Conversion of Biochar From Chicken Manure With Good Adsorption and Electro-catalytic Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Chicken manure is a potential waste resource.
• Biochar production from waste materials offers sustainable solutions.
• Developing efficient adsorbents and sensors is crucial for environmental monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize chicken manure biochar (CMBC) using a simple oxygen-free sintering method.
• To evaluate CMBC's efficiency as an adsorbent for Rhodamine B (RhB) and Methylene Blue (MB).
• To develop a CMBC-modified electrode for sensitive and selective catechol detection.

Main Methods:

• Oxygen-free sintering for CMBC synthesis.
• Characterization using X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrum, and Raman spectroscopy.
• Adsorption experiments for RhB and MB removal.
• Fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of CMBC-modified glassy carbon electrode using square wave voltammetry (SWV).

Main Results:

• Amorphous CMBC with particle size <10 μm was successfully synthesized.
• CMBC demonstrated efficient removal of RhB and MB, with complete adsorption at >1.25 mg·mL⁻¹ dose.
• The CMBC-modified electrode showed excellent sensing performance for catechol detection (linear range 0.001–1000 µM, LOD 0.88 nM) with good stability and selectivity.
• Effective application in real water samples (tap and lake water).

Conclusions:

• CMBC is a highly effective and reusable adsorbent for RhB and MB removal.
• The CMBC-modified electrode offers a sensitive, selective, and stable platform for catechol detection.
• This study highlights the potential of chicken manure-derived biochar in environmental remediation and electrochemical sensing.