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Surface heterogeneity mediated transport of hydrochar nanoparticles in heterogeneous porous media

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Abstract

The effects of clay particles (montmorillonite, M) and phosphate (P) on the transport of hydrochar nanoparticles (NPs) in water-saturated porous media (uncoated and aluminum (Al) oxide-coated sands) were explored in NaCl (1–50 mM) solutions. Our results showed that the deposition behaviors of hydrochar NPs affected by M and phosphate were significantly different between pH 6.0 and pH 9.0, especially in Al oxide-coated sand. This can be attributed to their distinct surface characteristics: hydrochar agglomerates with a larger pore size distribution, more carboxylate groups, and less negative charges on the surface at pH 9.0 than those at pH 6.0. In Al oxide-coated sand, block adsorption of hydrochar was alleviated appreciably with the presence of M due to the preferential preoccupies of M on these favorable retention sites. On the contrary, M substantially increased the hydrochar retention on uncoated sand due to the formation of nanoaggregates between hydrochar and M. Differently, phosphate substantially enhanced the transport of hydrochar, even in coated sand, due to the strong phosphate adsorption onto Al oxide on the surface of sand and hydrochar. Our findings will provide useful insights into designing effective strategies for land application of hydrochar while minimizing potential environmental risks.

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Funding

The authors appreciate the research funding provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21777110 and 21377090) and the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material for Water Treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Functional Materials, School of Chemistry Biology and Material Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China

    Jing Yang, Ming Chen, Han Yang, Nan Xu, Gang Feng & Zuling Li

  2. Groundwater Characterization and Remediation Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, OK, 74820, USA

    Chunming Su

  3. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ada, OK, 74820, USA

    Dengjun Wang

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  1. Jing Yang
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  2. Ming Chen
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  4. Nan Xu
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  5. Gang Feng
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  6. Zuling Li
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Correspondence to Nan Xu.

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Yang, J., Chen, M., Yang, H. et al. Surface heterogeneity mediated transport of hydrochar nanoparticles in heterogeneous porous media. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 32842–32855 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09482-w

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