Generation, characterization and reuse of solid wastes from a biodiesel production plant

New and effective cassava bagasse-modified biochar to adsorb Food Red 17 and Acid Blue 9 dyes in a binary mixture

A promissory technic for reducing environmental contaminants is the production of biochar from waste reuse and its application for water treatment. This study developed biochar (CWb) and NH4Cl-modified biochar (MCWb) using cassava residues as precursors. CWb and MCWb were characterized and evaluated in removing dyes (Acid Blue 9 and Food Red 17) in a binary system. The adsorbent demonstrated high adsorption capacity at all pH levels studied, showing its versatility regarding this process parameter. The equilibrium of all adsorption experiments was reached in 30 min. The adsorption process conformed to pseudo-first-order kinetics and extended Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process is physisorption, exhibiting exothermic and spontaneous characteristics. MCWb exhibited highly efficient and selective adsorption behavior towards the anionic dyes, indicating maximum adsorption capacity of 131 and 150 mg g-1 for Food Red 17 and Acid Blue 9, respectively. Besides, MCWb could be reused nine times, maintaining its original adsorption capacity. This study demonstrated an excellent adsorption capability of biochars in removing dyes. In addition, it indicated the recycling of wastes as a precursor of bio composts, a strategy for utilization in water treatment with binary systems. It showed the feasibility of the reuse capacity that indicated that the adsorbent may have many potential applications.

Biosorption of anionic and cationic dyes via raw and chitosan oligosaccharide-modified Huai Flos Chrysanthemum at different temperatures

Raw Huai Flos Chrysanthemum (HFC) and modified HFC (HFC@CO) were used for the first time as a biosorbent material to remove cationic dyes Malachite green (MG) and Crystal violet (CV), and anionic dyes Sunset yellow (SY), Lemon yellow (LY), and Carmine (CM), at different temperatures (5–50 °C). The highest removal rates (R) for dye adsorption were observed at low temperature (5 °C) and room temperature (20 °C). At high (500 mg L⁻¹) dye concentration, adsorption was completed within one minute, but the time required to reach adsorption equilibrium was longer than at the low (20 mg L⁻¹) concentration. The experimental data fitted very well to the Langmuir model and the values of the maximum adsorption capacity for SY, LY, CM, CV, and MG, were 481.41, 507.23, 141.78 mg g⁻¹, 526.32, and 769.23 mg L⁻¹, respectively. The adsorption data fit well to a pseudo-second-order kinetic model.

Raw Huai Flos Chrysanthemum and modified HFC were used for the first time as a biosorbent to remove cationic dyes Malachite green and Crystal violet, and anionic dyes Sunset yellow, Lemon yellow, and Carmine, at different temperatures (5–50 °C).

Development of CO2 activated biochar from solid wastes of a beer industry and its application for methylene blue adsorption

An alternative activated biochar was developed from barley malt bagasse (BMB) through pyrolysis followed by CO₂ activation. The materials BMB, biochar and activated biochar (CO₂-biochar) were characterized and tested as adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics were studied. It was found that BMB and biochar presented surface area values lower than 1 m² g^-1, while CO₂-biochar was a typical mesoporous material with surface area around 80 m² g^-1. As consequence, the adsorption potential for methylene blue was in the following order CO₂-biochar ≫ biochar > BMB. Adsorption kinetics of MB on CO₂-biochar followed the pseudo-second order model. Langmuir presented the best fit with the equilibrium adsorption isotherms. The maximum adsorption capacity was 161 mg g^-1. MB adsorption on CO₂-biochar was spontaneous, favorable and exothermic. Pyrolysis followed by CO₂ activation was a suitable route to produce an alternative mesoporous adsorbent from barley malt bagasse.