Removal of copper(II) in aqueous solution using pyrolytic biochars derived from red macroalga Porphyra tenera

Removal of copper(II) in aqueous solution using pyrolytic biochars derived from red macroalga Porphyra tenera

Steam activation enhanced the copper removal performance of Porphyra tenera-derived biocharsignificantly by increasing the quantity of exchangeable cations, whereas KOH activation reduced thecopper removal performance of the biochar, despite the huge increase in specific surface area and porevolume, by washing out the exchangeable cations into the basic KOH solution. Both ion exchange andadsorption appeared to be important mechanisms for copper removal by P. tenera-derived biochar bution exchange may be a more important mechanism. The pseudo-2nd order kinetic model and theLangmuir’s isotherm model provided a good interpretation of the kinetics and equilibrium of copperremoval.

Steam activation enhanced the copper removal performance of Porphyra tenera-derived biocharsignificantly by increasing the quantity of exchangeable cations, whereas KOH activation reduced thecopper removal performance of the biochar, despite the huge increase in specific surface area and porevolume, by washing out the exchangeable cations into the basic KOH solution. Both ion exchange andadsorption appeared to be important mechanisms for copper removal by P. tenera-derived biochar bution exchange may be a more important mechanism. The pseudo-2nd order kinetic model and theLangmuir’s isotherm model provided a good interpretation of the kinetics and equilibrium of copperremoval.