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Mercury (II) Removal From Stock Solutions Using Pulsed Electrochemical Technique Coupled With Biochar Adsorbent.
Werkne Sorsa Muleta1, Lelisa Regea Mengistu2, Madhappan Santhamoorthy3
1School of Chemical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Chemistryopen
|May 7, 2026
Summary
This study shows that combining pulsed electrooxidation (PEO) with magnetic biochar adsorption effectively removes mercury (Hg) from water. This advanced method achieves high removal efficiencies, offering a promising solution for mercury contamination.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Treatment Technologies
- Materials Science
Background:
- Mercury contamination in water bodies poses significant environmental and health risks due to its toxicity and bioaccumulation.
- Conventional mercury removal methods often exhibit limited effectiveness.
- There is a need for innovative and efficient technologies to address mercury pollution in aquatic environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic effect of pulsed electrooxidation (PEO) and biochar adsorption for enhanced mercury (Hg) removal from synthetic water.
- To optimize the performance of biochar derived from agricultural waste for mercury adsorption.
- To evaluate the efficiency of the combined PEO and biochar adsorption process under various experimental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Biochar was produced from agricultural waste and optimized for oxidation.
- Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to assess biochar performance, varying dosage, contact time, and initial Hg concentration.
- Pulsed electrooxidation (PEO) was applied with specific electrode spacings (0.5 and 1 cm) and sodium chloride addition to enhance conductivity.
- The combined PEO and magnetic biochar adsorption process was evaluated for mercury removal efficiency.
Main Results:
- PEO alone achieved mercury removal efficiencies of 97.37% and 96.24% at 0.5 cm and 1 cm electrode spacing, respectively.
- The combination of PEO and magnetic biochar resulted in superior removal efficiencies of 98.92% and 97.899% for the respective electrode spacings.
- Optimal conditions included a pH of 6.03, 34.15 minutes reaction time, 1.55 g/L magnetic biochar, 0.43 amps current, and 0.45 kWh/m³ energy consumption for a mercury concentration of 227 mg/L.
Conclusions:
- The combined approach of pulsed electrooxidation and magnetic biochar adsorption demonstrates a synergistic enhancement in mercury removal from aqueous solutions.
- This integrated method offers a highly effective and efficient solution for treating mercury-contaminated water.
- Optimized biochar and PEO parameters can lead to significant improvements in mercury remediation technologies.
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