Synthesis of activated biochar from sustainable bamboo resources: An environment-friendly and low-cost solution for palladium (II) removal from wastewater

Abstract

This article highlights the developing capabilities of low-cost activated biochar from bamboo waste used for Palladium (II) (Pd(II)) separation from man-made electroless plating solutions (ELP). From a novelty perspective, this article addresses the effect of coupled sonication and surfactant for the adsorptive elimination of Pd(II) on Bamboo stem activated carbon (BSAC) from ELP. The optimal activation procedure referred to an acid-to-bamboo ratio of 4:1 at sintering of 600–900 °C, which provided an activated carbon (AC) adsorbent with surface area analysis (BET) of 1014.36 m2/g, a value comparable to the commercially procured AC. Pd(II) adsorption characteristics in the solution of Pd with 50-500 mg/L concentration range were evaluated utilizing both agitation and sonication. Adsorption time, pH, dose, and adsorbate concentration were among the pertinent optimal batch adsorption parameters that were found. When utilizing ELP solutions without surfactant, the proposed adsorbent for agitation-assisted adsorption had a simultaneous improvement in metal intake of 6.68–43.2 mg/g and removal efficiency of 72.96–54.5% (cTAB). For cTAB-containing solutions, sonication and agitation-assisted adsorption were outperformed in terms of removal efficiency of 80.32–60.16% and metal uptake of 6.69–50.13 mg/g. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic models with good fitting to the reported Pd(II) adsorption properties have been developed.