Pyrolytic synthesis of graphene-encapsulated zero-valent iron nanoparticles supported on biochar for heavy metal removal

• DOI: 10.1007/s42773-022-00196-5
• Publication Date: 2022-12-28T03:02:48Z
• Authors: Tharindu N. Karun...; R. M. Oshani Naya...; Chanaka M. Navara...; Prashan M. Rodrigo; Rooban V. K. G. T...; Charles U. Pittman; Yunsang Kim; Todd Mlsna; Jilei Zhang; Xuefeng Zhang
• Keywords: Carbothermic reaction; Carbon fibers

Abstract Biochar (BC)-supported graphene-encapsulated zero-valent iron nanoparticle composites (BC-G@Fe 0 ) are promising engineering nanocomposites that can be used to scavenge heavy metal from wastewater. However, the production of BC-G@Fe through carbothermal reduction using biomass as a carbon source remains challenging because pyrolysis complications. Here, we examined two routes for preparing bamboo source. The first route impregnated Fe ions (Fe 2+/3+ into unpyrolyzed particles initially, followed by carbonization at 600–1000 °C. This process produced dominated carbide 3 C), which led low removal efficiency (i.e., Cu 2+ capacity < 0.3 mmol g −1 ). In second route, were pyrolyzed (600 °C) biochar first, impregnating this with ions, and then carbonized produces nanoparticles, resulted in high capacities 0.30, 1.58, 1.91 Pb , Ag + respectively). effects temperature (600–1000 °C), nitrates, sulfate, ferrous chloride, ferric chloride), loading (5–40%) on morphology, structure, ion aqueous uptake performance also investigated. study revealed formation mechanisms reduction, could guide application-oriented design multifunctional iron-BC water remediation. Graphical