Application of Novel Biochar Derived from Experimental Sewage Sludge Gasification as an Adsorbent for Heavy Metals Removal

Domagoj Nakić (), Hana Posavčić, Katarina Licht and Dražen Vouk
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Domagoj Nakić: Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hana Posavčić: Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Katarina Licht: Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Dražen Vouk: Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: The growing amounts of sewage sludge (SS) and water pollution caused by heavy metals are major environmental concerns. This study addresses both issues by investigating the potential of biochar derived from SS gasification at an experimental plant as an effective adsorbent for the removal of selected heavy metals, cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, from synthetic wastewater. A Box–Behnken design was used to determine the influence of the biochar mass, initial heavy metal concentration, pH, and time on the heavy metal removal. For the statistical analysis, 104 experiments were performed. The pristine SS biochar demonstrated an adsorption capacity reaching up to 46.64 mg/g for Cd, 43.89 mg/g for Cr, 42.42 mg/g for Cu, and 72.66 mg/g for Pb from single-component synthetic solutions in acidic-to-neutral conditions, with an over 99% removal efficiency for all four heavy metals under optimal conditions. The removal of all the tested metals followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, with Cd fitting the Langmuir model and Pb, Cr, and Cu fitting the Freundlich model. This paper also provides suggestions for further research focused on the multiple uses of biochar as an adsorbent and later as a substitute material in the construction industry, aiming to achieve an integrated approach and maximizing the overall sustainability of wastewater treatment and waste management by utilizing waste as a resource.

Keywords: sewage sludge; gasification; biochar; adsorption; wastewater treatment; heavy metals; cadmium; chromium; copper; lead (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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