Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sorption of copper(II) from synthetic oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) by pine sawdust biochars: effects of pyrolysis temperature and steam activation

  • Soils, Sec 3 • Remediation and Management of Contaminated or Degraded Lands • Research Article
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Remediate metal contamination is a fundamental step prior to reclaim oil sands tailing ponds, and copper (Cu(II)) is the most abundant metal in the tailings water or oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). Biochars produced at four pyrolysis conditions were evaluated for sorption of Cu(II) in synthetic OSPW to explore different biochar potentials in removing Cu(II) from the contaminated water.

Materials and methods

Pine sawdust biochars pyrolyzed at 300 and 550 °C with and without steam activation were investigated by batch sorption experiments. Isotherm and kinetic studies were conducted to compare the sorption capacities of the four biochars and to examine potential mechanisms involved.

Results and discussion

For all the biochars, Langmuir and pseudo-second order models were the best-fit for isotherm and kinetic studies, respectively. According to the Langmuir parameters, the maximum adsorption capacities of the biochars produced at 550 °C were around 2.5 mg Cu(II) g−1, which were 30-folds higher than those produced at 300 °C. However, steam activation did not cause any significant difference in the biochars’ sorption performance. The kinetic study suggested that chemisorption involving valence forces was the limiting factor of the sorption. In addition, ion exchange and precipitation were likely the primary mechanisms for Cu(II) sorption which outweigh complexation with functional groups on the biochars’ surface.

Conclusions

Pine sawdust biochar produced at 550 °C without steam activation could be utilized as a sustainable and cost-effective material to remove Cu(II) from the OSPW.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmad M, Lee SS, Dou X, Mohan D, Sung J, Yang JE, Ok YS (2012) Effects of pyrolysis temperature on soybean stover- and peanut shell-derived biochar properties and TCE adsorption in water. Bioresour Technol 118:536–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Lee SS, Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M, Zhang M, Cho JS, Lee SE, Ok YS (2013) Trichloroethylene adsorption by pine needle biochars produced at various pyrolysis temperatures. Bioresour Technol 143:615–622

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad M, Rajapaksha AU, Lim JE, Zhang M, Bolan N, Mohan D, Vithanage M, Lee SS, Ok YS (2014) Biochar as a sorbent for contaminant management in soil and water: a review. Chemosphere 99:19–33

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aksu Z, Isoglu IA (2005) Removal of copper(II) ions from aqueous solution by biosorption onto agricultural waste sugar beet pulp. Process Biochem 40:3031–3044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alessi DS, Alam MS, Kohler MC (2014) Designer biochar-coke mixtures to remove naphthenic acids from oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). Oil Sands Research and Information Network, University of Alberta, School of Energy and the Environment, Edmonton, Alberta. OSRIN Report No. TR-57. 38 pp

  • Allen EW (2008) Process water treatment in Canada’s oil sands industry: I. Target pollutants and treatment objectives. J Environ Sci 7:123–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Azargohar R, Dalai A (2008) Steam and KOH activation of biochar: experimental and modeling studies. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 110:413–421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beesley L, Moreno-Jimenez E, Gomez-Eyles JL (2010) Effects of biochar and greenwaste compost amendments on mobility, bioavailability and toxicity of inorganic and organic contaminants in a multi-element polluted soil. Environ Pollut 158:2282–2287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) (2014) Water quality guideline. On line at http://www.ccme.ca/ourwork/water.html?category_id=101. Accessed 30 Jun 2014

  • Chen JY, Zhu DQ, Sun C (2007) Effect of heavy metals on the sorption of hydrophobic organic compounds to wood charcoal. Environ Sci Technol 41:2536–2541

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Chen G, Chen L, Chen Y, Lehmann J, McBride MB, Hay AG (2011) Adsorption of copper and zinc by biochars produced from pyrolysis of hardwood and corn straw in aqueous solution. Bioresour Technol 102:712–723

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Rio LF, Hadwin AK, Pinto LJ, MacKinnon MD, Moore MM (2006) Degradation of naphthenic acids by sediment micro-organisms. J Appl Microbiol 101:1049–1061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Government of Alberta (2014) Environmental quality guidelines for Alberta surface waters. Edmonton AB. 56 pp. Online at http://esrd.alberta.ca/water/education-guidelines/documents/EnvironmentalQualitySurfaceWaters-May15-2014.pdf. Accessed 30 Jun 2014

  • Government of Alberta (2015) Our challenge in reclamation. Alberta’s Clean Energy Future. Online at http://oilsands.alberta.ca/reclamation.html. Accessed 30 Nov 2015

  • Ho YS, McKay G (1998) Sorption of dye from aqueous solution by peat. Chem Eng J 70:115–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho YS, McKay G (1999) Pseudo-second order model for sorption processes. Process Biochem 34:451–465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iglesias AM (2014) Treatment of synthetic oil sands tailing water with activated carbon. MSc thesis. The University of Western Ontario. London, Ontario

  • Inyang M, Dickenson E (2015) The potential of biochar in removal of organic and microbial contaminants from potable and reuse water: a review. Chemosphere 134:232–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inyang M, Gao B, Yao Y, Xue Y, Zimmerman A, Mosa A, Pullammanappallil P, Ok YS, Cao X (2016) A review of biochar as a low-cost adsorbent for aqueous heavy metal removal. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol 46:406–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Islam MS, Zhang Y, McPhedran N, Liu Y (2015) Granular activated carbon for simultaneous adsorption and biodegradation of toxic oil sands process-affected water organic compounds. J Environ Qual 152:49–57

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lagergren S (1898) Zur theorie der sogenannten adsorption geloster stoffe. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 24:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Lglesias AM (2015) Treatment of synthetic oil sands tailing water with activated carbon. Online at http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4130&context=etd. Accessed 1 Oct 2015

  • Lima IM, Boateng AA, Klasson KT (2010) Physicochemical and adsorptive properties of fast pyrolysis biochars and their steam activated counterparts. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 85:1515–1521

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lou K (2015) Adsorption of phosphate and copper by pine sawdust biochars and economic analysis. MSc thesis, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

  • Liu Z, Zhang F, Wu J (2010) Characterization and application of chars produced from pinewood pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatment. Fuel 89:510–514

  • Manyà JJ (2012) Pyrolysis for biochar purposes: a review to establish current knowledge gaps and research needs. Environ Sci Technol 46:7939–7954

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikula RJ, Kasperski KL, Burns R, MacKinnon MD (1996) Nature and fate of oil sands fine tailings. In: Schramm LL (ed) Suspensions: fundamentals and applications in the petroleum industry. American Chemical Society, Washington DC, pp 677–723

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan D, Sarswat A, Ok YS, Pittman CU Jr (2014) Organic and inorganic contaminants removal from water with biochar, a renewable, low cost and sustainable adsorbent—a critical review. Bioresour Technol 160:191–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ok YS, Chang SX, Gao B, Chung H (2015) SMART biochar technology—a shifting paradigm towards advanced materials and healthcare research. Environ Technol Innov 4:206–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellera FM, Giannis A, Kalderis D, Anastasiadou K, Stegmann R, Wang JY, Gidarakos E (2012) Adsorption of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions on biochars prepared from agricultural by-products. J Environ Manag 96:35–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pourrezaei P, Alpatova A, Khosravi K, Drzewicz P, Chen Y, Chelme-Ayala P, Gamal El-Din M (2014) Removal of organic compounds and trace metals from oil sands process-affected water using zero valent iron enhanced by petroleum coke. J Environ Manag 139:50–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M, Jayarathna L, Kumara CK (2011) Natural Red Earth as a low cost material for arsenic removal: Kinetics and the effect of competing ions. Appl Geochem 26:648–654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rajapaksha AU, Vithanage M, Zhang M, Ahmad M, Mohan D, Chang SX, Ok YS (2014) Pyrolysis condition affected sulfamethazine sorption by tea waste biochars. Bioresour Technol 166:303–308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rinklebe J, Shaheen SM, Frohne T (2016) Amendment of biochar reduced the release of toxic elements under dynamic redox conditions in a contaminated floodplain soil. Chemosphere 142:41–47

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shaheen SM, Tsadilas CD, Rinklebe J (2013) A review of the distribution coefficients of trace elements in soils: influence of sorption system, element characteristics, and soil colloidal properties. Adv Colloid Interf Sci 201–202:43–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siddique T, Kuznetsov P, Kuznetsova A, Arkell N, Young R, Li C, Guigard S, Underwood E, Foght JM (2014) Microbially-accelerated consolidation of oil sands tailings. Pathway I: changes in porewater chemistry. Front Microbiol 5:106

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan X, Liu Y, Zeng G, Wang X, Hu X, Gu Y (2015) Application of biochars for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions. Chemosphere 125:70–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tong X, Li J, Yuan J, Xu R (2011) Adsorption of Cu(II) by biochars generated from three crop straws. Chem Eng J 172:828–834

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Wartelle LH, Lima IM, Klasson KT (2010a) Sorption of deisopropylatrazine on broiler litter biochars. J Agric Food Chem 58:12350–12356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Lima IM, Klasson KT, Chang S, Wartelle LH, Rodgers JE (2010b) Immobilization of heavy metal ions (CuII, CdII, NiII and PbII) by broiler litter-derived biochars in water and soil. J Agric Food Chem 58:5538–5544

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uchimiya M, Chang S, Klasson KT (2011) Screening biochars for heavy metal retention in soil: role of oxygen functional groups. J Hazard Mater 190:432–444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu X, Cao X, Zhao L, Wang H, Yu H, Gao B (2013) Removal of Cu, Zn, and Cd from aqueous solutions by the dairy manure-derived biochar. Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:358–368

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was conducted with financial support from the Land Reclamation International Graduate School (LRIGS) that was funded by the NSERC CREATE program and the Helmholtz-Alberta Initiative at the University of Alberta.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada

    Kangyi Lou & Scott X. Chang

  2. Korea Biochar Research Center, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea

    Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha & Yong Sik Ok

Authors
  1. Kangyi Lou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Sik Ok
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Scott X. Chang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott X. Chang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Dong-Mei Zhou

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(DOCX 1500 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lou, K., Rajapaksha, A.U., Ok, Y.S. et al. Sorption of copper(II) from synthetic oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) by pine sawdust biochars: effects of pyrolysis temperature and steam activation. J Soils Sediments 16, 2081–2089 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1382-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1382-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation