Biochar Support Research Articles

Enhanced Photodegradation of Congo Red Using RSM‐Optimized TiO₂ on Borassus flabellifer Male Inflorescence Biochar

AbstractThis study explores the use of biochar, derived from Borassus flabellifer male inflorescence biomass as an alternative support for titanium dioxide (TiO2) to enhance its photocatalytic activity in degrading Congo red (CR) dye pollutant. The biochar was synthesized through controlled pyrolysis and subsequently combined with TiO2 to form a nanocomposite via hydrothermal method. The primary goal of creating this nanocomposite is to breakdown azo dyes, such as CR, using UV irradiation. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, SEM coupled with EDAX, XPS, and UV‐DRS confirmed the successful integration of biochar with TiO2. The enhanced photocatalyst performance is attributed to the increased surface area, improved light absorption, and efficient charge separation facilitated by the biochar support. Furthermore, the experimental parameters were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). These studies demonstrated that the CR concentration, contact duration, pH, and photocatalyst quantity are critical factors in the photocatalytic oxidation process. The strong correlation coefficient for the first order model indicated that the data described by the RSM, agreed with the obtained results. This study highlights the potential of agricultural waste‐derived biochar as a cost‐effective and sustainable support for TiO₂, offering a viable solution for the remediation of dye‐contaminated water.

In-situ and ex-situ selective catalysis of biochar-based catalysts for the production of high-quality bio-oil and H2-rich gas from tobacco stem

Optimizing the catalytic pyrolysis process is a promising approach to enhance the quality of the resulting products. Thus, four metals (Ni, Fe, Co, Cu) were loaded on biochar support to prepare biochar-based catalysts, and the mechanism of its effect on quality improvement of bio-oil and pyrolysis gas during in-situ and ex-situ pyrolysis of tobacco stem was investigated. The results showed that the biochar-based catalyst has high selectivity for H2-rich and phenols production during in-situ pyrolysis, while the phenols content reached 57.99 % and H2 content reached 49.91 % in Fe@BC group. It is highly selective to H2-rich and N-containing compounds during ex-situ pyrolysis, and the content of N-containing compounds reached 47.23 % and the content of H2 reached 47.59 % in the Ni@BC group. This contributes to the efficient use of high-quality bio-oils and the production of clean gases. Biochar-based catalysts hold significant potential for the pyrolysis industry, paving the way for large-scale production and application of high-quality pyrolysis products.

Co-ZIF reinforced kraft lignin biochar as an efficient catalyst for highly selective hydrodeoxygenation of lignin-derived chemicals

Large amount of lignin was produced annually as a byproduct in papermaking and pulping processes, the challenges in disposal methods had posed serious obstacles for advanced carbon materials and value-added chemicals. This study involved the preparation of kraft lignin (KL) loaded metal–organic framework (ZIF-67) material derived Co nanoparticles carbon using various methods to produce kraft lignin biochar-based carbon materials (Co@NPC-KLB). The novel and advanced carbon materials was utilized for lignin derived bio-oil hydrodeoxygenation to generate high value fuels and chemicals. It could achieve nearly 100 % vanillin (VAN) conversion and 88.49 % 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (MMP) without the extra hydrogen at 240 °C in ethanol. The results demonstrated that highly active and stable Co nanoparticles, large specific surface area, smaller nano Co nanoparticles, strong metal-support interaction and rich Lewis acid sites on the surface of biochar support exhibited a positive promoting effect on VAN hydrodeoxygenation to generate MMP. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) also confirmed that synergistic effect of Co nanoparticles and kraft lignin biochar promoted a high adsorption energy of VAN on the surface of kraft lignin biochar, enhanced the catalytic ability of the hydrodeoxygenation process. This study provided a novel approach for utilizing kraft lignin in preparation functional catalysts, opening up new opportunities for designing efficient biochar-based materials for advanced carbon materials and high-value chemicals.

