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Updated: May 5, 2026
09:39
Physical, Chemical and Biological Characterization of Six Biochars Produced for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites
Published on: November 28, 2014
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Lanthanum-Modified Sludge Biochar for Geothermal Water Fluoride Removal
Wei Li1, Yi Wu1, Ruiqing Huang1
1School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850012, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 24, 2025
Summary
Lanthanum-modified sludge-derived biochar (La-SBC-700) effectively removes fluoride from wastewater and geothermal water. This resourceful sludge utilization method offers a 10x higher adsorption capacity than unmodified biochar.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Water Treatment
Background:
- Municipal sludge poses disposal challenges.
- Fluoride contamination in water sources is a significant environmental concern.
- Developing cost-effective adsorbents for fluoride removal is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and optimize lanthanum-modified sludge-derived biochar (La-SBC-700) for fluoride removal.
- To investigate the adsorption mechanism and performance of La-SBC-700.
- To assess the application potential of La-SBC-700 in real geothermal water.
Main Methods:
- Municipal sludge was pyrolyzed to create sludge-derived biochar (SBC).
- SBC was modified with lanthanum nitrate, with optimal conditions determined via orthogonal experiments.
- Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate fluoride removal efficiency under various conditions (pH, concentration, dosage, coexisting ions).
Main Results:
- Optimized La-SBC-700 exhibited a 10-fold increase in fluoride adsorption capacity compared to SBC.
- The maximum theoretical adsorption capacity reached 40.338 mg/g, following Quasi-secondary-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models.
- Effective fluoride removal was observed in the pH range of 5.0–8.0, with La-SBC-700 showing excellent performance in real geothermal water.
Conclusions:
- La-SBC-700 is a highly efficient adsorbent for fluoride removal from wastewater and geothermal water.
- The modification of sludge-derived biochar offers a sustainable approach for sludge valorization and water purification.
- This study provides a promising method for addressing fluoride contamination and promoting resource recovery from sludge.
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