Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Single and simultaneous adsorption of heavy metals onto groundnut shell biochar produced under fast and slow pyrolysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biochars produced from groundnut shells at the condition of slow and fast pyrolysis (GB350 and GB700) were used as adsorbents for removal of cadmium (Cd2+), mercury (Hg2+) and lead (Pb2+) ions from aqueous solution. Adsorption experiments were carried out at different solution pH, constant biochar dosage and particle size of 2 mm, variant metal ion concentrations, constant contact time and temperature to determine the adsorption efficiency. The removal efficiency of groundnut shell biochar was greater than 99.60% for Cd2+ under the three maximum contaminants limits. The GB700 was able to ascertain 100% removal efficiency for Cd2+ and Pb2+ in binary mixtures with concentrations of 0.04:0.10, 0.08:0.20 and 0.20:0.50 mg/l. The removal efficiency of GB350 was 100% for Pb2+ and Hg2+ except Cd2+ that showed 99.05, 99.46 and 99.69% at folds one, two and five of the ternary system, respectively. The maximum Langmuir capacity for mono-component system was 0.14 for Hg2+ and 0.18 mg/g for Pb2+, 0.09–0.56 mg/g for binary mixtures, 0.05–0.10 mg/g for ternary mixtures by GB350 and GB700, respectively. The results showed groundnut shell biochar can be used as a cost-effective and effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous environment. Based on the results, further experiments should be carried out to examine the adsorption of the heavy metal contaminants at higher concentrations, a reduced biochar dosage and different contact time.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • 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 

  • Awual MR (2015) A novel facial composite adsorbent for enhanced copper (II) detection and removal from wastewater. Chem Eng J 266:368–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boucher O, Muckle G, Jacobson GL, Carter RC, Kaplan-Estrin M, Ayotte P, Dewailly E, Jacobson SW (2014) Domain-specific effects of prenatal exposure to PCBs, mercury, and lead on infant cognition: results from the environmental contaminants and child development study in Nunavik. Environ Health Perspect 122:310–316

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng Q, Huang Q, Khan S, Liu Y, Li G, Liao Z, Ok YS (2016) Adsorption of Cd by peanut husks and peanut husk biochar from aqueous solutions. Ecol Eng 87:240–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y, Jing D, Gong H, Zhou L, Yang Y (2012) Biosorption of aquatic cadmium (II) by unmodified rice straw. Bioresour Technol 114:20–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farooq U, Kozinski JA, Khan MA, Athar M (2010) Biosorption of heavy metal ions using wheat based biosorbents - a review of the recent literature. Bioresour Technol 101:5043–5053

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fraga I, Charters FJ, O’sullivan AD, Cochrane TA (2016) A novel modelling framework to prioritize estimation of non-point source pollution parameters for quantifying pollutant origin and discharge in urban catchments. J Environ Manage 167:75–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freundlich HMF (1906) Uber die adsorption in losungen. Zeitschrift f¨ur Physikalische Chemie (Leipzig) 57:385–470

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghorai S, Sarkar AK, Pal S (2014) Rapid adsorptive removal of toxic Pb ion from aqueous solution using recyclable, biodegradable nanocomposite derived from template partially hydrolyzed xanthan gum and nanosilica. Bioresour Technol 170:578–582

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo Y, Tang H, Li G, Xie D (2014) Effects of cow dung biochar amendment on adsorption and leaching of nutrient from an acid yellow soil irrigated with biogas slurry. Water Air Soil Pollut 225:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hadi P, Barford J, Mckay G (2014) Selective toxic metal uptake using an e waste based novel sorbent-single, binary and ternary systems. J Environ Chem Eng 2:332–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hegazi HA (2013) Removal of heavy metals from wastewater using agricultural and industrial wastes as adsorbents. HBRC J 9:276–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Inyang M, Gao B, Yao Y, Xue Y, Zimmerman AR, Pullammanappallil P, Cao X (2012) Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by biochars derived from anaerobically digested biomass. Bioresour Technol 110:50–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Waqas M, Ding F, Shamshad I, Arp HPH, Li G (2015) The influence of various biochars on the bioaccessibility and bioaccumulation of PAHs and potentially toxic elements to turnips (Brassica rapa L.). J Hazard Mater 300:243–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kołodyńska D, Krukowska J, Thomas P (2017) Comparison of sorption and desorption studies of heavy metal ions from biochar and commercial active carbon. Chem Eng J 307:353–363

