Production of Activated Biochar Derived from Residual Biomass for Adsorption of Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released in air represent a major potential for environmental pollution. Capture methods based on activated biochar have attracted attention because of their low cost and for the high removal capacity of the material due to its physical and chemical properties. In this paper, activated biochars were developed and their adsorption performance for VOC capture was evaluated. In the first step, biochars derived from rapeseed cake (RSC) and walnut shells (WSC) were obtained through a carbonization process and then were activated using basic/acid agents (KOH/H2SO4) to increase their performance as adsorbents. Acetone and toluene were used as the VOC templates. The adsorption capacities of toluene and acetone for non-activated biochars were reduced (26.65 mg/g), while that of activated biochars increased quite significantly, up to 166.72 mg/g, and the biochars activated with H2SO4 presented a higher adsorption capacity of VOCs than the biochars activated with KOH. The higher adsorption capacity of biochars activated with H2SO4 can be attributed to their large surface area, and also to their larger pore volume. This activated biochar adsorbent could be used with good results to equip air purification filters to capture and remove VOCs.

Dry fruit shell‐derived biochar increases biosorption potential and detoxification of organic pollutants for land safety

“…Toluene has an aromatic ring with a methyl group. It has a strong affinity to oxygen‐containing functional groups, as their presence is predicted in analysis (David, 2022).…”

“…Shagali et al (2021) treated walnut biochars using KOH and observed the functional groups like stretching alkenes and hydroxyl and aldehyde groups. David (2022) treated walnut shell biochar and performed FTIR, showing CO group from esters and ethers. In the present study, FTIR showed adsorption bands in CO in ketones, carboxyl group, and free OH group.…”