Organic contaminants have become a major concern in current
environmental
policies. Biochar is often used to absorb pollutants due to its large
surface area, wide availability, and cost-effectiveness. Lignin, a
byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, is an ideal precursor for
biochar due to its abundance, sustainability, and high carbon content.
Bi-activation engineering of alkali lignin during the carbonized process
by combining potassium carbonate and melamine to produce porous carbon
with more micro–mesoporous structure was proposed. Melamine
reacts with the carbon matrix during the activation process, creating
new alkaline compounds and releasing more gas, resulting in the formation
of more micropores and mesopores. Adjusting the ratio of potassium
carbonate to melamine can optimize the micro–mesoporous structure
of porous carbon materials. In this regard, a nitrogen-doped three-dimensional
porous carbon (ALNC-2-1) with a specific surface area of up to 3522
m2 g–1 was synthesized for the adsorption
of methylene blue and tetracycline hydrochloride in wastewater; the
largest adsorption capacities were 1364 and 1682 mg g–1, respectively. The adsorption process was found to follow the pseudo-second-order
kinetic model and was attributed to electrostatic interaction, pore
filling, hydrogen bonding, and π–π interaction.
Moreover, ALNC demonstrated high removal rates for organic pollutants
and excellent regeneration performance, thus making it a promising
material for practical wastewater treatment.