Abstract
Adsorption of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) using pomelo peel activated biochar (PPAB) as a adsorbent was investigated. The characterization of the adsorbent was studied by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and zeta potentials analysis. The results showed that the PPAB had a high microporous structure and the existence of organic compounds such as hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Various parameters including initial Cr(VI) concentration, pH, and adsorbent dosage were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption process was pH dependent and maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) was 57.637 mg/g at pH 2.0 and 35 °C with PPAB dosage of 0.05 g. The adsorption kinetics fitted well to the pseudo-second-order model and the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.999. The adsorption isotherm data could be better described with the Langmuir model, suggesting the homogeneous and monolayer adsorption. Moreover, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) results showed that the surface of PPAB had plenty of developed pores after activation and the modification process was deemed to proceed between the O–H groups from pomelo peel and H3PO4 molecules. The main adsorption mechanism was attributed electrostatic interaction and ion exchange between the surface of PPAB and Cr(VI).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdellaoui, K., Pavlovic, I., Bouhent, M., Benhamou, A., & Barriga, C. (2017). A comparative study of the amaranth azo dye adsorption/desorption from aqueous solutions by layered double hydroxides. Applied Clay Science, 143, 142–150.
Akram, M., Bhatti, H. N., Iqbal, M., Noreen, S., & Sadaf, S. (2017). Biocomposite efficiency for Cr(VI) adsorption: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamics studies. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 5(1), 400–411.
Ali, A. (2017). Removal of Mn(II) from water using chemically modified banana peels as efficient adsorbent. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 7, 57–63.
Ali, A., & Saeed, K. (2015). Decontamination of Cr(VI) and Mn(II) from aqueous media by untreated and chemically treated banana peel: a comparative study. Desalination and Water Treatment, 53(13), 3586–3591.
Chen, J., Gao, Y., Xu, Z., Wu, G., Chen, Y., & Zhu, C. (2006). A novel fluorescent array for mercury (II) ion in aqueous solution with functionalized cadmium selenide nanoclusters. Analytica Chimica Acta, 577(1), 77–84.
De Gisi, S., Lofrano, G., Grassi, M., & Notarnicola, M. (2016). Characteristics and adsorption capacities of low-cost sorbents for wastewater treatment: a review. Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 9, 10–40.
Demiral, H., Demiral, İ., Tümsek, F., & Karabacakoğlu, B. (2008). Adsorption of chromium(VI) from aqueous solution by activated carbon derived from olive bagasse and applicability of different adsorption models. Chemical Engineering Journal, 144(2), 188–196.
Dong, X., Ma, L. Q., & Li, Y. (2011). Characteristics and mechanisms of hexavalent chromium removal by biochar from sugar beet tailing. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 190(1), 909–915.
Edwin, O. A., Ayodeji, A. O., Opeoluwa, O. G., & Dada, W. O. (2014). Detoxification of chromium (vi) ions in aqueous solution via adsorption by raw and activated carbon prepared from sugarcane waste. Covenant Journal of Physical and Life Sciences, 2(2).
Flores-Cano, J. V., Leyva-Ramos, R., Carrasco-Marin, F., Aragón-Piña, A., Salazar-Rabago, J. J., & Leyva-Ramos, S. (2016). Adsorption mechanism of Chromium(III) from water solution on bone char: effect of operating conditions. Adsorption, 22(3), 297–308.
Huang, Y., Li, S., Chen, J., Zhang, X., & Chen, Y. (2014). Adsorption of Pb(II) on mesoporous activated carbons fabricated from water hyacinth using H3PO4 activation: Adsorption capacity, kinetic and isotherm studies. Applied Surface Science, 293, 160–168.
Irem, S., Islam, E., Mahmood Khan, Q., Anwar ul Haq, M., & Jamal Hashmat, A. (2017). Adsorption of arsenic from drinking water using natural orange waste: kinetics and fluidized bed column studies. [https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2017.009]. Water Science and Technology: Water Supply.
Kennedy, L. J., Vijaya, J. J., & Sekaran, G. (2004). Effect of two-stage process on the preparation and characterization of porous carbon composite from rice husk by phosphoric acid activation. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 43(8), 1832–1838.
Kırbıyık, Ç., Pütün, A. E., & Pütün, E. (2016). Comparative studies on adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions by biosorbent, bio-char and activated carbon obtained from low cost agro-residue. Water Science and Technology, 73(2), 423. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.504.
Kocaman, S., Karaman, M., Gursoy, M., & Ahmetli, G. (2017). Chemical and plasma surface modification of lignocellulose coconut waste for the preparation of advanced biobased composite materials. Carbohydrate Polymers, 159, 48–57.
Kruk, M., & Jaroniec, M. (2001). Gas adsorption characterization of ordered organic–inorganic nanocomposite materials. Chemistry of Materials, 13(10), 3169–3183.
Li, H., Sun, Z., Zhang, L., Tian, Y., Cui, G., & Yan, S. (2016). A cost-effective porous carbon derived from pomelo peel for the removal of methyl orange from aqueous solution. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 489, 191–199.
Li, Y., Du, Q., Liu, T., Sun, J., Wang, Y., Wu, S., et al. (2013). Methylene blue adsorption on graphene oxide/calcium alginate composites. Carbohydrate Polymers, 95(1), 501–507.
Liu, Y., Chae, H. G., & Kumar, S. (2011). Gel-spun carbon nanotubes/polyacrylonitrile composite fibers. Part II: stabilization reaction kinetics and effect of gas environment. Carbon, 49(13), 4477–4486.
Mohanty, K., Jha, M., Meikap, B., & Biswas, M. (2005). Removal of chromium (VI) from dilute aqueous solutions by activated carbon developed from Terminalia arjuna nuts activated with zinc chloride. Chemical Engineering Science, 60(11), 3049–3059.
Nowicki, P., Kazmierczak-Razna, J., & Pietrzak, R. (2016). Physicochemical and adsorption properties of carbonaceous sorbents prepared by activation of tropical fruit skins with potassium carbonate. Materials & Design, 90, 579–585.
Pap, S., Radonić, J., Trifunović, S., Adamović, D., Mihajlović, I., Vojinović Miloradov, M., et al. (2016). Evaluation of the adsorption potential of eco-friendly activated carbon prepared from cherry kernels for the removal of Pb2+, Cd2+ and Ni2+ from aqueous wastes. Journal of Environmental Management, 184(Part 2), 297–306.
Rosales, E., Ferreira, L., Sanromán, M. Á., Tavares, T., & Pazos, M. (2015). Enhanced selective metal adsorption on optimised agroforestry waste mixtures. Bioresource Technology, 182, 41–49.
Rosas, J. M., Ruiz-Rosas, R., Rodríguez-Mirasol, J., & Cordero, T. (2012). Kinetic study of the oxidation resistance of phosphorus-containing activated carbons. Carbon, 50(4), 1523–1537.
Saeed, A., Akhter, M. W., & Iqbal, M. (2005). Removal and recovery of heavy metals from aqueous solution using papaya wood as a new biosorbent. Separation and Purification Technology, 45(1), 25–31.
Scherer, M. D., Oliveira, S. L., Lima, S. M., Andrade, L. H. C., & Caires, A. R. L. (2011). Determination of the biodiesel content in diesel/biodiesel blends: a method based on fluorescence spectroscopy. Journal of Fluorescence, 21(3), 1027–1031.
Shahedi, Z., Jafari, M. R., & Zolanvari, A. A. (2017). Synthesis of ZnQ2, CaQ2, and CdQ2 for application in OLED: optical, thermal, and electrical characterizations. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics, 1–7.
