title: Effect of steam activation of biochar produced from a giant Miscanthus on copper sorption and toxicity.
abstract: This study aims to evaluate the physiochemical properties, sorption characteristics, and toxicity effects of biochar (BC) produced from Miscanthus sacchariflorus via slow pyrolysis at 500°C and its steam activation product (ABC). Although BC has a much lower surface area than ABC (181 and 322m(2)g(-1), respectively), the Cu sorption capacities of BC and ABC are not significantly different (p>0.05). A two-compartment model successfully explains the sorption of BC and ABC as being dominated by fast and slow sorption processes, respectively. In addition, both BC and ABC efficiently eliminate the toxicity of Cu towards Daphnia magna. However, ABC itself induced acute toxicity to D. magna, which is possibly due to increased aromaticity upon steam activation. These findings suggest that activation of BC produced from M. sacchariflorus at a pyrolytic temperature of 500°C may not be appropriate in terms of Cu sorption and toxicity reduction.
authors: Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors: Taeyong
authors: T
authors: Shim
authors: Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jisu
authors: J
authors: Yoo
authors: School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 440-746, Republic of Korea.
authors: Changkook
authors: C
authors: Ryu
authors: School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 130-743, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yong-Kwon
authors: YK
authors: Park
authors: Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jjung@korea.ac.kr.
authors: Jinho
authors: J
authors: Jung
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity*; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D013227:Steam
chemical_list: D013227:Steam; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D003300:Copper
keywords: Acute toxicity; Biochar; Heavy metals; Sorption; Steam activation