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Urea/ZnCl2 in situ hydrothermal carbonization of Camellia sinensis waste to prepare N-doped biochar for heavy metal removal

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Abstract

Environmental benefits of biochar require a simple and effective method for preparation of functional N-doped biochar. In this study, urea/ZnCl2 was developed to prepare N-doped biochar via in situ hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of Camellia sinensis waste at 120–280 °C for 2 h under 1.0–9.8 MPa. Physicochemical and structural properties of the N-doped biochar were investigated by Raman spectra, elemental analysis, BET surface area, SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS. The results showed that the N content in biochar could reach up to 7.79% at 280 °C. Surface chemistry suggested that pyridinic N, pyrollic N, and graphitic N were the major N species on the biochar. Moreover, the N-doped biochar was successfully employed to remove metal ions Cu2+, Pb2+, Zn2+, and Cr6+. Adsorption data fit closely to the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model for all metal ions.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31700612, 31700521), Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province (2018JQ3014, 2019JQ-082), and Technical System for Tea Industry of Shaanxi Province.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Shasha Guo, Yuefang Gao, Zhengjun Liu, Bin Xiao & Yajun Yang

  2. Hanshuiyun Tea Co., Ltd., Ankang, 725000, China

    Yancheng Wang

  3. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China

    Xingneng Wei & Pai Peng

Authors
  1. Shasha Guo
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  2. Yuefang Gao
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  3. Yancheng Wang
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  4. Zhengjun Liu
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  5. Xingneng Wei
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  6. Pai Peng
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  7. Bin Xiao
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  8. Yajun Yang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Pai Peng or Yajun Yang.

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Responsible editor: Tito Roberto Cadaval Jr

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Guo, S., Gao, Y., Wang, Y. et al. Urea/ZnCl2 in situ hydrothermal carbonization of Camellia sinensis waste to prepare N-doped biochar for heavy metal removal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 30365–30373 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06194-8

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