Characterization of cadmium removal from aqueous solution by biochar produced from a giant Miscanthus at different pyrolytic temperatures

Woong Ki Kim, Taeyong Shim, Yong Seong Kim, Seunghun Hyun, Changkook Ryu, Young Kwon Park, Jinho Jung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

328 Scopus citations

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of biochar for removing Cd from aqueous solution. Biochars were produced from a Miscanthus sacchariflorus via slow pyrolysis at 300, 400, 500 and 600°C. Higher pyrolytic temperature resulted in biochar with a higher aromatic structure and fewer polar functional groups. In particular, pH and surface area of biochar increased greatly at pyrolytic temperatures ≥500°C, which increased Cd sorption capacity up to 13.24mgg-1 The diffuse-controlled Cd removal was likely due to a surface sorption or a precipitation reaction depending on pH. A simulation with the visual MINTEQ program indicated that the precipitate was Cd(OH)2. In addition, biochar treatment significantly removed the acute toxicity of Cd toward Daphnia magna , resulting in increase of EC50 (50% effective concentration) value from 0.16 to 0.76mgL-1

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)266-270
Number of pages5
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume138
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • Heavy metal
  • Slow pyrolysis
  • Sorption
  • Toxicity

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