Preliminary assessment on the application of biochar and spectral‐induced polarization for wastewater treatment

Abstract

In this work, we explore the use of biochar as a remediation agent, and the sensitivity of the spectral‐induced polarization method as a remediation monitoring aid. Biochar amended columns were fully saturated with industrial wastewater (olive oil mill waste) with very high concentration of phenols (∼2485 mg/L) and other substances. The biochar‐amended columns achieved very high removal rates of phenols compared to the control (sand only). Geophysical monitoring over the duration of the experiment (10 days) showed changes in the spectral‐induced polarization signal (imaginary conductivity) consistent with phenol removal as confirmed by geochemical monitoring. This experiment confirmed the utility of biochar as a remediation agent. Furthermore, spectral‐induced polarization can serve as long‐term, high resolution, monitoring aid in organic contaminant degradation processes.

Adsorption of Arsenic on Fe-Modified Biochar and Monitoring Using Spectral Induced Polarization

“…A preliminary geophysical investigation was done by Siddiq et al [3] in order to correlate SIP parameters (real and imaginary conductivity) to the interactions (and therefore removal) of As(V) with biochar. Recent published work can provide detailed discussion on SIP and the used experimental set-up [3,51]. In brief, three laboratory columns of 240 mm length and 38 mm diameter, were prepared in accordance with previous work [51].…”

“…Recent published work can provide detailed discussion on SIP and the used experimental set-up [3,51]. In brief, three laboratory columns of 240 mm length and 38 mm diameter, were prepared in accordance with previous work [51]. One column was filled with sand and served as a control, while the other two were filled with BC-500 adjusted sand at 5% and 10% by weight, respectively.…”

“…As a result, the 5% Fe-BC-500 is the most efficient under our testing conditions. Although a higher biochar concentration would imply a greater number of active sites and functional groups accessible to interact with As(V), particle aggregation in the column might cancel out any more adsorption sites, even lowering the overall number of available sites [33,51].…”

“…Another well-established exploration geophysical method, spectral induced polarization (SIP), is increasingly being employed as a remediation monitoring tool in lab and field applications [46][47][48][49] because of its sensitivity to the medium's bulk and interfacial parameters and/or the pollutant under examination [50]. Kirmizakis et al [51] presented the first-ever study of biochar, focused on environmental management, utilizing SIP as a characterization and monitoring tool. They used different fractions of biochar in inert porous media as a remediation agent for olive oil mill wastewater (OMW), a waste effluent with heavy organic load, in static laboratory columns, while monitoring the SIP responses over a period of ten days.…”

Synthesis of zeolite X from waste basalt powder and its efficient adsorption of uranyl ions in solution

“…The key to the effectiveness of the adsorption method in treating uranium-containing wastewater lies in the selection of the adsorbent material [22][23][24].…”