Wool-Derived Biochar via Composite Modification: Preparation and Enhanced Adsorption Performance for Methylene Blue

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Waste Management

Background:

• Industrial dye discharge poses a significant environmental challenge.
• Developing sustainable and efficient adsorbents is crucial for wastewater treatment.
• Valorizing waste materials like wool offers a circular economy approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize a novel wool-based biochar (WBC) using waste wool fibers.
• To investigate the adsorption mechanisms and capacity of WBC for methylene blue (MB).
• To evaluate the regeneration capability and broad-spectrum applicability of WBC for dye pollutant removal.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid modification of waste wool fibers via molten salt activation and nitrogen doping.
• Characterization of synthesized WBC for surface area, pore structure, and morphology.
• Adsorption experiments to determine optimal conditions and kinetics for MB removal.
• Regeneration tests and assessment of WBC efficacy on various dye pollutants.

Main Results:

• Synthesized WBC exhibits a high specific surface area (954.7 m²/g) and hierarchical porous structure.
• Maximum adsorption capacity for MB reached 887.4 mg/g under optimal conditions.
• Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm, indicating chemisorption.
• WBC maintained 60.2% of its initial adsorption capacity after five regeneration cycles.
• Demonstrated broad-spectrum applicability for diverse dye pollutants.

Conclusions:

• Waste wool can be effectively transformed into a high-performance biochar adsorbent (WBC).
• WBC offers a sustainable and efficient solution for removing MB and other dyes from wastewater.
• The study highlights the potential of WBC in advancing resource recycling and environmental management.