Atmosphere matters: The protection of wet ball milling instead of dry ball milling accelerates the electron transfer effect of sulfurized micron iron/biochar to Cr (VI)

Obstacles such as aggregation and low activity of micron zero-valent iron in pollutant treatment could be overcome by sulfidation and biochar support. Ball milling is a promising method for the preparation of iron-based composites but the milling atmosphere is critical. To maximize the reactivity and identify the effects of ball mill atmosphere, ball milling technology under wet and dry atmosphere was applied to prepare composites from mZVI, Na2S2O4, and pine wood biochar (BC) for Cr(VI) removal. The results showed that S-mZVI/BC-wet was highly dispersible with more FeS2 coverage and thus more efficient on Cr (VI) removal than S-mZVI/BC-dry (99.9 % removal in 80 min vs. 87.9 % removal in 24 h) at the optimum Fe: C mass ratio (1:1), S: Fe molar ratio (1:10), and reaction conditions. Cr(VI) was adsorbed by a spontaneous, endothermic mechanism that combined physisorption and chemisorption. The reduction process was vulcanization efficiency and iron cycle dependent. Reduction outperformed adsorption on the Cr(VI) removal and high reduction rateswere electron-selectively related (59.15 % for S-mZVI/BC-wet and 46.72 % for S-mZVI/BC-dry), implying S-mZVI/BC-wet was more capable. S-mZVI/BC-wet presented excellent anti-ageing property and slightly inferior regeneration performance. In conclusion, the composite prepared by wet ball milling have excellent performance in rapid and complete removal of Cr(VI), and S-mZVI/BC-wet has superior potential in acidic wastewater treatment.

Palladium/coconut husk biochar composite material as an effective electrocatalyst for ethanol oxidation reaction

This study utilised coconut husk biochar as an alternative sustainable carbon support for Pd-based electrocatalyst for ethanol oxidation reaction in basic medium. Coconut husk biochar (BC) was prepared via slow pyrolysis at 800 °C for 1 h at a ramp rate of 5 °C min−1. The Pd/BC catalyst was prepared via borohydride-facilitated reduction of palladium chloride solution. TEM analysis revealed good dispersion of the Pd nanoparticles on the biochar support with particle size ranging from 1.9 to 3.4 nm. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements of Pd/BC in 1.0 M ethanol in 0.1 M KOH gave an on-set potential of −0.615 V (versus Ag/AgCl) with a forward peak current density of 23.87 mA cm−2, which is slightly higher than the commercial Pd/C catalyst. The Pd/BC also has a higher electrochemical stability and durability than the commercial Pd/C catalyst based on chronoamperometry studies (i.e., 44.43% versus 39.64% current retention). The synthesised coconut husk biochar–supported Pd catalyst exhibited promising results for ethanol oxidation reaction for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell application.

Preparation and characterization of furfural residue derived char-based catalysts for biomass tar cracking

This study proposed an innovative strategy of catalytic cracking of tar during biomass pyrolysis/gasification using furfural residue derived biochar-based catalysts. Fe, Co, and Ni modified furfural residue char (FRC-Fe, FRC-Co, and FRC-Ni) were prepared by one-step impregnation method. The influences of cracking temperature and metal species on the tar cracking characteristics were investigated. The results showed that the tar conversion efficiency for all catalysts were improved with the cracking temperature increasing, the higher tar conversion efficiency achieved at 800 °C were 66.72 %, 89.58 %, 84.58 %, and 94.70 % for FRC, FRC-Fe, FRC-Co, and FRC-Ni respectively. FRC-Ni achieved the higher gas (H2, CO, CH4, CO2) yield 681.81 mL/g. At 800 °C, the catalyst (FRC-Ni) still reached a high tar conversion efficiency over 85.90 % after 5 cycles. SEM-EDS results showed that the distribution of Ni particles on the biochar support was uniform. TGA results demonstrated that FRC-Ni exhibited better thermal stability. XRD results indicated that there was no significant change in the grain size of Ni before and after the reaction. The FRC-Ni catalyst was reasonably stable due to its better anti-sintering and coke-resistant capabilities.

