title: Biochar-supported zerovalent iron for removal of various contaminants from aqueous solutions.
abstract: This work describes the synthesis and testing of a novel environmental sorbent that combines the advantages of biochar, chitosan, and zerovalent iron (ZVI). Chitosan was used as a dispersing and soldering reagent to attach fine ZVI particles onto bamboo biochar surfaces. Characterization of the resulted ZVI-biochar composites (BBCF) indicated that chitosan effectively soldered the iron particles onto carbonaceous surfaces within the biochar pore networks. The BBCF showed enhanced ability to sorb heavy metals (Pb(II), Cr(VI), and As(V)), phosphate (P), and methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The removal of Pb(II), Cr(VI), and MB by the biochar-supported ZVI was mainly controlled by both the reduction and surface adsorption mechanisms. Removal of anionic contaminants (As(V) and P) was likely controlled by electrostatic attraction with the iron particles on the BBCF surfaces. An additional benefit is that the contaminant-laden BBCF could be removed from aqueous solution easily by magnetic attraction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China; Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: bg55@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Xinde
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012996:Solutions; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D048271:Chitosan; D007501:Iron
keywords: Adsorbent; Composites; Heavy metal; Organic dye; Phosphate