Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation of magnetic biochar for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions

  • Published:
Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present paper presents the evaluation of the adsorption efficiency and adsorption capacity for nitrate removal of magnetic biochar derived from corn stalk prepared by pyrolysis process. Characterization of magnetic biochar have been performed by TGA, XRD, FT-IR and BET methods. The results indicate that the adsorbent has a mesoporous structure graphed with O–H and COOH groups. The effect of various parameters such as pH, mass of Fe3O4-BC adsorbent, contact time, and nitrate concentration on the adsorption process of nitrate were studied. The ranges investigated were pH 4–10, concentration 50–300 ppm, the amount of activated carbon 0.15–0.35 g and contact time 30–120 min. The experimental data show that the prepared magnetic biochar has a nitrate removal efficiency of 98.91% at pH, 50 ppm nitrate concentration, 0.25 g adsorbent and 120 min. The adsorption capacity of the Fe3O4-BC adsorbent was studied by using Response Surface Methodology based on a Box-Behnken design (BBD). The optimum conditions for the equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) calculated at pH 7, 300 ppm nitrate concentration, 0.15 g adsorbent and 30 min was validated by experimental data and the results are in agreement with the experimental data.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Marcińczyk M, Oleszczuk P (2022) Biochar and engineered biochar as slow- and controlled-release fertilizers. J Clean Prod 339:130685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130685

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang T, Zhang D, Fang K, Zhu W, Peng Q, Xie Z (2021) Enhanced nitrate removal by physical activation and Mg/Al layered double hydroxide modified biochar derived from wood waste: adsorption characteristics and mechanisms. J Environ Chem Eng 9(4):105184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2021.105184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhou H, Tan Y, Gao W, Zhang Y, Yang Y (2020) Selective nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by a hydrotalcite-like absorbent FeMgMn-LDH. Sci Rep-Uk 10(1):16126. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72845-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization (2011) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  5. Li J, Dong S, Wang Y, Dou X, Hao H (2020) Nitrate removal from aqueous solutions by magnetic cationic hydrogel: effect of electrostatic adsorption and mechanism. J Environ Sci 91:177–188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2020.01.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ogata F, Imai D, Kawasaki N (2015) Adsorption of nitrate and nitrite ions onto carbonaceous material produced from soybean in a binary solution system. J Environ Chem Eng 3(1):155–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2014.11.025

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Song W, Gao B, Xu X, Wang F, Xue N, Sun S et al (2016) Adsorption of nitrate from aqueous solution by magnetic amine-crosslinked biopolymer based corn stalk and its chemical regeneration property. J Hazard Mater 304:280–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2015.10.073

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. El-Naggar A, Lee SS, Rinklebe J, Farooq M, Song H, Sarmah AK et al (2019) Biochar application to low fertility soils: a review of current status, and future prospects. Geoderma 337:536–554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.09.034

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tan X, Liu Y, Zeng G, Wang X, Hu X, Gu Y et al (2015) Application of biochar for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions. Chemosphere 125:70–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.058

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ahmed MB, Zhou JL, Ngo HH, Guo W, Chen M (2016) Progress in the preparation and application of modified biochar for improved contaminant removal from water and wastewater. Bioresour Technol 214:836–851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.057

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Rezaei Kalantary R, Dehghanifard E, Mohseni-Bandpi A, Rezaei L, Esrafili A, Kakavandi B et al (2016) Nitrate adsorption by synthetic activated carbon magnetic nanoparticles: kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic studies. Desalin Water Treat 57(35):16445–16455. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1079251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Doukeh R, Bombos D, Bombos M, Oprescu E-E, Dumitrascu G, Vasilievici G et al (2021) Catalytic hydrotreating of bio-oil and evaluation of main noxious emissions of gaseous phase. Sci Rep-Uk 11(1):6176. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-85244-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Doukeh R, Bombos M, Bombos D, Vasilievici G, Radu E, Oprescu E-E (2021) Pyrolysis of digestate from anaerobic digestion on tungsten oxide catalyst. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 132(2):829–838. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-021-01952-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Oprescu E-E, Enascuta C-E, Doukeh R, Calin C, Lavric V (2021) Characterizing and using a new bi-functional catalyst to sustainably synthesize methyl levulinate from biomass carbohydrates. Renew Energ 176:651–662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2021.05.120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bombuwala Dewage N, Liyanage AS, Pittman CU, Mohan D, Mlsna T (2018) Fast nitrate and fluoride adsorption and magnetic separation from water on α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 dispersed on Douglas fir biochar. Bioresour Technol 263:258–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.05.001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Cataldo DA, Maroon M, Schrader LE, Youngs VL (1975) Rapid colorimetric determination of nitrate in plant tissue by nitration of salicylic acid. Commun Soil Sci Plan 6(1):71–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/00103627509366547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Safari J, Zarnegar Z (2013) A highly efficient magnetic solid acid catalyst for synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles under ultrasound irradiation. Ultrason Sonochem 20(2):740–746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2012.10.004

