Comparative Study of Biochar Modified with Different Functional Groups for Efficient Removal of Pb(II) and Ni(II)

Abstract

The potential application of biochar in water treatment is attracting interest due to its sustainability and low production cost. In the present study, H3PO4-modified biochar (H-PBC), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-modified biochar (E-PBC), and NaOH-modified biochar (O-PBC) were prepared for Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption in an aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the as-obtained samples, and their capacities for Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption were determined. SEM showed that H-PBC retained the hierarchical porous structure of pristine biochar, and projections were observed on its surface. FT-IR showed that H-PBC possessed abundant oxygen-containing and phosphorus-containing functional groups on the surface. H-PBC, E-PBC, and O-PBC all exhibited excellent performance at Ni(II) and Pb(II) adsorption with qmax values of 64.94 mg/g, 47.17 mg/g, and 60.24 mg/g, and 243.90 mg/g, 156.25 mg/g, and 192.31 mg/g, respectively, which were significantly higher than the adsorption capacity (19.80 mg/g and 38.31 mg/g) of pristine biochar. Pseudo-second order models suggested that the adsorption process was controlled by chemical adsorption. Regeneration analysis showed that H-PBC had superior reusability characteristics. H-PBC had a greater adsorption capacity than other adsorbents due to its large specific surface area, and abundant oxygen-containing and phosphorus-containing functional groups. The results obtained in this study suggest that H-PBC is a promising adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions.