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Characterization of modified biochars prepared at low pyrolysis temperature as an efficient adsorbent for atrazine removal

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Abstract

In this study, biochars (BC, ZnBC, and PBC) produced from wheat straw at relatively lower pyrolysis are successfully fabricated using different pretreatment techniques (without and with ZnCl2 or H3PO4). The specific surface area (SSA), elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) are used to analyze physicochemical properties of unmodified and modified biochars. ZnBC and PBC show higher specific surface area and more micropore structure than pure BC. Kinetic models (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intra-particle diffusion) as well as isotherm models (Langmuir and Freundlich) are applied to analyze adsorption behavior. Adsorption on biochars can be better fitted by the pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models, indicating that micropores and mesopores play important roles on adsorption process and chemisorption is dominant. The adsorption process is also affected by physical and chemical adsorption. In conclusion, biochar is a low-cost, effective, and environment-friendly adsorbent implicating in the environment for pesticide removal.

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Funding

This project benefited from the National Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (41625002), Agricultural Research Outstanding Talents and Innovation Team, the National Nature Science Fund for Young Scholars (31600413), the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2015M581417 and 2017T100222), the Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund (LBH-TZ1603 and LBH-Z15012), and “Young Talents” Project of Northeast Agricultural University (16QC34).

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  1. Lulu Zhao and Fan Yang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Resource and Environment, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China

    Lulu Zhao, Fan Yang, Qun Jiang, Moran Zhu, Zhao Jiang, Yi Tang & Ying Zhang

  2. College of Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China

    Fan Yang

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  1. Lulu Zhao
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  2. Fan Yang
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  3. Qun Jiang
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  4. Moran Zhu
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  5. Zhao Jiang
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  6. Yi Tang
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  7. Ying Zhang
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Correspondence to Ying Zhang.

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Responsible editor: Guilherme L. Dotto

Co-first author: Fan Yang

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Zhao, L., Yang, F., Jiang, Q. et al. Characterization of modified biochars prepared at low pyrolysis temperature as an efficient adsorbent for atrazine removal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 1405–1417 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0492-2

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