Preparation of novel biochar containing graphene from waste bamboo with high methylene blue adsorption capacity

Abstract

Biochar containing graphene (BCG) was synthesized using the precursor of bamboo biomass and K2CO3 as the activating agent utilizing microwave heating with short duration. The biochar had a typical graphene structure with abundant micropore and extremely high surface area up to 1565 m2/g. The activating agent K2CO3 played an important role in the catalytic graphitization, facilitating transformation of amorphous carbon into graphene like carbon. The adsorption experiment exhibited an excellent adsorption capacity of BCG for methylene blue (MB), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1100 mg/g. The adsorption process was governed both by physical and chemical adsorption. The work further presents the mechanism of activation, adsorption isotherms, adsorption kinetics, adsorption thermodynamics. The experimental resulted proved the successful and fast preparation methodology for graphene contained carbon materials by microwave heating.