Cu2+ ion adsorption from aqueous solutions by amine activated poultry manure biochar

Abstract

Biochar (BC) converted from poultry manure can be used as an alternative adsorbent for removal of heavy metals in aqueous solution. The adsorption properties of a treated BC with nitrogen-containing surface groups toward copper ions were investigated.  The alkaline modification substantially increased surface areas and the amount of nitrogen functional groups introduced onto structure of adsorbent. Characterization of produced samples was performed by several analyses, including BET surface area, pH of zero point charge, elemental analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. Surface areas of the BC treated with NH₃ were much higher (14.5±1.3 times) than those of the BC without the treatment. The treated BC with a high surface area of 275.1 m²/g can be utilized as a cheap alternative adsorbent of commercial activated carbon for pollutant removal. Currently, the identified copper removal capacity was 37.5 mg/g from aqueous solution. The possible adsorption mechanism would be the interactions between metal ions and nitrogen functional groups on the BC surface