Development of magnetic-biochar nano-composite: Assessment of its physico-chemical properties

Abstract

Impregnation of magnetic properties onto biochar is known to incorporate specific surface and magnetic properties that can bring about enhanced adsorptive potential of the developed nano-adsorbent as well as can aid in its easy seperability from the aqueous system. With this hypothesis, biochar (BC) was prepared from pyrolysis of sawdust at 500 °C under reducing atmospheres while a co-precipitation methodology was used for fabrication of the nano-composite (MNP-BC). Morphological studies revealed a microporous BC with an average pore diameter of 60–80 µm; while the porosity reduced to nano-size (14–25 nm) after the incorporation of Fe3O4 onto BC (MNP-BC); as was concluded from Fe-SEM and TEM studies. The successful impregnation of Fe3O4 onto BC was evident from FTIR, EDX and XRD studies. FTIR studies further showed the presence of oxygen containing functionalities on MNP-BC. Remanence and coercivity from VSM data was found to be absent in all magnetic loop which proved that the prepared MNP-BC was super-paramagnetic.Detailed assessment of physico-chemical characteristics reveals the successful development of a nano-porous, magnetic composite from the biochar of sawdust.