Enhanced electrocatalytic activity of palladium electrocatalysts supported on corncob biochar for ethanol oxidation reaction in alkaline medium

AbstractIn this study, palladium particles supported on carbon black (Vulcan XC‐72) (Pd/C) and corncob biochar (Pd/CB800, Pd/CB900, and Pd/CB1000) were successfully synthesized using borohydride reduction. The biochar support was obtained from corncob waste via pyrolysis from 800 to 1000°C. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x‐ray (SEM–EDX) revealed successful deposition of Pd metal particles on the carbon support materials. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline structures of Pd, and the crystallite size was found to be smallest in Pd/CB900. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pd electrocatalyst composites towards ethanol oxidation reaction (EOR) in an alkaline medium was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV). CV analysis has shown that Pd/CB900 gave the least positive onset potential (Eonset = −0.587 ± 0.0065 V), highest electrochemically active surface area (EASA = 31.51 ± 2.24 m2·g−1), and highest anodic peak current density (If = 20.77 mA·cm−2) compared with Pd/CB800, Pd/CB1000, and Pd/C. Furthermore, the Tafel plot and chronoamperometry have shown that Pd/CB900 exhibited faster kinetics (Tafel slope = 297.6 ± 4.62 mV·dec−1) and durability (% current retention = 50.64 ± 2.99%) than Pd/C towards EOR in an alkaline medium. This study highlights the simple and straightforward synthesis of the anode electrocatalyst material for direct ethanol fuel cell application.

A new neodymium complex on renewable magnetic biochar nanoparticles as an environmentally friendly, recyclable and efficient nanocatalyst in the homoselective synthesis of tetrazoles.

Inexpensive, stable, selective, and recyclable nanocatalysts, waste regeneration, and utilization of safe and available solvents are of interest and important factors in laboratory science and industrial applications of green chemistry. Therefore, herein, biochar nanoparticles (BNPs) were synthesized through chicken manure pyrolysis as a novel method for waste recycling. Then, in order to improve their recyclability, the obtained BNPs were magnetized using magnetic nickel nanoparticles. Then, the surface of the biochar magnetic nanoparticles (BMNPs) was modified by (3-chloropropyl)trimethoxysilane (3-CPTMS) and further a novel neodymium Schiff-base complex was immobilized on the surface of the modified BMNPs, denoted as Nd-Schiff-base@BMNPs. The obtained supported neodymium complex was used as a practical, selective, biocompatible, commercial, and reusable heterogeneous nanocatalyst. The biochar support of this nanocatalyst was formed from pyrolysis of chicken manure; therefore, it is cheap, economically viable, green and also compatible with the principles of green chemistry. Nd-Schiff-base@BMNPs acts selectively in organic reactions and also it can easily be recovered using an external magnet and reused, which is compatible with the principles of green chemistry. This nanocatalyst was characterized by wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), and N2 adsorption-desorption (BET method) techniques. In the next step, the catalytic utilization of Nd-Schiff-base@BMNPs was investigated in the homoselective synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole compounds from [3 + 2] cycloaddition of sodium azide (NaN3) and organo-nitriles in PEG-400 as a green solvent. Utilizing PEG-400 as a solvent offers various advantages, e.g. cheap, readily available, and environmentally friendly solvent as well as rapid separation and high purity of products. Therefore, this work is fully compatible with the principles of green chemistry.

Functionalized Biochar from the Amazonian Residual Biomass Murici Seed: An Effective and Low-Cost Basic Heterogeneous Catalyst for Biodiesel Synthesis.

This study presents the synthesis of a basic heterogeneous catalyst based on sodium functionalized biochar. The murici biochar (BCAM) support used in the process was obtained through the pyrolysis of the murici seed (Byrsonimia crassifolia), followed by impregnation of the active phase in amounts that made it possible to obtain concentrations of 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18% of sodium in the final composition of the catalyst. The best-performing 15Na/BCAM catalyst was characterized by Elemental Composition (CHNS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG/DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersion X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). The catalyst 15Na/BCAM was applied under optimal reaction conditions: temperature of 75 °C, reaction time of 1.5 h, catalyst concentration of 5% (w/w) and MeOH:oil molar ratio of 20:1, resulting in a biodiesel with ester content of 97.20% ± 0.31 in the first reaction cycle, and maintenance of catalytic activity for five reaction cycles with ester content above 65%. Furthermore, the study demonstrated an effective catalyst regeneration process, with the synthesized biodiesels maintaining ester content above 75% for another five reaction cycles. Thus, the data indicate a promising alternative to low-cost residual raw materials for the synthesis of basic heterogeneous catalysts.

Degradation of trichloroethylene by biochar supported nano zero-valent iron (BC-nZVI): The role of specific surface area and electrochemical properties

Direct electron transfer and the involvement of atomic hydrogen (H⁎) are considered the main mechanisms for reductive dechlorination promoted by nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) supported on highly conductive carbon. It is still unclear how precisely H⁎, the specific surface area, and the electrochemical characteristics contribute to biochar supported nano zero-valent iron (BC-nZVI) activity in chlorinated hydrocarbon contaminant removal. In this study, a range of BC-nZVIs were prepared by a liquid-phase reduction process, and the contributions of specific surface area and electrochemical performance to H⁎ generation and electron transfer have been assessed. The mechanism of trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorination by BC-nZVIs has been evaluated in terms of removal efficiency and the ultimate degradation products. The results have demonstrated that BC-nZVIs exhibit a higher specific surface area and TCE degradation efficiency compared with the bare nZVI. Ethane, ethylene, and acetylene were the principal TCE degradation products. The elimination of TCE was not significantly affected by differences in BC-nZVI specific surface area, but electron transfer and sustained generation of H⁎ were dependent on the catalyst electrochemical characteristics. The electrochemical properties of biochar serve to lower the corrosion potential of nZVI, improving electronic transfer capability and reactivity and promoting direct electron transfer for the degradation of TCE. In addition, the enhanced electrochemical properties also facilitate the reaction of nZVI with water and can promote the sustained generation of H⁎. Generation of H⁎ played a key role in reductive dechlorination over BC-nZVIs, which was related to the properties of the biochar support. This study focuses on the role of H⁎ and electrochemical performance in TCE reductive dechlorination, and provides a theoretical foundation and experimental support for the practical application of BC-nZVIs.

Balanced anchoring sites and volatile matter in biochar render Ni/biochar with higher metal dispersion and superior activity in hydrogenation of vanillin

Metal/carbon catalysts could be prepared via simple calcination of biochar impregnated with salt of metal precursors. Abundance of oxygen-containing functionalities on biochar affects dispersion of nickel via influencing availability of anchoring sites for nickel ions in impregnation step. Biochar with high content of volatile matter tended to have more oxygen-containing species, but the volatiles released in calcination of Ni/biochar could experience secondary condensation, forming carbonaceous deposit and covering nickel sites. Therefore, the balanced distribution of oxygen-containing functionalities and volatile matter in biochar on dispersion of nickel were investigated via preparation of Ni/biochar catalysts with biochar support obtained at varied pyrolysis temperature (200, 300, 400 and 500 °C). The results indicated that the calcination of Ni/biochar-200 with biochar produced via pyrolysis at 200 °C encapsulated nickel from the deposit of secondary condensation of the volatiles, while the lack of abundance of O-containing species of biochar-400 and biochar-500 led to the growth of nickel species large crystals in their supported catalysts. In comparison, Ni/biochar-300 showed the highest dispersion of nickel and thus the highest activity for hydrogenation of vanillin to produce 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (yield: 89.4%). The in-situ IR characterization of functionalities of biochar versus temperature and residence time indicated that the pyrolysis at 300 °C enhanced formation of –OH groups, the main anchoring sites of nickel ions. Nonetheless, abundant C = O at 400 °C and developed aromatic ring structures at 500 °C were not effective for dispersion of nickel species.

Investigation on deactivation progress of biochar supported Ni catalyst during biomass catalytic cracking process

Herein, the biochar-supported Ni catalysts was synthesized by carbothermal reduction and its catalytic activity for biomass-derived heavy components was investigated in a pyrolysis-catalysis two stage reactor at the catalytic cracking temperature of 700 °C. The change in catalytic activity of biochar-supported Ni catalyst was divided into three stages according to conversion efficiency of heavy components: rapid reduction stage (from 95.30% to 85.58%), stabilization stage (from 84.65% to 82.98%), and slow reduction stage of activity (from 81.21% to 76.98%), corresponding to rapid decreasing stage (from 88.95% to 63.53%), stable stage (from 62.1% to 57.55%), and slow increasing stage (57.66% to 60.17%) of the mass retention percentage of catalyst. The characterizations of catalyst after different cycles showed that the initial deactivation mainly caused by the sintering of Ni active sites. With the severe sintering of Ni nanoparticles, coke deposition became the main reason of later catalyst deactivation. Particularly, the carbon elimination reaction promoted by highly dispersed Ni particle was observed which contributed to enrich the mesoporous structure and retarded the deactivation of the catalyst. The research marks a further understanding of the interaction and deactivation mechanisms between biochar support and Ni active sites during catalytic cracking of biomass-derived heavy components.

Efficient depolymerization of alkali lignin to monophenols using one-step synthesized Cu–Ni bimetallic catalysts inlaid in homologous biochar

The efficient depolymerization of lignin for the production of high-value chemicals is essential for the development of a sustainable and competitive biorefinery. In this study, we report the preparation of homologous biochar-supported inlaid Cu–Ni catalysts (CuxNiy/BC) using a one-step method, and their application for lignin depolymerization in mild water without the need for external hydrogen, additives, or co-catalysts. The Cu1Ni3/BC (0.05 g catalyst, 8 h, 280 °C, and 18 mL water) showed exceptional catalytic activity, with a monophenol yield of 94.35 ± 2.92 mg/g, bio-oil yield of 68.98 ± 1.42%, and a lignin conversion rate of 92.36 ± 1.99%, which outperformed both the biochar support and monometallic catalysts. The outstanding catalytic performance of Cu1Ni3/BC was attributed to its strong metal-support interaction, alloy sites, and well-dispersed nanoparticles. Reusability experiments demonstrated that the Cu1Ni3/BC exhibited relatively good stability for up to four reuses, with only a 2.32% reduction in catalytic activity per cycle. Mechanism investigation revealed that the Cu1Ni3/BC, with its abundant mesoporous structure and enhanced acid sites, displayed excellent deoxygenation ability, enabling effective cleavage of C–O/C–C bonds and the production of G-type phenols. This approach provides new insights into the large-scale utilization of lignin for the production of high-value chemicals.

Effect of biochar support on the catalytic performance of Fe-based catalysts for CH4 cracking

In the context of carbon neutrality, the decarbonization utilization of fossil energy has gradually become a research hotspot. The focus of this paper is on the use of loaded Fe-based catalysts for typical catalytic methane decomposition (CMD) hydrogen production technologies. The temperature response and product characteristics of rice husk-based biochar-Fe catalysts for CMD technology were investigated, with a focus on the effect of functional ‘supports’ on the reaction and product. The results show that the CH4 conversion, H2 yield and carbon yield are significantly higher at 850 °C than the reaction at 750 °C, reaching 24.39%, 739.26 mmol/gFe and 3.05 g/gFe. The solid phase characterization shows that the active metal existed in the form of Fe0 before the reaction and is converted to Fe3C after the reaction, and the average particle size of the metal in the mesopores is only 21.09 nm under the influence of the biochar pore size. The solid phase products are mainly highly graphitized “Coke” due to the negative effect of the biochar support on the dispersion of the active metal; the biochar also enhances the reduction of Fe2O3, which in turn affects the shaping of the active components and products.

Hydrotreatment of pyrolysis bio-oil with non-edible carinata oil and poultry fat for producing transportation fuels

The cost of producing biofuels has been more expensive than fuels from fossil energy due to the heterogeneous nature of biomass sources. Therefore, commercialization efforts for producing biofuels have focused on blending with oleochemical feedstocks. This study carried out co-hydroprocessing (50:50) of pyrolysis oil with carinata oil or poultry fat over two catalyst supports. Cobalt and molybdenum catalysts supported on Douglas fir-derived biochar and alumina were used. The major goal of this study was to understand the synergistic effect of mixing pyrolysis oil with triglycerides for hydrotreatment under various supports, the influence on the oil quality, hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) and coke formation. The catalyst aided by biochar displayed improved HDO. Higher hydrogen consumption and low coke formation were seen for biochar support, and oxygen was predominantly removed via dehydration. Large oxygen-containing functional groups, high surface area, and acid sites in biochar might have made it a better HDO catalyst. Blending pyrolysis oil with poultry fat yielded better pyrolysis bio-oil quality over carinata oil and produced a higher percentage of jet fuel fraction. In summary, pyrolysis bio-oil mixed with poultry fat and hydrotreated using biochar support catalysts was more effective in HDO activity and improving overall pyrolysis bio-oil quality than alumina-supported catalyst and carinata oil.

Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation of Vanillin, a Bio-Oil Model Compound over Renewable Ni/Biochar Catalyst

This study aims to examine the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of vanillin, an oxygenated phenolic compound present in bio-oil, into creosol. Biochar residue generated when wood is slowly pyrolyzed is utilized as a catalyst support. To improve biochar’s physicochemical properties, H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) and KOH (potassium hydroxide) are used as chemical activators. By means of a wet impregnation method with nickel salt, an Ni/biochar catalyst was prepared and utilized in the HDO of vanillin using a 100 mL Parr reactor, catalyst loading 0.4–0.8 g, temperature 100 °C to 150 °C, hydrogen (H2) pressures of 30 to 50 bar, and a stirring rate of 1000 rpm. The prepared catalysts were characterized with the nitrogen-sorption isotherm technique, carbon dioxide temperature-programmed desorption (CO2-TPD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersed X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Based on chemical treatment, Ni/biochar (KOH) pore sizes were found to be dominated by mesopores, with a surface area increase of 64.7% and a volume increase of 65.3%, while Ni/biochar (H2SO4) was mostly microporous and mesoporous, with an area increase of 372.3% and a volume increase of 256.8% in comparison to Ni/biochar (74.84 m2g−1 and 0.095 cm3g−1). Vanillin conversion of up to 97% with 91.17% selectivity to p-creosol was obtained over Ni/biochar catalyst; in addition to being highly selective and active for p-creosol, a plausible fuel, the catalyst was stable after four cycles. Chemical treatments of the biochar support resulted in improved physicochemical properties, leading to improved catalytic performance in terms of vanillin conversion and p-creosol yield in the order Ni/biochar (H2SO4) > Ni/biochar (KOH) > Ni/biochar.

Zinc-doped and biochar support strategies to enhance the catalytic activity of CuFe2O4 to persulfate for crystal violet degradation.

Sulfate radicals-based Fenton-like technology has placed more emphasis on effectively dealing with the threat of dye wastewater. In this work, the Zn-doped CuFe2O4@biochar composite (Cu0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4@BC) was prepared through the convenient sol-gel pyrolysis process and applied as heterogeneous persulfate (PS) activator for crystal violet (CV) degradation. The crystal morphology and physicochemical properties of Cu0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4@BC were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology of the catalyst changed before and after Zn doping. The crystallite size, lattice constant, saturation magnetization, and oxygen vacancy content increased after doping Zn. Compared with CuFe2O4@BC, the CV degradation efficiency of Cu0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4@BC activating PS increased from 87.7 to 96.9%, and the corresponding reaction rate constant increased by about 3.69 times. The effect of experimental conditions was systematically studied on the degradation progress. The degradation efficiency of CV was 91% after five times cycle experiments. Multiple experiments indicated that SO4•-, •OH and O2•- predominated for CV degradation. The degradation mechanism of CV in the Cu0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4@BC/PS system involved both free radical (SO4•-, •OH and O2•-) and non-free radical pathways (electron transfer). The possible degradation pathways were investigated according to the ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis of degradation intermediates. The result showed that Cu0.9Zn0.1Fe2O4@BC have an excellent catalyst performance, which provides a new strategy for improving catalytic activity.

Highly Active Ag-Cu Nanocrystal Catalyst-Coated Brewer’s Spent Grain Biochar for the Mineralization of Methyl Orange and Methylene Blue Dye Mixture

The aim of the present work is to valorise the brewing industry’s waste, i.e., brewer’s spent grain (BSG), into functional biocarbon for environmental catalysis applications. In this context, cost-effective and environmentally friendly biochar support coated with in-situ-generated Ag-Cu nanocrystals, was developed via the wet impregnation of BSG biomass powder with copper (II) nitrate trihydrate and silver nitrate aqueous solution prior to pyrolysis at moderate temperature (500 °C). Small-size homogenously distributed Ag-Cu nanocrystals (≤80 nm) on the surface of the biochar (Biochar@Ag-Cu) were observed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Elemental compositions were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The crystalline nature of the nanoparticles was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Information about the thermal stability of the materials and quality were obtained by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman, respectively. The potentiality of the Biochar@Ag-Cu catalyst in the field of pollutant removal is demonstrated by taking methyl orange and methylene blue as model dyes. A kinetics study was performed and analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy. Its highly active catalytic nature is proved by the complete mineralization of the methyl orange dye (100%) through oxidative degradation. The reusability of the catalyst has shown 96% removal efficiency after 3 cycles. The linear plot of −Ln (CA/C0) vs. time (R2 = 0.9892) reveals that the mineralization of the methyl orange dye follows pseudo-first-order kinetics (k = 0.603 × 10−2 min−1). A methyl orange + methylene blue dye mixture degradation study has revealed the faster kinetics of the present catalyst towards methylene blue degradation. The current study suggests that BSG Biochar@Ag-Cu can be a potential candidate in contribution towards SDG 6.

Synthesis of magnetic nZVI@biochar catalyst from acid precipitated black liquor and Fenton sludge and its application for Fenton-like removal of rhodamine B dye

Black liquor and Fenton sludge are common industrial wastes that come from the conventional kraft pulping process and the Fenton wastewater treatment process, respectively. In this study, the biochar-supported iron-based catalysts were synthesized through a simple one-step pyrolysis method using acid-precipitated black liquor (APBL) as carbon source and Fenton sludge as iron source, and were then applied for Fenton-like removal of rhodamine B (RhB) dyes. The optimized catalyst (Fe@BC FAK ), pyrolyzed at 900 ºC with KOH as the activator, was mesoporous biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI). Under the optimal conditions (50 mg L −1 RhB, initial pH 3, 2 mM H 2 O 2 concentration, catalyst dosage of 0.2 g L −1 ), the Fe@BC FAK /H 2 O 2 system achieved almost 100% RhB dye removal within 10 min. Moreover, the Fe@BC FAK /H 2 O 2 system also exhibited excellent removal efficiencies for malachite green , crystal violet, and methylene blue . The Fe@BC FAK had a good magnetic separation ability (146.4 emu g −1 ) and maintained a high removal efficiency of RhB (83.8%) in the presence of H 2 O 2 after five times of recycling/reuse. The degradation of RhB dye was mainly attributed to •OH, including surface-bound •OH and free •OH. Besides the excellent catalytic ability and Fe(III) reduction ability of nZVI itself, the biochar supports with high specific surface area and mesoporous structure also played important roles in the removal of RhB dye, such as adsorbing RhB dyes, alleviating nZVI aggregation, and accelerating the reduction of Fe(III) to Fe(II). • Catalyst was synthesized from two industrial wastes by one-step pyrolysis method. • The degradation reaction was obtained efficiently at pH 3 with low H 2 O 2 consumption. • Fe@BC FAK exhibited excellent catalytic ability and reusability in removing RhB. • Biochar support facilitated Fe(III) reduction, mass transfer and H 2 O 2 activation.

Catalytic Activity and Reusability of Nickel-Based Catalysts with Different Biochar Supports during Copyrolysis of Biomass and Plastic

Low-cost biochar is a promising catalyst support for catalytic pyrolysis to produce pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs). The effect of different Ni/biochar (four kinds of original biochar and three kinds of modified biochar) catalysts on the yield and properties of copyrolysis products from Chinese herb residue and reused polypropylene (PP) was studied. Results show that the modified biochar support had a high surface area and high catalytic activity. Particularly, Ni/ZC (ZnCl2-modified biochar) obtained higher yields of CNMs (2.92 wt %) and pyrolysis gas (55.44 wt %). Moreover, it exhibited high stability in repeated use experiments. Interestingly, the Ni/ZC catalyst showed the highest catalytic activity during second reuse (ZC-R2) due to moderate precoking. The high content of hydrocarbons and the C6–C20 component in the ZC-R2 group is attributed to the stronger secondary cracking capacity. The stronger secondary cracking capacity of the front-end catalyst may increase the content of CH4 in pyrolysis gas. Therefore, the Ni/ZC catalyst significantly increased the yield of a high-quality 3D graphitic carbon network structure in a second-stage reactor. This work contributes to the industrial application of catalytic pyrolysis technology by reducing the catalyst cost and increasing the product value.