title: Iron-impregnated biochars as effective phosphate sorption materials.
abstract: A new post-treatment method was applied for improving the sorption efficiency of biochar-based sorbents for anionic forms of phosphorus. The Fe-impregnation through direct hydrolysis of Fe(NO3)3was used to produce impregnated corn cob- (IBC A), garden wood waste- (IBC B), and wood chip-derived biochars (IBC C). The qualitative and quantitative effects of impregnation process on biochars were confirmed by SEM-EDX, FTIR, and ICP-MS. The analyses revealed increased concentrations of N and thus potential NO3-participation in the phosphate sorption process. Biochar surface area showed a significant decrease after the impregnation process due to the filling of micro- and mesopores with Fe maximum sorption capacity (Qmax) increased by a factor of 12-50. The sorption processes of phosphates by IBC A, IBC B, and IBC C were dependent on pH, initial concentration, and time. Speciation analysis and pH-study confirmed the range of pH 4.5-5.5 as optimum values at which most of phosphorus is present in form of mononuclear H2PO4-. Batch sorption experiments showed a significant increase in the sorption capacity for phosphates by Fe impregnation of biochar as well as effectiveness and stability of this treatment. These findings indicate an option for utilizing engineered biochars as tools for the recovery of phosphorus from the aquatic environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecochemistry and Radioecology, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, J. Herdu 2, Trnava, 917 01, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Barbora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Micháleková-Richveisová
authors.affiliation: Energy Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 3430, Tulln, Austria. fristak.vladimir.jr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frišták
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Trnava University, Trnava, 91701, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pipíška
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Paulínska 16, Trnava, 917 24, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Libor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ďuriška
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Agrícola y Bromatología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moreno-Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Energy Department, Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, 3430, Tulln, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soja
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002606:Charcoal / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C540010:biochar; D002606:Charcoal; D007501:Iron
keywords: Biochar; Fe modification; Impregnation; Phosphates; Sorption isotherms