Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

In this study, a biochar obtained from poplar wood gasification at a temperature of 850 °C was used to adsorb the xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA) and the herbicide metribuzin from water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectros...

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Main Authors: Claudia Carnimeo, Nicola Colatorti, Valeria D’Orazio, Pasquale Trotti, Elisabetta Loffredo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Materials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/569
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author Claudia Carnimeo
Nicola Colatorti
Valeria D’Orazio
Pasquale Trotti
Elisabetta Loffredo
author_facet Claudia Carnimeo
Nicola Colatorti
Valeria D’Orazio
Pasquale Trotti
Elisabetta Loffredo
author_sort Claudia Carnimeo
collection DOAJ
description In this study, a biochar obtained from poplar wood gasification at a temperature of 850 °C was used to adsorb the xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA) and the herbicide metribuzin from water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed to investigate the surface micromorphology and functional groups composition of biochar, respectively. The study of sorption kinetics showed that all compounds achieved the steady state in less than 2 h, according to a pseudo-second order model, which denoted the formation of strong bonds (chemisorption) between biochar and the compounds. Adsorption isotherms data were described by the Henry, Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin equations. At temperatures of 10 and 30 °C, the equilibrium data of the compounds were generally better described by the Freundlich model, although, in some cases, high correlation coefficients (r ≥ 0.98) were obtained for more than one model. Freundlich constants, K<sub>F</sub>, for OP, BPA and metribuzin were, respectively, 218, 138 and 4 L g<sup>−1</sup> at 10 °C and 295, 243 and 225 L g<sup>−1</sup> at 30 °C, indicating a general increase of adsorption at higher temperature. Desorption of all compounds, especially OP and BPA, from biochar was slow and very scarce, denoting an irreversible and hysteretic process. Comparing the results of this study with those reported in the literature, we can conclude that the present biochar has a surprising ability to retain organic compounds almost permanently, thus behaving as an excellent low-cost biosorbent.
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spelling doaj.art-29e82f20c71948cb85097e89cdf1b7ad2023-11-30T23:15:07ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-01-0116256910.3390/ma16020569Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting ChemicalsClaudia Carnimeo0Nicola Colatorti1Valeria D’Orazio2Pasquale Trotti3Elisabetta Loffredo4Dipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze del Suolo, della Pianta e degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, ItalyIn this study, a biochar obtained from poplar wood gasification at a temperature of 850 °C was used to adsorb the xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and bisphenol A (BPA) and the herbicide metribuzin from water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed to investigate the surface micromorphology and functional groups composition of biochar, respectively. The study of sorption kinetics showed that all compounds achieved the steady state in less than 2 h, according to a pseudo-second order model, which denoted the formation of strong bonds (chemisorption) between biochar and the compounds. Adsorption isotherms data were described by the Henry, Freundlich, Langmuir and Temkin equations. At temperatures of 10 and 30 °C, the equilibrium data of the compounds were generally better described by the Freundlich model, although, in some cases, high correlation coefficients (r ≥ 0.98) were obtained for more than one model. Freundlich constants, K<sub>F</sub>, for OP, BPA and metribuzin were, respectively, 218, 138 and 4 L g<sup>−1</sup> at 10 °C and 295, 243 and 225 L g<sup>−1</sup> at 30 °C, indicating a general increase of adsorption at higher temperature. Desorption of all compounds, especially OP and BPA, from biochar was slow and very scarce, denoting an irreversible and hysteretic process. Comparing the results of this study with those reported in the literature, we can conclude that the present biochar has a surprising ability to retain organic compounds almost permanently, thus behaving as an excellent low-cost biosorbent.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/569biosorbentsorption kineticssorption isothermxenoestrogenendocrine disrupting chemicalherbicide
spellingShingle Claudia Carnimeo
Nicola Colatorti
Valeria D’Orazio
Pasquale Trotti
Elisabetta Loffredo
Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Materials
biosorbent
sorption kinetics
sorption isotherm
xenoestrogen
endocrine disrupting chemical
herbicide
title Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
title_full Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
title_fullStr Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
title_full_unstemmed Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
title_short Potential of Biochar from Wood Gasification to Retain Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
title_sort potential of biochar from wood gasification to retain endocrine disrupting chemicals
topic biosorbent
sorption kinetics
sorption isotherm
xenoestrogen
endocrine disrupting chemical
herbicide
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/2/569
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AT valeriadorazio potentialofbiocharfromwoodgasificationtoretainendocrinedisruptingchemicals
AT pasqualetrotti potentialofbiocharfromwoodgasificationtoretainendocrinedisruptingchemicals
AT elisabettaloffredo potentialofbiocharfromwoodgasificationtoretainendocrinedisruptingchemicals