Strong Adsorption of Phosphorus by ZnAl-LDO-Activated Banana Biochar: An Analysis of Adsorption Efficiency, Thermodynamics, and Internal Mechanisms

ACS Omega. 2021 Mar 9;6(11):7402-7412. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.0c05674. eCollection 2021 Mar 23.

Abstract

Zn-Al layered bimetallic composites were prepared by ethanol strengthening and co-precipitation using banana straw as a raw material. A high-efficiency phosphorus adsorbent (ZnAl-LDO-BC) was obtained by calcination at a high temperature. The kinetics and thermodynamics of phosphorus adsorption on ZnAl-LDO-BC were then studied. The results showed that the adsorption process of ZnAl-LDO-BC corresponds with the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic equation and the Langmuir model. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of ZnAl-LDO-BC is 111.11 mg/g (at 45 °C, 500 mg/L phosphorus initial concentration). The influence of anions on phosphorus adsorption decreased in strength in the following order: CO3 2- > SO4 2- > NO3 -. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize the adsorption of phosphorus on ZnAl-LDO-BC and showed that ZnAl-LDO-BC can efficiently adsorb phosphorus. The adsorption mechanism utilizes both O-H and C-H on the surface of ZnAl-LDO-BC for the adsorption of PO4 3-, forming Zn3(PO4)2·4H2O via complexation precipitation; additionally, biochar surface adsorption and interlayer adsorption are indispensable forms of phosphate adsorption. With the systematic study of phosphorus adsorption by ZnAl-LDO-BC, a novel green technology was developed for addressing phosphorus pollution.