stahl1, Elvia V Cabrera1
1Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Grupo de Investigación en Moléculas y Materiales Funcionales (MoléMater), Enrique Ritter s/n y Bolivia, Quito, Pichincha 170521, Ecuador.
Abstract:
Biochar obtained via microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) at 720 W and 15 min from cocoa pod husk (CPH) is an efficient adsorbent of Cd2+(aq). Biochar of residual biomass of CPH (BCCPH) possesses favorable physicochemical and morphological properties, featuring a modest surface area yet a suitable porous structure. Adsorption, predominantly governed by physisorption, is influenced by the oxygen-containing active sites (-COOR, -C(R)O, and -CH2OR; R = H, alkyl). CdCO3 formation occurs during adsorption. Experimental data were well-fitted into various kinetic models for a broad understanding of the sorption process. Langmuir model indicates a maximum adsorption capacity of 14.694 mg/g. The thermodynamic study confirms the spontaneous and endothermic sorption. Studies at the molecular level have revealed that the Cd2+ ion tends to bind to surface aromatic carbon atoms. This sustainable approach produces BCCPH via MAP as a solution for waste transformation into water-cleaning materials.
