Using carbonized low-cost materials for removal of chemicals of environmental concern from water

Eva Weidemann,Jerker Fick,Stina Jansson,Mirva Niinipuu

doi:10.1007/s11356-018-1781-0

Abstract

Adsorption on low-cost biochars would increase the affordability and availability of water treatment in, for example, developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify the precursor materials and hydrochar surface properties that yield efficient removal of compounds of environmental concern (CEC). We determined the adsorption kinetics of a mixture containing ten CECs (octhilinone, triclosan, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxasole, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, paracetamol, diphenhydramine, fluconazole, and bisphenol A) to hydrochars prepared from agricultural waste (including tomato- and olive-press wastes, rice husks, and horse manure). The surface characteristics of the hydrochars were evaluated via diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N2-adsorption. Kinetic adsorption tests revealed that removal efficiencies varied substantially among different materials. Similarly, surface analysis revealed differences among the studied hydrochars and the degree of changes that the materials undergo during carbonization. According to the DRIFTS data, compared with the least efficient adsorbent materials, the most efficient hydrochars underwent more substantial changes during carbonization.

Highlights

Water treatment poses a serious global challenge, in terms of providing safe sanitation and using limited water resources in an economical and efficient manner that ensures the availability of clean water for everyone
Even if current sewage treatment plants reduce the spread of bacteria and nutrients, some chemicals pass though the treatment plant unreduced (Snyder et al 2003; Lindberg et al 2014; Melvin and Leusch 2016)
The different hydrochars exhibited differing removal properties, and chemicals of environmental concern (CEC) removal from the water differed between substance and char

Summary

Introduction

Water treatment poses a serious global challenge, in terms of providing safe sanitation and using limited water resources in an economical and efficient manner that ensures the availability of clean water for everyone. Even if current sewage treatment plants reduce the spread of bacteria and nutrients, some chemicals pass though the treatment plant unreduced (Snyder et al 2003; Lindberg et al 2014; Melvin and Leusch 2016). This is especially crucial for chemicals of environmental concern (CEC), e.g., antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and biocides, that are designed to have biological effects. By valorizing local lowcost feedstocks, such as agricultural or food industry residues, adsorption becomes affordable in countries and regions with high water stress and limited economical resources (Mohan et al 2014)

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