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kong H, He J, Gao Y, Wu H, Zhu X (2011) Cosorption of phenanthrene and mercury (II) from aqueous solution by soybean stalk-based biochar. J Agric Food Chem 59:12116–12123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar S, Zafar M, Prajapati JK, Kumar S, Kannepalli S (2011) Modeling studies on simultaneous adsorption of phenol and resorcinol onto granular activated carbon from simulated aqueous solution. J Hazard Mater 185(1):287–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir I (1918) The adsorption of gases on plane surfaces of glass, mica and platinum. J Am Chem Soc 40:1361–1403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li F, Shen K, Long X, Wen J, Xie X, Zeng X, Liang Y, Wei Y, Lin Z, Huang W, Zhong R (2016) Preparation and characterization of biochars from Eichornia crassipes for cadmium removal in aqueous solutions. PLoS ONE 11(2):1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu Y, Qin H, Li L, Pan G, Zhang X, Zheng J, Han X, Yu X (2012) Adsorption of Cd (2 +) and Pb (2 +) in aqueous solution by biochars produced from the pyrolysis of different crop feedstock. Ecol Environ Sci 21(1):146–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohan S, Karthikeyan J (1997) Removal of lignin and tannin color from aqueous solution by adsorption on to activated carbon solution by adsorption on to activated charcoal. Environ Pollut 97:183–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohan D, Pittman CU Jr, Bricka M, Smith F, Yancey B, Mohammad J, Steele PH, Alexandre-Franco MF, Gómez-Serrano V, Gong H (2007) Sorption of arsenic, cadmium and lead by chars produced from fast pyrolysis of wood and bark during bio-oil production. J Colloid Interface Sci 310(1):57–73

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park JH, Choppala G, Lee SJ, Bolan N, Chung JW, Edraki M (2013) Comparative sorption of Pb and Cd by biochars and its implication for metal immobilization in soils. Water Air Soil Pollut 224:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruchi LM, Fostier AH, Rath S (2015) Sorption of norfloxacin in soils: analytical method, kinetics and Freundlich isotherms. Chemosphere 119:310–317

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sachar A, Raina S (2014) Haematological alterations induced by lindane in a fish, Aspidoparia morar. Glob J Biol, Agric Health Sci 3(1):38–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Saveyn H, Eder P, Garbarino E, Muchova E, Hjelmar O, van der Sloot H, Comans R, van Zomeren A, Hyks J, Oberender A (2014) Study on methodological aspects regarding limit values for pollutants in aggregates in the context of the possible development of end-of-waste criteria under the EU Waste Framework Directive. Final Report. European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Prospective Technological Studies pp 1–197

  • Srivastava VC, Mall ID, Mishra IM (2006) Modelling individual and competitive adsorption of cadmium(II) and zinc(II) metal ions from aqueous solution onto bagasse fly ash. Sep Sci Technol 41:2685–2710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Surchi KMS (2011) Agricultural wastes as low cost adsorbents for Pb removal: kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics. Int J Chem 3(3):103–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tong C, Jiane Z, Fenglin L (2017) Performance and mechanism for cadmium and lead adsorption from water and soil by corn straw biochar. Front Environ Sci Eng 11(2):15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tran HN, You SJ, Chao HP (2016) Effect of pyrolysis temperatures and times on the adsorption of cadmium onto orange peel derived biochar. Waste Manag Res 34(2):129–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Voudrias E, Fytianos E, Bozani E (2002) Sorption description isotherms of dyes from aqueous solutions and waste waters with different sorbent materials, global nest. Int J 4(1):75–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng G, Liu Y, Tang G, Yang G, Pang Y, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Li Z, Li M, Lai M, He X, He Y (2015) Enhancement of Cd (II) adsorption by polyacrylic acid modified magnetic mesoporous carbon. Chem Eng J 259:153–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the staff of Spanish and Acid Laboratory of the University for Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, especially Mr. Abdul-Aziz Bawa, Mr. Yoonus Atongi and Mr. Abubakari Adamu for their diverse assistance in the conduction of the experiment. We are also grateful to the staff of Ecological Laboratory of University of Ghana, especially Mr. Prince Owusu (Laboratory Technician) for his swift and timely analysis of the samples.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecotourism and Environmental Management, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

    S. J. Cobbina & A. B. Duwiejuah

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana

    A. B. Duwiejuah & A. K. Quainoo

Authors
  1. S. J. Cobbina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. B. Duwiejuah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. K. Quainoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. B. Duwiejuah.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no potential conflict of interest regarding the publication of this research article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cobbina, S.J., Duwiejuah, A.B. & Quainoo, A.K. Single and simultaneous adsorption of heavy metals onto groundnut shell biochar produced under fast and slow pyrolysis. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 3081–3090 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1910-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-1910-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation