Comparative investigation of known and unknown disinfection by-product precursor removal and microbial community from biological biochar and activated carbon filters.

Biological activated carbon filter (BAC) is one of the most effective technologies for removing disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors from water. Biochar is a lower-cost medium that has the potential to replace granular activated carbon in BAC applications, thus leading to the development of biological biochar filter (BCF). This study compared BCF with BAC for the removal of DBP precursors using column experiments. Both BCF and BAC achieved the removal of DBP precursors, resulting in concentrations of all DBP formation potential below the World Health Organization guideline values for drinking water. Bromodichloromethane and unknown DBP precursor removal by BCF was comparable to that by BAC. However, BAC removed more chloroform and dichloroacetontrile precursors than BCF. For microbial community analysis, cell numbers in a bottom layer (inlet) of BCF and BAC columns were higher than those in the top layer. The abundances of Nordella and a microbial genus from Burkholderiaceae at the bottom layer showed a strong correlation to the number of DBP precursors removed and were comparable in BCF and BAC. This finding likely contributes to the similarities between DBPs species removed and the removal performances of some known and unknown DBP precursors by BCF and BAC. Overall results from this study revealed that biochar can be served as a low-cost and sustainable replacement of activated carbon in water filter for DBP precursor removal.

Integrated remediation and detoxification of triclocarban-contaminated water using waste-derived biochar-immobilized cells by long-term column experiments.

Triclocarban (TCC), an antibacterial agent commonly used in personal care products, is one of the top ten contaminants of emerging concern in various environmental media, including soil and contaminated water in vadose zone. This study aimed to investigate TCC-contaminated water remediation using biochar-immobilized bacterial cells. Pseudomonas fluorescens strain MC46 (MC46), an efficient TCC-degrading isolate, was chosen, whereas agro-industrial carbonized waste as biochar was directly used as a sustainable cell immobilization carrier. According to the long-term TCC removal performance results (160 d), the biochar-immobilized cells consistently exhibited high TCC removal efficiencies (84-97%), whereas the free MC46 removed TCC for 76-94%. At 100 days, the detachment of the MC46 cells from the immobilized cell column was observed. The micro-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results indicated that extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) was produced, but polysaccharide and protein fractions were washed out of the column. The lipid fraction of EPS adhered to the biochar, promoting TCC sorption for long-term treatment. The shortening of MC46 cells improved the tolerance of TCC toxicity. The TCC-contaminated water was successfully detoxified by the biochar-immobilized MC46 cells. Overall, the waste-derived biochar-immobilized cell system proposed in this study for the removal of emerging contaminants, including TCC, is efficient, economical, and aligned with the sustainable development concept of value-added utilization of waste.

Adsorption of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) onto biochar and magnetic biochar prepared from chrysanthemum waste of the beverage industry.

Biochar and magnetic biochar prepared from chrysanthemum waste of the beverage industry are effective adsorbents for the removal of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen (IBP), from aqueous systems. The development of magnetic biochar using iron chloride, overcame poor separation characteristics from the liquid phase of the powdered biochar after adsorption. Characterisation of biochars was achieved through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption/desorption porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), moisture and ash content, bulk density, pH and zero-point charge (pHpzc). The specific surface area of non-magnetic and magnetic biochars was 220 and 194 m2 g-1, respectively. Adsorption of ibuprofen was optimised with respect to contact time (5-180 min), solution pH (2-12) and initial drug concentration (5-100 mg L-1), with equilibrium being reached in 1 hour, and the maximum ibuprofen removal occurred at pH 2 and 4 for biochar and magnetic biochars, respectively. Investigation of the adsorption kinetics was achieved through application of the pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion models. Adsorption equilibrium was evaluated using Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms for both biochars are well described by pseudo-second order kinetic and Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm models, respectively, with the maximum adsorption capacity of biochar and magnetic biochar being 167 and 140 mg g-1, respectively. Chrysanthemum derived non-magnetic and magnetic biochars exhibited significant potential as sustainable adsorbents toward the removal of emerging pharmaceutical pollutants such as ibuprofen from aqueous solution.

Tailoring the phosphorus release from biochar-based fertilizers: role of magnesium or calcium addition during co-pyrolysis.

The presence of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) in biochar-based fertilizers is linked to the slow release of phosphorus (P), but these alkali metals have not been systematically compared under identical conditions. In this study, sugarcane filter cake was treated with H3PO4 and MgO or CaO followed by pyrolysis at 600 °C to produce a Mg/P-rich biochar (MgPA-BC) and a Ca/P-rich biochar (CaPA-BC), respectively. The P-loaded biochars were studied by extraction and kinetic release in water over 240 hours to assess the potential P availability. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the pristine and post-kinetics biochars to identify the responsible phases for phosphate release. Additionally, the dissolved P concentrations in the kinetic release experiment were compared to thermodynamic solubility calculations of common Mg and Ca phosphates. Both MgPA-BC and CaPA-BC had P loadings of 73-74 g kg-1 but showed distinctly different release behaviors. Phosphate dissolution from MgPA-BC was gradual and reached 10 g P per kg biochar after 240 hours, with rate-determining phases being Mg2P2O7 (Mg pyrophosphate), MgNH4PO4·6H2O (struvite), and Mg3(PO4)2·22H2O (cattiite). In contrast, CaPA-BC only released 1.2 g P per kg biochar. Phosphate release from CaPA-BC was limited by the low solubility of Ca2P2O7 (Ca pyrophosphate) and (Ca,Mg)3(PO4)2 (whitlockite). Co-pyrolysis with MgO retained P in a more soluble and available form than CaO, making MgO a preferential additive over CaO to immobilize phytoavailable P in biochar-based fertilizers with higher fertilizer effectiveness.

Characterization of molecular dissolved organic matter removed by modified eucalyptus-based biochar and disinfection by-product formation potential using Orbitrap mass spectrometric analysis.

Biochar is an alternative adsorbent, with similar characteristics to activated carbon, that can be applied to water treatment to remove dissolved organic matter (DOM) as disinfection by-product (DBP) precursors with comparable efficiency and better cost-effectiveness and sustainability relative to commercial alternatives. We applied non-targeted analysis with Orbitrap mass spectrometry to investigate changes in molecular DOM and DBP formation after treating DOM-containing water with biochar. Two surface water sources, Phong River (PR) in Khon Kaen, Thailand and Suwannee river (SR), USA, were tested using three types of eucalyptus-derived biochar (i.e., KOH-modified, calcined, and both) were selected as adsorbents and compared to commercial coconut-based activated carbon (ccAC). The results showed that calcination increased the surface area, pore volume, and functional groups of biochar responsible for adsorption. The calcined biochar achieved higher DOC removal efficiencies for both rivers than other adsorbents. PR contains more adsorbable DOM as over 800 molecules with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO) features that were decreased or totally removed by all adsorbents. In contrast, for SR treatment, KOH-modified and calcined biochar was found to decrease over 800 CHO features, compared to around 500 and 400 CHO features for calcined biochar and ccAC, respectively. However, numerous background CHO features with reduced character (i.e., low degree of oxidation) were found after water treatment by calcined biochar, resulting in higher DBP formation after chlorination compared to the other adsorbents. The results of this study have important implications for future preparation of biochar for water treatment.

Characterization of dissolved organic carbon and disinfection by-products in biochar filter leachate using orbitrap mass spectrometry.

Biochar is a low-cost adsorbent with considerable potential for utilization as a water filtration medium; however, organic matter leaching from biochar can lead to the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). This study investigated the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from eucalyptus-derived biochar and the formation of DBPs generated by chlorination and chloramination. Column experiments with empty bed contact times (EBCTs) of 10 and 30 min were conducted for 200 bed volumes (BVs). The highest DOC concentration (3.5 µg-C/g-biochar) was detected with an EBCT of 30 min. Chloroform (49 µg/L) and dichloroacetonitrile (7 µg/L) because of chlorination were found during the first five BVs, but were reduced thereafter. During the first 10 BVs, unknown chlorinated DBPs generated (CHOCl) by chlorination and chloramination (193 and 152 formulae, respectively) were tentatively identified via an unknown screening analysis. The release of DBP precursors from biochar tentatively identified in this study will impact water filtration applications.

Activated carbons from waste Cassia bakeriana seed pods as high-performance adsorbents for toxic anionic dye and ciprofloxacin antibiotic remediation.

Waste Cassia bakeriana seed pods were used for porous carbon production in a facile pyrolysis process. The carbons were highly efficient adsorbents for methylene blue, congo red and ciprofloxacin antibiotic from aqueous media. The experimental results demonstrated that despite moderate surface area of 283.4 m2/g, KOH activated carbon (PSAC-KOH) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for congo red reported to date for carbon-based adsorbents (970 mg/g). PSAC-KOH also demonstrated a high adsorption capacity at 600 mg/g for ciprofloxacin. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the carbons demonstrated an extensive graphitic characteristic, while Fourier transform infrared spectra of PSAC-KOH suggested a high proportion of aromaticity which promotes adsorption mechanisms including electrostatic and π-π interactions. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitting suggested a rate-controlling chemisorption mechanism. The utilization of waste Cassia bakeriana seed pods for carbon production may create new opportunities to develop sustainable and highly efficient adsorbents for water remediation.

Graphitic mesoporous carbon-silica composites from low-value sugarcane by-products for the removal of toxic dyes from wastewaters.

