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Production and characterization of adsorbents from a hydrothermal char by pyrolysis, carbon dioxide and steam activation

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Abstract

Adsorbents for wastewater treatment were produced from industrially obtained hydrochars using pyrolysis, CO2, and steam activation. Both pyrolysis and CO2 activation were studied between 400 to 900 °C, with a holding time of 1 or 2 h. Steam activation was carried out between 600 to 900 °C for a holding time of 2 h. Pyrolysis, CO2, and steam activation yields were in the ranges of 44–72, 26–51, and 14–59 wt.%, respectively. The best performing adsorbents based on phenol and methylene blue removal were obtained at 800 °C and a 2-h holding time with the three gases (N2, CO2, steam). Steam activation of hydrochar provided the best adsorbent with maximum capacities of 179 and 167 mg g−1 toward methylene blue and phenol. The maximum Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area of the product was 593 m2 g−1 with an average pore size diameter of 4.38 nm and a total pore volume of 0.651 cm3 g−1. This study shows that adsorbents derived from hydrochar can be used for wastewater remediation, offering a valorization pathway of a waste stream from hydrothermal processes.

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Data availability

Available upon request.

Code availability

N/A.

Abbreviations

ΔH:

Enthalpy of the reaction (kJ mol−1)

C0 :

The initial concentration of adsorbate in the liquid phase (mg L−1)

Ce :

The concentration of adsorbate in the liquid phase at the equilibrium (mg L−1)

Ct :

The concentration of adsorbate in the liquid phase at time = t (mg L−1)

Dp :

Average pore diameter (nm)

Kf :

The Freundlich constant ((mg g−1) (mg L−1)n))

KL :

The Langmuir constant (L mg−1)

M:

Molar concentration (mol L−1)

m:

Mass (g)

pKa :

Acid dissociation constant

qe :

The amount of adsorbate adsorbed on the solid phase at the equilibrium (mg g−1)

qm :

The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the adsorbent (mg g−1)

qt :

Adsorbate concentration adsorbed on the solid at time = t (mmol g−1)

SBET :

Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area (m2 g−1)

Smicro :

The micopores surface area (m2 g−1)

V:

Volume (L)

Vmeso :

Mesopores volume (cm3 g−1)

Vmicro :

Micropores volume (cm3 g−1)

Vtotal :

Total pore volume (cm3 g−1)

λ:

Wavelength of maximum absorbance (nm

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge MITACS Canada (Grant number IT12425), Origin Materials, and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Western Ontario for financial support of this study.

Funding

Financial support for this study was obtained from MITACS Canada (Grant number IT12425), Origin Materials, and the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Western Ontario.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Chemicals and Fuels From Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, Canada

    Ghazaleh Chegini, Cedric Briens & Dominic Pjontek

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  1. Ghazaleh Chegini
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  2. Cedric Briens
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  3. Dominic Pjontek
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Highlights

• Activation study for hydrothermal chars obtained from an industrial process.

• Pyrolysis, CO2, and steam activation compared at varying temperature and holding time.

• Products characterized based on aqueous phenol and methylene blue adsorption.

• Steam activation at 800 °C and 2-h holding time produced best adsorbents.

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Chegini, G., Briens, C. & Pjontek, D. Production and characterization of adsorbents from a hydrothermal char by pyrolysis, carbon dioxide and steam activation. Biomass Conv. Bioref. 13, 13163–13179 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02439-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-02439-8

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