TY - JOUR
T1 - Enhanced sulfamethazine removal by steam-activated invasive plant-derived biochar
AU - Rajapaksha, Anushka Upamali
AU - Vithanage, Meththika
AU - Ahmad, Mahtab
AU - Seo, Dong Cheol
AU - Cho, Ju Sik
AU - Lee, Sung Eun
AU - Lee, Sang Soo
AU - Ok, Yong Sik
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program, through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (Project number: 2012R1A1B3001409) and the Korea Ministry of Environment , as a Geo-Advanced Innovative Action Project (G112-00056-0004-0). Instrumental analyses were supported by the Korea Basic Science Institute, the Environmental Research Institute, and the Central Laboratory of Kangwon National University, Korea.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2015.
PY - 2015/6/5
Y1 - 2015/6/5
N2 - Recent investigations have shown frequent detection of pharmaceuticals in soils and waters posing potential risks to human and ecological health. Here, we report the enhanced removal of sulfamethazine (SMT) from water by physically activated biochar. Specifically, we investigated the effects of steam-activated biochars synthesized from an invasive plant (Sicyos angulatus L.) on the sorption of SMT in water. The properties and sorption capacities of steam-activated biochars were compared with those of conventional non-activated slow pyrolyzed biochars. Sorption exhibited pronounced pH dependence, which was consistent with SMT speciation and biochar charge properties. A linear relationship was observed between sorption parameters and biochar properties such as molar elemental ratios, surface area, and pore volumes. The isotherms data were well described by the Freundlich and Temkin models suggesting favorable chemisorption processes and electrostatic interactions between SMT and biochar. The steam-activated biochar produced at 700°C showed the highest sorption capacity (37.7mgg-1) at pH 3, with a 55% increase in sorption capacity compared to that of non-activated biochar produced at the same temperature. Therefore, steam activation could potentially enhance the sorption capacities of biochars compared to conventional pyrolysis.
AB - Recent investigations have shown frequent detection of pharmaceuticals in soils and waters posing potential risks to human and ecological health. Here, we report the enhanced removal of sulfamethazine (SMT) from water by physically activated biochar. Specifically, we investigated the effects of steam-activated biochars synthesized from an invasive plant (Sicyos angulatus L.) on the sorption of SMT in water. The properties and sorption capacities of steam-activated biochars were compared with those of conventional non-activated slow pyrolyzed biochars. Sorption exhibited pronounced pH dependence, which was consistent with SMT speciation and biochar charge properties. A linear relationship was observed between sorption parameters and biochar properties such as molar elemental ratios, surface area, and pore volumes. The isotherms data were well described by the Freundlich and Temkin models suggesting favorable chemisorption processes and electrostatic interactions between SMT and biochar. The steam-activated biochar produced at 700°C showed the highest sorption capacity (37.7mgg-1) at pH 3, with a 55% increase in sorption capacity compared to that of non-activated biochar produced at the same temperature. Therefore, steam activation could potentially enhance the sorption capacities of biochars compared to conventional pyrolysis.
KW - Activated carbon
KW - Black carbon
KW - Charcoal
KW - Emerging contaminants
KW - Slow pyrolysis
KW - Veterinary antibiotics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924293005&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.02.046
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.02.046
M3 - Article
C2 - 25734533
AN - SCOPUS:84924293005
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 290
SP - 43
EP - 50
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
ER -