Highly porous carbon-silica composites (CSC) were prepared for the first time through a simple wet impregnation process and subsequent pyrolysis of low-value sugarcane by-products, namely molasses. These CSC materials demonstrate a distinct range of functionalities, which significantly differ from similar materials published in the literature. Importantly, the carbon-silica composites prepared at 800°C exhibited exceptional adsorption capacities for the azo-dye congo red (445 mg g-1), due to the graphitic carbon coating and unique functionality including C-O-C within the porous structure. Congo red adsorption capacity of the highly mesoporous graphitic carbon-silica composites significantly exceeds that of commercial activated carbon and silica, these carbon-silica composites therefore represent an effective step towards the development of porous bio-derived adsorbent for remediation of dye wastewaters. Both the porous properties (surface area and pore size distribution) and the functionality of the carbon coating were dependent on the temperature of preparation. The sustainable synthetic methods employed led to a versatile material that inherited the mesoporosity characteristics from the parent silica, demonstrating mesoporous volumes greater than 90% (as calculated from the total pore volume). Adsorption on the 800°C prepared carbon-silica composites demonstrated an excellent fit with the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.

Simultaneous manganese adsorption and biotransformation by Streptomyces violarus strain SBP1 cell-immobilized biochar.

Consumption of water containing high proportions of manganese could cause Parkinson's like symptoms and damage the central nervous systems. This study aims to investigate the potential of manganese removal through the development of microbial cell-immobilized biochar. The wood vinegar industry generates a large volume of carbonized wood waste (natural biochar) from the pyrolytic process. This is the first investigation utilizing this low value waste combined with biological treatment for water purification. Raw and hydrogen peroxide-modified biochars were used to immobilize an effective manganese-oxidizing bacterium, Streptomyces violarus strain SBP1 (SBP1). The results demonstrated that the modified biochar had a higher proportion of oxygen-containing functional groups leading to better manganese removal. Manganese adsorption by the modified biochar fitted pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models with the maximum adsorption capacity of 1.15 mg g-1. The modified biochar with SBP1 provided the highest removal efficiency at 78%. The advanced synchrotron analyses demonstrated that manganese removal by the biochar with SBP1 is due to the synergistic combination of manganese adsorption by biochars and biological oxidation by SBP1.

Preparation of activated carbon from Dipterocarpus alatus fruit and its application for methylene blue adsorption.

Activated carbons were prepared from three parts of Dipterocarpus alatus fruit (wing, endocarp and pericarp), an abundant and renewable waste in Southeast Asia, by chemical activation using ZnCl2, FeCl3, H3PO4 and KOH and physical activation using CO2 and steam. This study indicated that activated carbon prepared from Dipterocarpus alatus fruit could be employed as a promising adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution. ZnCl2 activation led to an activated carbon with a surface area of 843 m2 g-1 and was able to remove methylene blue from aqueous solution. Adsorption studies were performed and analysed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. Adsorption data demonstrated an excellent fit with the Langmuir isotherm model, with the maximum adsorption capacity of 269.3 mg g-1 at equilibrium. Pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic models were used in this study to describe the adsorption mechanism. The results show that methylene blue adsorption is pseudo-second order, indicating that liquid film diffusion, intra-particle diffusion and surface adsorption coexisted during methylene blue adsorption on the activated carbon. The activated carbon prepared from Dipterocarpus alatus fruit is a low cost and effective adsorbent with a fast rate for the removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions when compared with a number of activated carbons studied in the literature.

Catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste for the production of liquid fuels for engines.

Catalytic pyrolysis of waste plastics using low cost binder-free pelletized bentonite clay has been investigated to yield pyrolysis oils as drop-in replacements for commercial liquid fuels such as diesel and gasohol 91. Pyrolysis of four waste plastics, polystyrene, polypropylene, low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene, was achieved at a bench scale (1 kg per batch) to produce useful fuel products. Importantly, the addition of binder-free bentonite clay pellets successfully yielded liquid based fuels with increased calorific values and lower viscosity for all plastic wastes. This larger scale pyrolysis study demonstrated that use of a catalyst in powder form can lead to significant pressure drops in the catalyst column, thus slowing the process (more than 1 hour). Importantly, the use of catalyst pellets eliminated the pressure drop and reduced pyrolysis processing time to only 10 minutes for 1 kg of plastic waste. The pyrolysis oil composition from polystyrene consists of 95% aromatic hydrocarbons, while in contrast, those from polypropylene, low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene, were dominated by aliphatic hydrocarbons, as confirmed by GC-MS. FTIR analysis demonstrated that low density polyethylene and high density polyethylene oils had functional groups that were consistent with those of commercial diesel (96% similarity match). In contrast, pyrolysis-oils from polystyrene demonstrated chemical and physical properties similar to those of gasohol 91. In both cases no wax formation was observed when using the bentonite clay pellets as a catalyst in the pyrolysis process, which was attributed to the high acidity of the bentonite catalyst (low SiO2 : Al2O3 ratio), thus making it more active in cracking waxes compared to the less acidic heterogeneous catalysts reported in the literature. Pyrolysis-oil from the catalytic treatment of polystyrene resulted in greater engine power, comparable engine temperature, and lower carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as compared to those of uncatalysed oils and commercial fuel in a gasoline engine. Pyrolysis-oils from all other polymers demonstrated comparable performance to diesel in engine power tests. The application of inexpensive and widely available bentonite clay in pyrolysis could significantly aid in repurposing plastic wastes.