Hydrothermal Carbonization of Residual Algal Biomass for Production of Hydrochar as a Biobased Metal Adsorbent

Magdalini Tsarpali, John N. Kuhn and George P. Philippidis
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Magdalini Tsarpali: Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
John N. Kuhn: Department of Chemical, Biological, and Materials Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
George P. Philippidis: Patel College of Global Sustainability, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Conversion of residual algal biomass to value-added products is essential for enhancing the economics of algae cultivation. Algal hydrochar produced via hydrothermal carbonization of lipid-extracted Picochlorum oculatum is a material rich in oxygen functional groups and carbon (up to 67.3%) and hence a promising candidate for remediation of wastewaters. The hydrothermal carbonization conditions were optimized and the adsorption capacity of the hydrochar was tested for metal removal. By the end of the remediation process, cumulative removal of Al 3+ , Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ , Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Pb 2+ reached 89, 98, 75, 88, 75, and 100%, respectively. The adsorption of all metals was found to follow pseudo second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm. Overall, when hydrothermal carbonization is applied to lipid-extracted algae, it generates a promising biobased adsorbent with value-added potential in metal remediation.

Keywords: lipid-extracted algae; hydrothermal carbonization; hydrochar; biobased adsorbent; metal remediation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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