Feasibility study on a new pomelo peel derived biochar for tetracycline antibiotics removal in swine wastewater

Abstract

Removal of tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) by biochar adsorption is emerging as a costeffective and environmentally friendly strategy. This study developed a novel pomelo peel derived biochar, which was prepared at 400 °C (BC-400) and 600 °C (BC-600) under nitrogen conditions. To enhance the adsorption capacity, BC-400 was further activated by KOH at 600 °C with a KOH: BC-400 ratio of 4:1. The activated biochar (BC-KOH) displayed a much larger surface area (2457.37 m 2 /g) and total pore volume (1.14 cm 3 /g) than BC-400 and BC-600. High adsorption capacity of BC-KOH was achieved for removing tetracycline (476.19 mg/g), oxytetracycline (407.5 mg/g) and chlortetracycline (555.56 mg/g) simultaneously at 313.15 K, which was comparable with other biochars derived from agricultural wastes reported previously. The adsorption data could be fitted by the pseudosecond-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model successfully. The initial solution pH indicated the potential influence of TCs adsorption capacity on BC-KOH. These results suggest that pore filling, electrostatic interaction and π-π interactions between the adsorbent and adsorbate may constitute the main adsorption mechanism. BC-KOH can be used as a potential adsorbent for removing TCs from swine wastewater effectively, cheaply and in an environmentally friendly way.

Effective removal of tetracycline antibiotics from wastewater using practically applicable iron(III)-loaded cellulose nanofibres

“…On comparing R 2 , the pseudo-second-order kinetic model ( R 2 > 0.99) was found to be more apt for describing TCs adsorption on Fe(III)@CNFs than the pseudo-first-order kinetic model ( R 2 : 0.960, 0.964 and 0.968). Thus, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model represents the adsorption process of TCs on Fe(III)@CNFs, which is consistent with the findings of many TCs studies [ 59 , 60 , 62 , 72 , 73 ]. The adsorption of TCs on Fe(III)@CNFs is controlled with a chemical process, and the adsorption rate is proportional to the number of surface active sites [ 72 ].…”

“…Further details are presented in §3.7. Although initial pH has an impact on TCs adsorption by Fe(III)@CNFs, Fe(III)@CNFs provide better TCs adsorption performance in a wide pH range than other adsorbents [ 59 , 62 , 63 ]. In a typical WWTP, the pH of influent is usually 5.5–8.0 [ 64 ]; thus, Fe(III)@CNFs have the potential to remove TCs from actual wastewater and save the cost of reagents required for adjusting pH.…”

“…Fe(III)@CNFs-adsorbed TCs at the highest speed in the first 1 h, and the adsorption capacities for TC, CTC and OTC accounted for 61.25%, 88.67% and 80.73%, respectively, of the final equilibrium adsorption capacities. Such a high adsorption rate is attributed to the high concentration of TCs in the initial stage of adsorption, and hence, a large concentration gradient is conducive to the mass transfer resistance between water and the adsorbent surface [ 62 ]. In addition, the adsorbent can provide sufficient effective active sites in the initial stage.…”

Improving sulfonamide antibiotics removal from swine wastewater by supplying a new pomelo peel derived biochar in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor

“…After three weeks of operation with the presence of SMs in the reactor, a pomelo peel derived biochar (0.5 g/L), which was activated by KOH, was added into the reactor. The production, activation and characteristics of a newly developed pomelo peel derived biochar have been described previously (Cheng et al, 2020c). In short, the surface area and total pore volume of this activated biochar is up to 2457.37 m 2 /g and 1.14 cm 3 /g.…”

Removal of Acid Red 88 Using Activated Carbon Produced from Pomelo Peels by KOH Activation: Orthogonal Experiment, Isotherm, and Kinetic Studies

“…Previous reports found that pomelo peel is an attractive adsorbent precursor for adsorbing heavy metals [29], antibiotics [30,31], and organic pollutants [32,33]. In the interest of sustainability, this study selected pomelo peels to prepared AC (PPAC) for removing AR88.…”