Beryllium adsorption from beryllium mining wastewater with novel porous lotus leaf biochar modified with PO₄³⁻/NH₄⁺ multifunctional groups (MLLB)

Abstract

Wastewater produced in beryllium mining seriously affects ecological balance and causes great environmental pressure. We designed a novel porous lotus leaf biochar modified with PO₄³⁻/NH₄⁺ multifunctional groups (MLLB) and used it for beryllium(Be) removal from beryllium mining wastewater. Kinetic and thermodynamic experiments showed that the adsorption capacity (Q_e) of Be with MLLB from the simulated beryllium mining wastewater could reach 40.38 g kg⁻¹ (35 °C, pH = 5.5), and the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The dispersion coefficient K_d of Be with MLLB was 2.6 × 10⁴ mL g⁻¹, which proved that MLLB had strong selective adsorption capacity for Be. Phosphoric acid, ammonia, and hydroxyl groups on the MLLB surface would complex with Be to form Be(OH)₂ and Be(NH₄)PO₄ complexation products, which implied that surface complexation and precipitation reactions might co-existed in the adsorption process. The above results showed that MLLB could effectively adsorb Be and prevent beryllium exposure in a beryllium mining process.

Graphical Abstract

References

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Funding

Foundation of Ministry of Science and Technology of China(2019YFC1907701)

Research Project of Hunan Provincial Education Department of China(22B0440)

The National Natural Science Foundation of China(52204363)