Enhanced sorption of trivalent antimony by chitosan-loaded biochar in aqueous solutions: Characterization, performance and mechanisms

Hanbo Chen; Yurong Gao; Ali El-Naggar; Nabeel Khan Niazi; Chenghua Sun; Sabry M Shaheen; Deyi Hou; Xing Yang; Zhiyuan Tang; Zhongzhen Liu; Hong Hou; Wenfu Chen; Jörg Rinklebe; Michael Pohořelý; Hailong Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127971

Enhanced sorption of trivalent antimony by chitosan-loaded biochar in aqueous solutions: Characterization, performance and mechanisms

J Hazard Mater. 2022 Mar 5:425:127971. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127971. Epub 2021 Dec 1.

Authors

Hanbo Chen¹, Yurong Gao¹, Ali El-Naggar², Nabeel Khan Niazi³, Chenghua Sun⁴, Sabry M Shaheen⁵, Deyi Hou⁶, Xing Yang⁷, Zhiyuan Tang⁸, Zhongzhen Liu⁹, Hong Hou¹⁰, Wenfu Chen¹¹, Jörg Rinklebe¹², Michael Pohořelý¹³, Hailong Wang¹⁴

Affiliations

¹ Agronomy College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China; Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China.
² Department of Soil Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt.
³ Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Center for Translational Atomaterials, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia.
⁵ University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; University of Kafrelsheikh, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Soil and Water Sciences, 33 516 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt.
⁶ School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
⁷ Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
⁸ Foshan Xincheng Landscaping Engineering Co., Ltd., Huakang Road, Lecong, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong 528315, China.
⁹ Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
¹⁰ State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
¹¹ Agronomy College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China.
¹² University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; University of Sejong, Department of Environment, Energy and Geoinformatics, Guangjin-Gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea.
¹³ Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i., Rozvojová 135, 165 02 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic; Department of Power Engineering, Faculty of Environmental Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
¹⁴ Agronomy College, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110866, China; Biochar Engineering Technology Research Center of Guangdong Province, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China. Electronic address: hailong.wang@fosu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34894506
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127971

Abstract

Contamination of aquatic systems by antimony (Sb) is a worldwide issue due to its risks to eco-environment and human health. Batch sorption experiments were conducted to assess the equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamics of antimonite [Sb(III)] sorption by pristine biochar (BC) and chitosan-loaded biochar (CHBC) derived from branches of Ficus microcarpa. Results showed the successful loading of chitosan onto biochar surface, exhibiting more functional groups (e.g., CO, -NH₂, and -OH). Langmuir model well described the Sb(III) sorption isotherm experimental data, and the maximum sorption capacity of Sb(III) by CH₁BC (biochar loaded with chitosan at a ratio of 1:1) was 168 mg g^-1, whereas for the BC it was only 10 mg g^-1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated that CH₁BC oxidized 86% of Sb(III) to Sb(V), while BC oxidized 71% of Sb(III). Density functional theory calculations suggested that the synergistic effect of exogenous hydroxyl and inherent carbonyl contributed to the enhanced removal efficiency of Sb(III) by CHBC. Key mechanisms for Sb(III) sorption onto CHBCs included electrostatic interaction, chelation, surface complexation, π-π interaction, and hydrogen bonding. Overall, this study implies that CHBC can be a new, viable sorbent for the removal of Sb(III) from aquatic systems aiding their safe and sustainable management.

Keywords: Adsorption; Biochar modification; Contaminated water; Heavy metal; Theoretical calculation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Antimony
Charcoal
Chitosan*
Humans
Kinetics
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
biochar
Charcoal
Chitosan
Antimony