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Adsorptive properties of biochar derived from biorefinery industry for basic dye removal

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the use of biorefinery industry by-products such as humins as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB). After thermal treatment, these by-products are called biochars. Three biochars were used as adsorbents for MB removal: (i) a biochar obtained after thermal treatment of humins (called raw biochar), (ii) a biochar obtained after NaOH treatment of the biochar from (i) (called biochar-OH), (iii) a biochar obtained after mixing humins with lignin, this mixture being then submitted to the same thermal treatment than (i) (called humins-lignin biochar). Structural characterization was done using ATR-FTIR, BET surface area analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An elemental analysis was conducted to determine C, H, N, S, and O content in samples. Adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of time, pH, different background electrolytes (NaNO3 and CaCl2), and initial MB concentration. Kinetics data showed a good compatibility of all adsorbents with the pseudo-second-order model. The affinity of MB for biochar increased noticeably with the increase in pH, particularly for biochar-OH and humins-lignin biochar. Both the NaNO3 and CaCl2 background electrolytes had a negative effect on adsorption processes, and Ca2+ and Na+ acted as competitor ions with MB on the surface. The Langmuir model was more suitable for biochar-OH and humins-lignin biochar, whereas neither the Langmuir nor the Freundlich isotherms fitted experimental results for raw biochar due to its very low adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacity predicted by the Langmuir model allowed us to establish the following classification of biochars: biochar-OH > humins-lignin biochar >  >  > raw biochar. Modifications of the surface had a positive impact on the adsorption capacity due to the additional available functional groups incorporated into the surface through lignin enrichment and the clean-up of blocked pores through NaOH treatment. Furthermore, formation of macropores on biochar-OH through the NaOH treatment created additional adsorption sites and probably promoted the adsorption of MB via a pore-filling mechanism.

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Funding

This work was supported by the French government, through the UCAJEDI Investments in the Future project managed by the National Research Agency (ANR) with the reference number ANR-15-IDEX-01. The scanning electron microscope of the Centre Commun de Microscopie Appliquée (CCMA) was funded by the Région Sud/Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and the Conseil Départemental des Alpes Maritimes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Physique de Nice (INPHYNI), Université Côte d’Azur, 06108, Nice, France

    Yassine Bentahar, Claire Lomenech & Charlotte Hurel

  2. Institut de Chimie de Nice (ICN), Université Côte d’Azur, 06108, Nice, France

    Alice Mija

  3. Avantium Renewable Polymers B.V, Zekeringstraat 29, 1014 BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Ed de Jong

  4. Institut Des Sciences Analytiques (ISA), Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5280, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France

    Erik Bonjour & Patrick Jame

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  1. Yassine Bentahar
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  2. Claire Lomenech
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  4. Ed de Jong
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Contributions

Yassine Bentahar: conceived the idea, accomplishment of experimental tests, designed the manuscript, and wrote the manuscript.

Claire Lomenech: designed the manuscript, contribution on the interpretation of the results, and supervision of work.

Alice Mija: synthesis of biochar and humins-lignin biochar samples, FTIR analysis, correction, and revision of manuscript.

Ed de Jong: synthesis of biochar and humins-lignin biochar samples, correction, and revision of manuscript.

Erik Bonjour: realization of elemental analysis.

Patrick Jame: realization of elemental analysis.

Charlotte Hurel: supervision of work, contribution in the interpretation of results and redaction and correction of the manuscript, realization of SEM analysis.

All authors have read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Yassine Bentahar.

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Bentahar, Y., Lomenech, C., Mija, A. et al. Adsorptive properties of biochar derived from biorefinery industry for basic dye removal. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-022-03398-w

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