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Iron-impregnated biochars as effective phosphate sorption materials

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Abstract

A new post-treatment method was applied for improving the sorption efficiency of biochar-based sorbents for anionic forms of phosphorus. The Fe-impregnation through direct hydrolysis of Fe(NO3)3 was used to produce impregnated corn cob- (IBC A), garden wood waste- (IBC B), and wood chip-derived biochars (IBC C). The qualitative and quantitative effects of impregnation process on biochars were confirmed by SEM-EDX, FTIR, and ICP-MS. The analyses revealed increased concentrations of N and thus potential NO3 − participation in the phosphate sorption process. Biochar surface area showed a significant decrease after the impregnation process due to the filling of micro- and mesopores with Fe maximum sorption capacity (Q max) increased by a factor of 12–50. The sorption processes of phosphates by IBC A, IBC B, and IBC C were dependent on pH, initial concentration, and time. Speciation analysis and pH-study confirmed the range of pH 4.5–5.5 as optimum values at which most of phosphorus is present in form of mononuclear H2PO4 −. Batch sorption experiments showed a significant increase in the sorption capacity for phosphates by Fe impregnation of biochar as well as effectiveness and stability of this treatment. These findings indicate an option for utilizing engineered biochars as tools for the recovery of phosphorus from the aquatic environment.

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Acknowledgments

The authors Vladimír Frišták and Gerhard Soja thank the Austrian FFG for the financial support of the Research Studio FERTI-MINE, project no. 844744. Libor Ďuriška would like to thank the project implementation: Center for development and application of advanced diagnostic methods in processing of metallic and non-metallic materials, ITMS: 26220120014, supported by the Research and Development Operational Programme funded by the ERDF.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecochemistry and Radioecology, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, J. Herdu 2, Trnava, 917 01, Slovak Republic

    Barbora Micháleková-Richveisová

  2. Energy Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 3430, Tulln, Austria

    Vladimír Frišták & Gerhard Soja

  3. Department of Chemistry, Trnava University, Trnava, 91701, Slovak Republic

    Martin Pipíška

  4. Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Paulínska 16, Trnava, 917 24, Slovak Republic

    Libor Ďuriška

  5. Departamento de Química Agrícola y Bromatología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez

Authors
  1. Barbora Micháleková-Richveisová
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  2. Vladimír Frišták
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  3. Martin Pipíška
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  4. Libor Ďuriška
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  5. Eduardo Moreno-Jimenez
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  6. Gerhard Soja
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Correspondence to Vladimír Frišták.

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Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Micháleková-Richveisová, B., Frišták, V., Pipíška, M. et al. Iron-impregnated biochars as effective phosphate sorption materials. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 463–475 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7820-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7820-9

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