Silva-Medeiros, F. V., Consolin-Filho, N., Xavier de Lima, M., Bazzo, F. P., Barros, M. A. S. D., Bergamasco, R., et al. (2016). Kinetics and thermodynamics studies of silver ions adsorption onto coconut shell activated carbon. Environmental Technology, 37(24), 3087–3093.
Sreenivas, K., Inarkar, M., Gokhale, S., & Lele, S. (2014). Re-utilization of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida) peel waste for chromium (VI) biosorption: equilibrium and column studies. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2(1), 455–462.
Sun, Y., Li, H., Li, G., Gao, B., Yue, Q., & Li, X. (2016). Characterization and ciprofloxacin adsorption properties of activated carbons prepared from biomass wastes by H3PO4 activation. Bioresource Technology, 217, 239–244.
Torab-Mostaedi, M., Asadollahzadeh, M., Hemmati, A., & Khosravi, A. (2013). Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies for biosorption of cadmium and nickel on grapefruit peel. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 44(2), 295–302.
Vu, H. C., Dwivedi, A. D., Le, T. T., Seo, S.-H., Kim, E.-J., & Chang, Y.-S. (2017). Magnetite graphene oxide encapsulated in alginate beads for enhanced adsorption of Cr(VI) and As(V) from aqueous solutions: role of crosslinking metal cations in pH control. Chemical Engineering Journal, 307, 220–229.
Wang, W., Yi, E., Fici, A. J., Laine, R. M., & Kieffer, J. (2017). Lithium ion conducting poly(ethylene oxide)-based solid electrolytes containing active or passive ceramic nanoparticles. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 121(5), 2563–2573.
Wang, X., Liang, X., Wang, Y., Wang, X., Liu, M., Yin, D., et al. (2011). Adsorption of copper (II) onto activated carbons from sewage sludge by microwave-induced phosphoric acid and zinc chloride activation. Desalination, 278(1–3), 231–237.
Wu, Y., Ming, Z., Yang, S., Fan, Y., Fang, P., Sha, H., et al. (2017). Adsorption of hexavalent chromium onto bamboo charcoal grafted by Cu2+-N-aminopropylsilane complexes: optimization, kinetic, and isotherm studies. Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 46, 222–233.
Xiao, X., Lu, S., Pan, L., Zeng, C., He, Z., Gao, J., et al. (2016). Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy composites by addition of hyperbranched polyglycerol grown on cellulose fibers. Journal of Polymer Research, 23(4), 72.
Yagmur, E., Tunc, M. S., Banford, A., & Aktas, Z. (2013). Preparation of activated carbon from autohydrolysed mixed southern hardwood. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 104, 470–478.
Yang, H., Yan, R., Chen, H., Lee, D. H., & Zheng, C. (2007). Characteristics of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin pyrolysis. Fuel, 86(12–13), 1781–1788.
Yang, J., & Qiu, K. (2011). Development of high surface area mesoporous activated carbons from herb residues. Chemical Engineering Journal, 167(1), 148–154.
Zhang, G., Zhang, T., Li, B., Zhang, X., & Chen, X. (2016). Biomimetic synthesis of interlaced mesh structures TiO2 nanofibers with enhanced photocatalytic activity. Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 668, 113–120.
Zhu, Y., Zhang, H., Zeng, H., Liang, M., & Lu, R. (2012). Adsorption of chromium (VI) from aqueous solution by the iron (III)-impregnated sorbent prepared from sugarcane bagasse. International journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 9(3), 463–472.
Zúñiga, R., Cruz, G. J., Olayo, M. G., Sánchez-Mendieta, V., Gómez, L. M., González-Torres, M., et al. (2015). Synthesis and superficial characterization of plasma polyfuran thin films. Polymer Bulletin, 72(4), 839–850.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wu, Y., Cha, L., Fan, Y. et al. Activated Biochar Prepared by Pomelo Peel Using H3PO4 for the Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium: Performance and Mechanism. Water Air Soil Pollut 228, 405 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3587-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-017-3587-y