Sorption of phenanthrene to biochar modified by base

Abstract

Base was applied to modify biochars from different feedstocks and temperatures.

Content of base soluble carbon followed the trend of rice straw>wood>bamboo.

Base soluble carbon can be extracted from biochar pyrolyzed below 500 °C.

Base modification increased the sorption ability of biochar pyrolyzed below 500 °C.

Removal of base soluble carbon increased biochar’s surface area and hydrophobicity.

Biochar (BC) is a potential material for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from soil and water, and base modification is a promising method for improving its sorption ability. In this study, we synthesized a series of base-modified biochars, and evaluated their sorption of phenanthrene. Original biochars were produced by pyrolysis of three feedstocks (rice straw, wood and bamboo) at five temperatures (300°C, 350°C, 400°C, 500°C and 700°C). Base-modified biochars were further obtained by washing of biochars with base solution. The base soluble carbon (SC) was extracted from the supernatant, which were only obtained from biochars pyrolyzed at low temperatures (<500°C) and the content was decreased with the increase of pyrolysis temperature. The SC content between different feedstocks followed the trend of rice straw>wood>bamboo when same pyrolysis conditions were applied. It was found that base modification improved the sorption of phenanthrene on biochars that SC could be extracted from (extractable-BCs). However, base treatment but had limited effects for biochars that no SC could be extracted from. It suggested that base modification improved the sorption of phenanthrene to extractable-BCs by removing the SC and thus increasing the surface area and hydrophobicity. Therefore, base modification was suggested to be used in modifying extractable-BCs.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Biochar / Base modification / Phenanthrene

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