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A Comparative Study of Raw vs. Activated Biochar Derived from “Ricinus communis Stem” for Preferential Removal of Cationic Dyes

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Abstract

In this study, Ricinus communis stem (RCS) was chemically activated with potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and heated at 300 °C to produce low-temperature Ricinus communis stem-activated biochar (RCSB). These two biosorbents (RCS and RCSB) were used for the removal study of methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG) preferentially from synthetic aqueous solutions. Various analytical techniques were used to explore the surface morphology, surface area, crystallinity, elemental composition, and functional groups of natural (RCS) and potassium carbonate-activated biochar RCSB. Adsorption experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, initial dye concentration, stirring speed, particle size, and temperature. Initially, adsorption experiments were carried out with different nine cationic and anionic dyes. Among these dyes, two cationic dyes, MG and MB, show good dye removal %, RCS (~87%), and RCSB (~98%). The adsorption capacities qe (mg g−1) of all four systems are MB-RCSB: 242 mg g−1, MG-RCSB: 240 mg g−1, MB-RCS: 195 mg g−1, and MG-RCS: 190 mg g−1, respectively. The kinetics analysis data were best fitted with the intraparticle diffusion kinetics model (R2 = 1) and the isotherm analysis fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters support the feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic adsorption in the temperature range of 293–323 K. Desorption experiments were carried out at pH 2 with an efficiency of ~97%. A regeneration study indicates biosorbents can be recycled up to five cycles. The present studies suggest using RCS as eco-friendly removal of MG and MB dyes up to 99%. Regarding the novelty of the work, the biochar reported in the present work was synthesized at a low temperature (300 °C) compared to the other higher temperature reported methods which are more economical. A cost estimation study reveals that two tons of dye-contaminated wastewater can be treated at a cost of approximately 152 INR.

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Acknowledgements

The author is also thankful to the Center for the Environment and Central Instrument Facility (CIF), IIT Guwahati, for providing necessary instrumental facilities.

Funding

The financial support by DBT (Department of Biotechnology) New Delhi, India, through research grants BT/COE/34/SP28408/2018 has been highly acknowledged.

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  1. Centre for the Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Partha Protim Bakal & Gopal Das

  2. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, 781039, India

    Gopal Das

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Conceptualization: GD, PPB; methodology: PPB; formal analysis and investigation: PPB; writing — original draft preparation: PPB, GD; writing — review and editing: PPB, GD; funding acquisition: GD; resources: GD, PPB; supervision: GD.

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Correspondence to Gopal Das.

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Bakal, P.P., Das, G. A Comparative Study of Raw vs. Activated Biochar Derived from “Ricinus communis Stem” for Preferential Removal of Cationic Dyes. Water Conserv Sci Eng 8, 19 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41101-023-00192-1

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