Effective Removal of Cr(VI) from Wastewater Using Biochar Derived from Walnut Shell

Tanzeela Kokab, Hafiza Sumbal Ashraf, Muhammad Bilal Shakoor, Asim Jilani, Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Muzaffar Majid, Shafaqat Ali, Nazar Farid, Rana A. Alghamdi, Diana A. H. Al-Quwaie and Khalid Rehman Hakeem
Additional contact information
Tanzeela Kokab: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Hafiza Sumbal Ashraf: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal Shakoor: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Asim Jilani: Center of Nanotechnology, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Sajid Rashid Ahmad: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Muzaffar Majid: College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Shafaqat Ali: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Nazar Farid: National Centre for Laser Applications (NCLA), School of Physics, National University of Ireland Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
Rana A. Alghamdi: Department of Chemistry, Science and Arts College, Rabigh Campus, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Diana A. H. Al-Quwaie: Department of Biological Sciences, Science and Arts College, Rabigh Campus, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Khalid Rehman Hakeem: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-13

Abstract: Heavy metals are the major concern of the modern age. Among the heavy metals, chromium (Cr(VI)) is regarded as a highly toxic heavy metal released largely from leather tanning operations. To remove such high concentrations of Cr(VI), an advanced method is required urgently. Thus, biosorption using biochar, which is an organic material produced from various sources such as walnut shell, can be applied successfully for Cr(VI) abatement. The major objectives of this experiment were the remediation of the Cr(VI) heavy metal using walnut shell biochar and checking of the effect of pH, biochar dosage, Cr level, and shaking time. Remediation of Cr(VI) using walnut shell biochar was proved to be effective and removed the maximum concentration of Cr(VI) up to 93% at pH 5.5, 2 h agitation time, and the biochar amount of 1.1 g L ?1 from an aqueous solution. Equilibrium modeling demonstrated that the chemisorption process was involved in adsorption of Cr(VI). The surface of the biochar was porous and provided numerous sites for Cr(VI) attachment, which was also confirmed by the presence of Cr(VI) onto the biochar after adsorption. Hence, the use of walnut shell biochar was highly effective as a sorbent, which could conveniently be applied to small-scale as well as large-scale levels.

Keywords: biochar; chromium; sorption experiments; walnut shell; XPS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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