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Yang H, Yan R, Chen H, Lee DH, Zheng C (2007) Characteristics of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis. Fuel 86(12):1781–1788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2006.12.013

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Frolova L, Kharytonov M (2019) Synthesis of magnetic biochar for efficient removal of Cr(III) cations from the aqueous medium. Adv Mater Sci Eng 2019:2187132. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2187132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Li Y, Chen X, Liu L, Liu P, Zhou Z, Huhetaoli et al (2022) Characteristics and adsorption of Cr(VI) of biochar pyrolyzed from landfill leachate sludge. J Anal Appl Pyrol 162:105449. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2022.105449

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Nautiyal P, Subramanian KA, Dastidar MG (2016) Adsorptive removal of dye using biochar derived from residual algae after in-situ transesterification: alternate use of waste of biodiesel industry. J Environ Manag 182:187–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.063

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Vicente-Martínez Y, Caravaca M, Soto-Meca A, Martín-Pereira MÁ, García-Onsurbe MD (2021) Adsorption studies on magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with silver to remove nitrates from waters. Water. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13131757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Nigussie W, Zewge F, Chandravanshi BS (2007) Removal of excess fluoride from water using waste residue from alum manufacturing process. J Hazard Mater 147(3):954–963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.01.126

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Keränen A, Leiviskä T, Hormi O, Tanskanen J (2015) Removal of nitrate by modified pine sawdust: effects of temperature and co-existing anions. J Environ Manag 147:46–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Diriba D, Hussen A, Rao VM (2014) Removal of nitrite from aqueous solution using sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 93(1):126–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-014-1297-3

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Taoufik N, Elmchaouri A, Korili SA, Gil A (2020) Optimizing the removal of nitrate by adsorption onto activated carbon using response surface methodology based on the central composite design. J Appl Water Eng Res 8(1):66–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/23249676.2020.1723446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Li M, Feng C, Zhang Z, Chen R, Xue Q, Gao C et al (2010) Optimization of process parameters for electrochemical nitrate removal using Box-Behnken design. Electrochim Acta 56(1):265–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2010.08.085

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Singh R, Bhateria R (2020) Optimization and experimental design of the Pb2+ adsorption process on a nano-Fe3O4-based adsorbent using the response surface methodology. ACS Omega 5(43):28305–28318. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c04284

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Dhahri R, Yılmaz M, Mechi L, Alsukaibi AKD, Alimi F, ben Salem R et al (2022) Optimization of the preparation of activated carbon from prickly pear seed cake for the removal of lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solution. Sustainability 14(6):3245

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Saleh TA, Sarı A, Tuzen M (2017) Optimization of parameters with experimental design for the adsorption of mercury using polyethylenimine modified-activated carbon. J Environ Chem Eng 5(1):1079–1088. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2017.01.032

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Aldegs Y, Elbarghouthi M, Elsheikh A, Walker G (2008) Effect of solution pH, ionic strength, and temperature on adsorption behavior of reactive dyes on activated carbon. Dyes Pigment 77(1):16–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2007.03.001

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bernal V, Erto A, Giraldo L, Moreno-Pirajan JC (2017) Effect of solution pH on the adsorption of paracetamol on chemically modified activated carbons. Molecules. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22071032

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

“This work was supported by a grant of UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1842, within PNCDI III”- TE 181/2020.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Research & Development in Chemistry and Petrochemistry ICECHIM, 060021, Bucharest, Romania

    Elena-Emilia Oprescu, Emanuela Cristina Enascuta, Gabriel Vasilievici & Ionut Banu

  2. Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, Bucharest Blvd. 39, 100680, Ploiești, Romania

    Elena-Emilia Oprescu

  3. “C. D. Nenitzescu” Institute of Organic and Supramolecular Chemistry of the Romanian Academy, 202B Spl. Independentei CP 35-108, 060023, Bucharest, Romania

    Nicoleta Doriana Banu

  4. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Str., 011061, Bucharest, Romania

    Ionut Banu

Authors
  1. Elena-Emilia Oprescu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emanuela Cristina Enascuta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gabriel Vasilievici
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicoleta Doriana Banu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ionut Banu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ionut Banu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oprescu, EE., Enascuta, E.C., Vasilievici, G. et al. Preparation of magnetic biochar for nitrate removal from aqueous solutions. Reac Kinet Mech Cat 135, 2629–2642 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02263-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-022-02263-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation