Potential of Novel Biochars Produced from Invasive Aquatic Species Outside Food Chain in Removing Ammonium Nitrogen: Comparison with Conventional Biochars and Clinoptilolite

Haihong Song, Jianming Wang, Ankit Garg, Xuankai Lin, Qian Zheng and Susmita Sharma
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Haihong Song: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Center for Structure Safety and Health Monitoring, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
Jianming Wang: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Center for Structure Safety and Health Monitoring, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
Ankit Garg: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Center for Structure Safety and Health Monitoring, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
Xuankai Lin: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Center for Structure Safety and Health Monitoring, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
Qian Zheng: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Guangdong Engineering Center for Structure Safety and Health Monitoring, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
Susmita Sharma: Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Laitumkhrah Shillong 793003, Meghalaya, India

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: Previous studies for removal of ammonium from wastewater were mainly conducted using biochars produced from agricultural residue. Feedstock type (agricultural residue, wood, animal waste, and aquatic waste), as well as pyrolysis temperature, can significantly influence biochar properties and hence its adsorption capacity. Such studies are useful in decision making for selecting biochar depending on feedstock availability and pyrolysis temperature. This study aims to explore the effects of different types of biochar (laboratory prepared novel water hyacinth and algae biochar, conventional cedar wood, rice straw, and pig manure biochar) on the adsorption kinetics for ammonium removal from wastewater. The adsorption kinetics of biochars were compared to that of commercially available clinoptilolite and interpreted with their respective physicochemical properties (SEM, FTIR, XRD). Batch tests were performed to evaluate the effects of biochars on adsorption of ammonium nitrogen at different concentrations (10 mg/L and 100 mg/L). The tests reveal that clinoptilolite has the highest adsorption capacity. Among biochars, pig manure (animal based) biochar has a higher adsorption capacity in comparison to conventional agricultural residues based biochars. The capacity of pig manure biochar under highly concentrated ammonium solution (100 mg/L) is merely 20% lower than that of clinoptilolite. Both water hyacinth and algae biochar produced at higher temperature (600 °C) show higher sorption rate and capacity (depending on the initial concentration of ammonium) for ammonium in comparison to that produced at a lower temperature (300 °C). This is likely due to an increase in porosity at higher temperatures of pyrolysis.

Keywords: agricultural residue; aquatic species; biochar; ammonium nitrogen adsorption; pyrolysis temperature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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