Abstract
The presence of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in water above tolerable levels is a global concern, as both elements are extremely toxic and can compromise the health of millions of people. In this study, we evaluated biochars pyrolyzed at 350 (BC350) and 750 °C (BC750) and then modified with ferric chloride (FeCl3) to remove As and Pb from water samples contaminated by mining activity. The use of FeCl3-modified biochar was an efficient strategy to remove As and Pb from water. Sorption on biochars followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics, represented by two sorption speeds, being higher at the beginning of the reaction and falling over time. The modification with FeCl3 increased the specific surface area, removed the dissolved organic carbon, and increased the capacity of BC350 to sorb Pb. These physical and chemical alterations of the biochar played a significant role in the sorption capacity and speed of As and Pb.
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Acknowledgements
The 1st author gratefully thanks the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant #2019/06897-9) and the Brazilian Council for Scientific and Technological Development—Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (grant #140830/2018-9) for the scholarships granted for this research. The 2nd author thanks CNPq (grant#132590/2019-0) for the scholarship granted for this research. The 3rd author thanks CNPq (grant #306429/2018-7) for the scholarship granted for this research. This study was partially funded by CNPq and the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel—Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) – Finance Code 001.
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MBS: conceived and designed the analyses, performed the formal analysis, wrote the manuscript. FHS: contributed analysis tools, contributed to sample preparation, revised the manuscript. LRFA: acquisition of financing, conceived and designed the analyses, encouraged MBS and FHS to investigate biochars from sugarcane straw to remove As and Pb from water samples contaminated by mining activity, supervised the findings of this research, revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Soares, M.B., dos Santos, F.H. & Alleoni, L.R.F. Iron-Modified Biochar from Sugarcane Straw to Remove Arsenic and Lead from Contaminated Water. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 391 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05343-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05343-5