Adsorption of metal on pineapple leaf biochar: Key affecting factors, mechanism identification, and regeneration evaluation

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Jan;344(Pt A):126131. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126131. Epub 2021 Oct 14.

Authors

Kesinee Iamsaard¹, Chih-Huang Weng², Li-Ting Yen³, Jing-Hua Tzeng⁴, Chakkrit Poonpakdee⁵, Yao-Tung Lin⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402227, Taiwan.
² Department of Civil Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan.
³ Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402227, Taiwan; Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, UT 84322, USA.
⁴ Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402227, Taiwan; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, DE 19716, USA.
⁵ Agricultural Innovation and Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus, Songkhla 90110, Thailand.
⁶ Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402227, Taiwan; Innovation and Development Center of Sustainable Agriculture, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan. Electronic address: yaotung@nchu.edu.tw.

PMID: 34655778
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126131

Abstract

Although tremendous works have been done on metal adsorption via biochar, mechanisms responsible for metal adsorption remain uncertain. This is the first work that provides direct evidence on the identification of Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II) adsorption mechanisms on pineapple leaf biochar (PLB) using surface characteristics analyses, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscope (SEM-EDS). From Langmuir isotherm fitting, the maximum adsorption capacity of PLB for Ni(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II) are 44.88, 46.00, and 53.14 mg g^-1, respectively, surpassing all biochars reported in the literature. Findings of surface characterization techniques coupled with cation released during adsorption, cation exchange, and surface complexation mechanisms were proposed. PLB is reusable and remains sufficient adsorption capacity even six consecutive cycles via pressure cooker regeneration. With high regenerability and ultrahigh adsorption capacity, PLB defines itself as a promising adsorbent for future applications in metal-laden wastewater.

Keywords: Adsorption; Biochar; Heavy metal; Mechanisms; Pineapple leaf.

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Ananas*
Charcoal
Kinetics
Plant Leaves / chemistry
Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
biochar
Charcoal