High efficiency removal of As(III) from waters using a new and friendly adsorbent based on sugarcane bagasse and corncob husk Fe-coated biochars

Author(s)

Montero, Jose Ignacio Z. ^[1] ; Monteiro, Adnivia S. C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Gontijo, Erik S. J. ^{[3, 1]} ; Bueno, Carolina C. ^[1] ; de Moraes, Mineia A. ^[1] ; Rosa, Andre H. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Sao Paulo State Univ Unesp, Inst Sci & Technol, Av Tres Marco 511, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sergipe UFS, Postgrad Program Water Resources, Av Marechal Rondon S-N, BR-49100000 Sao Cristovao, SE - Brazil

^[3] UFZ Helmholtz Ctr Environm Res, Dept Lake Res, Brueckstr 3a, D-39114 Magdeburg - Germany

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY; v. 162, p. 616-624, OCT 30 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

Water contamination of As is a big issue in many areas around the globe. Therefore, cheap and efficient techniques are essential facing traditional treatment methods. Then, biochars (BC) emerged recently as material that can be used for As removal. However, research about efficiency of BC produced from local feedstock is still needed. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficiency of BC produced from sugarcane bagasse (SB) together with corncob husk (CH) with and without Fe(III) (BCFe) modification to be used for removal of As(III) from waters. The BC and BCFe produced at different pyrolysis temperatures were characterised using FTIR and SEM/EDS. Adsorption capacities of BC and BCFe were evaluated via batch adsorption, desorption and column tests and their performance was compared with adsorption using activated carbon. The results showed that Fe modification improve substantially the As(III) adsorption in a way that both BCFe-SB and BCFe-CH removed from 85% to 99.9% from 1000 mu g/L As(III) solutions. Both materials fitted well in Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity was 20 mg/g for BCFe-SB and 50 mg/g for BCFe-CH. The adsorption kinetics of BCFe was fast (<= 30 min) and it had a better performance than activated carbon. The column tests showed that the process is efficient even at high As(III) concentrations. The fast removal process and good removal results make the BCFe-SB and BCFe-CH attractive for in situ and commercial (filters) use, since time and efficiency are required in new technologies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/17727-8 - Distribution, complexation and mobility of arsenic ions in superficial waters in Iron Quadrangle -MG/Brazil: emphasis on interactions with aquatic humic substances
• Grantee: Erik Sartori Jeunon Gontijo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 16/08215-4 - REUTILIZATION OF WASTE AND DETOXIFICATION OF WASTEWATER: EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF BIOCHAR FOR THE REMOVAL OF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS AND PONTENTIALLY TOXIC METALS
• Grantee: André Henrique Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/24168-8 - Sustainable agriculture: preparation and characterization of polymeric microspheres containing biochar for imobilization and slow release of phosphorus and promoting bacteria plant growth
• Grantee: André Henrique Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/08373-0 - Biochar Engineering - Preparation and Characterization of microspheres for slow releasing of nutrients and bacteria
• Grantee: Carolina de Castro Bueno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate