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Preparation of a novel iron-based biochar composite for removal of hexavalent chromium in water

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Abstract

The chitosan-stabilized ferrous sulfide nanoparticles were loaded on biochar to prepare a composite material FeS-CS-BC for effective removal of hexavalent chromium in water. BC and FeS-CS-BC were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Batch experiments were employed to evaluate the Cr(VI) removal performance. The experimental results showed that the removal rate of Cr(VI) by FeS-CS-BC(FeS:CS:BC = 2:2:1) reached 98.34%, which was significantly higher than that of BC (44.58%) and FeS (79.91%). In the pH range of 2–10, the removal of Cr(VI) by FeS-CS-BC was almost independent of pH. The limitation of coexisting anions (Cl−、SO42−、NO3−) on Cr(VI) removal was not too obvious. The removal of Cr(VI) by FeS-CS-BC was fitted with the pseudo-second-order dynamics, which was a hybrid chemical-adsorption reaction. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis result showed that Cr(VI) was reduced, and the reduced Cr(VI) was fixed on the surface of the material in the form of Cr(VI)–Fe(III).

Removal of hexavalent chromium from wastewater by FeS-CS-BC composite synthesized by impregnation.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFD0801503) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41701367, 41877133).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemical Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, 100029, China

    Luyao Qin & Aijun Lin

  2. College of Renewable Energy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    Li He & Wenjie Yang

  3. Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning, Beijing, 100012, China

    Wenjie Yang

  4. Qinhuangdao Bohai Biological Research Institute of Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Qinhuangdao, 066000, China

    Aijun Lin

Authors
  1. Luyao Qin
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  2. Li He
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  3. Wenjie Yang
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  4. Aijun Lin
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Wenjie Yang or Aijun Lin.

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Responsible editor: Tito Roberto Cadaval Jr

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Highlights

• FeS-CS-BC was synthesized combining the advantages of FeS, chitosan, and biochar.

• BC, FeS, and FeS-CS-BC were employed to assess Cr(VI) removal performance.

• The modified material with FeS:CS:BC=2:2:1 is the best experimental material for the study.

• The application of FeS-CS-BC is greatly limited under alkaline conditions.

• Cr(VI) isotherm adsorption data conforms to Redlich-Peterson model.

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Qin, L., He, L., Yang, W. et al. Preparation of a novel iron-based biochar composite for removal of hexavalent chromium in water. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 9214–9226 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06954-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06954-6

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