Fast aniline and nitrobenzene remediation from water on magnetized and nonmagnetized Douglas fir biochar.

Abstract

Magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared by the dispersion of α-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 particles on high surface area (663 m2/g) Douglas fir biochar (BC). The BC was impregnated with FeCl3 and pyrolyzed at 600 °C under N2 to produce (494 m2/g) MBC. Both BC and MBC biochars were used for removal of aniline and nitrobenzene from water. MBC and its precursor BC were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface area analysis (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller isotherm) (SBET), point of zero charge (PZC), X-ray powder diffraction (XDR), elemental analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Batch sorption studies were carried out from pH 2–12 and both aniline and nitrobenzene adsorption on MBC and BC remained high and unchanged over the entire pH range. Sorption was evaluated using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Langmuir adsorption capacities on BC and MBC (pH 7, 25 °C) were 360 mg/g and 338 mg/g for aniline and 193 mg/g and 178 mg/g for nitrobenzene, respectively.