Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar

The utilization of biochar, derived from agricultural waste, has garnered attention as a valuable material for enhancing soil properties and serving as a substitute adsorbent for the elimination of hazardous heavy metals and organic contaminants from wastewater. In the present investigation, amide-m...

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Main Authors: Ashraf Ali, Sarah Alharthi, Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan, Alia Naz, Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-06-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5146
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author Ashraf Ali
Sarah Alharthi
Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan
Alia Naz
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
author_facet Ashraf Ali
Sarah Alharthi
Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan
Alia Naz
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
author_sort Ashraf Ali
collection DOAJ
description The utilization of biochar, derived from agricultural waste, has garnered attention as a valuable material for enhancing soil properties and serving as a substitute adsorbent for the elimination of hazardous heavy metals and organic contaminants from wastewater. In the present investigation, amide-modified biochar was synthesized via low-temperature pyrolysis of rice husk and was harnessed for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater. The resultant biochar was treated with 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] urea to incorporate an amide group. The amide-modified biochar was characterized by employing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. During batch experiments, the effect of various parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, metal concentration, time duration, and pH, on Cr(VI) removal was investigated. The optimal conditions for achieving maximum adsorption of Cr(VI) were observed at a pH 2, an adsorbent time of 60 min, an adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, and a metal concentration of 100 mg/L. The percent removal efficiency of 97% was recorded for the removal of Cr(VI) under optimal conditions using amide-modified biochar. Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin isotherm models were utilized to calculate the adsorption data and determine the optimal fitting model. It was found that the adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model. A kinetics study revealed that the Cr(VI) adsorption onto ABC followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The findings of this study indicate that amide-functionalized biochar has the potential to serve as an economically viable substitute adsorbent for the efficient removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater.
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spelling doaj.art-b44853546dfc4a2ea1b2f007df6d1fc42023-11-18T17:08:55ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-06-012813514610.3390/molecules28135146Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified BiocharAshraf Ali0Sarah Alharthi1Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan2Alia Naz3Hua-Jun Shawn Fan4Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical & Applied Sciences, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanCenter of Advanced Research in Science and Technology, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Environmental Science, Faculty of Physical & Applied Sciences, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, PakistanCollege of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643099, ChinaThe utilization of biochar, derived from agricultural waste, has garnered attention as a valuable material for enhancing soil properties and serving as a substitute adsorbent for the elimination of hazardous heavy metals and organic contaminants from wastewater. In the present investigation, amide-modified biochar was synthesized via low-temperature pyrolysis of rice husk and was harnessed for the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater. The resultant biochar was treated with 1-[3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl] urea to incorporate an amide group. The amide-modified biochar was characterized by employing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. During batch experiments, the effect of various parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, metal concentration, time duration, and pH, on Cr(VI) removal was investigated. The optimal conditions for achieving maximum adsorption of Cr(VI) were observed at a pH 2, an adsorbent time of 60 min, an adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, and a metal concentration of 100 mg/L. The percent removal efficiency of 97% was recorded for the removal of Cr(VI) under optimal conditions using amide-modified biochar. Freundlich, Langmuir, and Temkin isotherm models were utilized to calculate the adsorption data and determine the optimal fitting model. It was found that the adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model. A kinetics study revealed that the Cr(VI) adsorption onto ABC followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The findings of this study indicate that amide-functionalized biochar has the potential to serve as an economically viable substitute adsorbent for the efficient removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5146biocharamide-modificationwastewater treatmentkineticsadsorption isotherm
spellingShingle Ashraf Ali
Sarah Alharthi
Nora Hamad Al-Shaalan
Alia Naz
Hua-Jun Shawn Fan
Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
Molecules
biochar
amide-modification
wastewater treatment
kinetics
adsorption isotherm
title Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
title_full Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
title_fullStr Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
title_full_unstemmed Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
title_short Efficient Removal of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) from Wastewater Using Amide-Modified Biochar
title_sort efficient removal of hexavalent chromium cr vi from wastewater using amide modified biochar
topic biochar
amide-modification
wastewater treatment
kinetics
adsorption isotherm
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/13/5146
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AT norahamadalshaalan efficientremovalofhexavalentchromiumcrvifromwastewaterusingamidemodifiedbiochar
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