Hierarchical porous biochars with controlled pore structures derived from co-pyrolysis of potassium/calcium carbonate with cotton straw for efficient sorption of diethyl phthalate from aqueous solution. (February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cheng, Hu; Zhang, Jiapeng; Chen, Yueyi; Zhang, Wenrui; Ji, Rongting; Song, Yang; Li, Wei; Bian, Yongrong; Jiang, Xin; Xue, Jianming; Han, Jiangang
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 346(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-02
• Subjects: Biochar -- Co-pyrolysis -- Carbonate -- Porous structure -- Phthalate esters -- Water treatment; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126604
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: HPBs were synthesized by co-pyrolysis of potassium/calcium carbonate with biowaste. Specific surface area and pore size distribution could be adjusted. HPBs showed enhanced sorption for DEP in comparison to reported sorbents. Pore filling and partitioning dominated the DEP sorption by HPBs. Abstract: A one-pot co-pyrolysis of potassium/calcium carbonate with biowaste-derived hydrochar strategy was proposed to prepare hierarchical porous biochars (HPBs) for the first time. The pore structure, especially the pore size distribution, could be designed by adjusting the mass ratios of different carbonates. HPBs were hydrophobic, nitrogen doped, graphitized, and contained surface functional groups. HPBs showed unexpected sorption quantity for diethyl phthalate (DEP) that reached 657 mg g −1, which much higher than that of the reported sorbents. The sorption was multilayered and had multiple action modes, and was limited by the chemical sorption and the sorption quantity was dominated by the physical sorption. Lewis acid-base interaction, π-π stacking interaction, hydrogen bonding interaction, partitioning and pore filling were the potential sorption mechanisms. This work proposed a simple, environmentally friendly and low-cost method to convert biowaste into advanced HPBs and confirmed that produced HPBs represent ideal sorbents for the removal of organic pollutants.