Characterisation of Two Wood-Waste and Coffee Bean Husk Biochars for the Removal of Micropollutants from Water

• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.814267
• Publication Date: 2022-03-30T05:49:53Z
• Authors: Thessa Van Limbergen; Inez Henriette Ro...; Robin Bonné; Federica Mare; Tom Haeldermans; Bjorn Joos; Olivier Nouwen; Jean V. Manca; Jaco Vangronsveld; Sofie Thijs
• Keywords: Husk; Charcoal

The inclusion of bioaugmented low-cost biochar in current wastewater treatment technologies is a promising way to enhance the removal and degradation emerging contaminants. In this paper, properties two wood waste biochars (wood mix - AB, date palm fiber PDF), coffee bean husks (COF), produced at four temperatures (350, 450, 500, 550°C) were compared, investigated presence Geobacter sulfurreducens or mixed freshwater stream bacterial culture understand their potential for adsorption biotransformation types pesticides (thiacloprid, pirimicarb), pharmaceuticals (ibuprofen, diclofenac). Biochar yield was similar all three ranged between 30 35%. ash content PDF COF significantly higher than AB. pH electrical conductivity (EC) initially high (pH: 7.4–8; EC: 3–4.27 mS/cm) 7.7–10.1; 4–6.24 after 24 h, but stabilized neutral <0.5 mS/cm EC additional washes. AB did not leach concentrations chloride (<10 mg/L), nitrate (<1 nor sulphate (<76 contrast (PDF) with 1760 mg/L Cl − (550°C), 846 (350°C). Lower pyrolysis reduced leachable anions. highly (ultra)microporous little meso- macroporosity. experiments showed that both suited sorb more 90% spiked 10 ppm pirimicarb, removed 50.2% initial diclofenac concentration compared only 5% no-biochar control, could remove about 55% thiacloprid, 40% ibuprofen. culture, on average 30% thiacloprid ibuprofen from supernatant by sterile control. This work shows selected wood-waste feedstocks low temperature can produce environmentally-safe have suitable characteristics emergent pollutants water. These materials be further studied multi-pollution sorption/competition experiments, larger environmental systems.