Mechanisms of U(VI) removal by biochar derived from Ficus microcarpa aerial root: A comparison between raw and modified biochar

Nuo Li; Meiling Yin; Daniel C W Tsang; Shitong Yang; Juan Liu; Xue Li; Gang Song; Jin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134115

Mechanisms of U(VI) removal by biochar derived from Ficus microcarpa aerial root: A comparison between raw and modified biochar

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Dec 20:697:134115. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134115. Epub 2019 Aug 29.

Authors

Nuo Li¹, Meiling Yin¹, Daniel C W Tsang², Shitong Yang³, Juan Liu⁴, Xue Li⁵, Gang Song⁶, Jin Wang⁷

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Water Quality and Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
³ Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Water Quality and Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: liujuan858585@163.com.
⁵ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Water Quality and Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Guangzhou 510006, China.
⁷ Key Laboratory of Water Quality and Conservation in the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: wangjin@gzhu.edu.cn.

PMID: 32380609
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134115

Abstract

Uranium (U) is a toxic and radioactive element. Excessive amounts of aqueous U(VI) generated from U mining, processing and nuclear industry may result in severe and irreversible damage to the environment. Herein, Ficus microcarpa aerial root (FMAR), a biowaste material, was used to adsorb U(VI) from aqueous solutions for the first time. Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)-modified FMAR biochar was synthesised, characterised and compared with raw (unmodified) biochar with respect to U(VI) adsorption. The results showed that the adsorption capability of the modified FMAR biochar was evidently higher than that of the raw biochar. Multiple characterisation techniques confirmed that the discrepancy was mainly due to the increased content of O-H and formation of irregular sheet-like nanostructure with the ultrafine MnO₂ nanoparticles on the biochar surfaces after KMnO₄ modification. The abundance of O-H and nanoscale MnO₂ notably enhanced the adsorption of U(VI) by means of coordination and Lewis acid-base interaction. The results indicate that KMnO₄-modified FMAR biochar has a good potential to serve as an environment-friendly adsorbent for the removal of U(VI) from solution.

Keywords: Biowaste management; Engineered biochar; Mineral-biochar composite; Sustainable remediation; Uranium; Wastewater treatment.

Publication types

Comparative Study

MeSH terms

Adsorption
Charcoal*
Environmental Restoration and Remediation / methods*
Ficus*
Manganese Compounds
Oxides
Plant Roots
Uranium / isolation & purification*

Substances

Manganese Compounds
Oxides
biochar
Charcoal
Uranium