Synthesis of pozzolan and sugarcane bagasse derived geopolymer-biochar composites for methylene blue sequestration from aqueous medium

Abstract

In this study, four pozzolan-based geopolymers GP₀, GP₅, GP₁₀, and GP₂₀ were synthesized by alkaline activation and by substituting 0, 5, 10, and 20% of the precursor with sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar, respectively. The composites were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyses, and applied to sequester methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous medium in batch mode. The alkaline activation of pozzolan-biochar blends resulted in the formation of poly (Ferro-sialate-siloxo)-biochar chains. The adsorption capacity increased with an increase in biochar content from 24.44 to 455.46 mg/g (18-fold) for GP₀ and GP₁₀, respectively. The sorption kinetics of MB onto the composites followed pseudo-second-order kinetics while the equilibrium data were best described by the Sips isotherm model. The adsorption process was thermodynamically spontaneous, endothermic (ΔH = 14.32-32.20 kJ/mol), and physical. The amount of adsorbent required for the removal of 99% of a fixed amount of MB in different volumes of effluent was predicted. Cost-analysis indicates that the composites are efficient and cheaper eco-adsorbents than commercial activated carbon and are suitable alternative candidates for the removal of dyes from water.

Keywords: Adsorption; Biochar; Geopolymers; Methylene blue; Pozzolan.