Investigating the performance of adsorbents made from the canola stalk for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences 2022, Vol.15 (19), Article 1565
• Main Authors: Ranjbar, Abdullah, Heidarpour, Manouchehr, Eslamian, Saeid, Shirvani, Mehran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorbents; Adsorption; Aqueous solutions; Charcoal; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Experiments; Iron oxides; Isotherms; Lead; Nanoparticles; Original Paper; pH effects; Pollutant removal; Pollutants; Removal; Sorbents; Water pollution; Water vapor; Water vapour
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-022-10746-7

Raw canola stalk (RCS) and water vapor–activated biochar (B35, B36, B37, …, B57) adsorbents were utilized to remove lead (Pb) from polluted solutions. The water vapor–activated biochar adsorbents were prepared in three carbonization temperature levels and three activation temperatures. The best water vapor–activated biochar adsorbent (B57) was selected for carrying out adsorption isotherm experiments on the lead at 25 °C. Experiments were then conducted to determine the best pH level and the best adsorbent dosage, which were found equal to 6 (pH), and 0.3 g sorbent per 30 mL of pollutant, respectively. Next, both RCS and B57 were modified to obtain 5%, 10%, and 15% sorbents using magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 ). The lead adsorption isotherm experiments were carried out using the new modified adsorbents. The results indicated that the water vapor–activated biochar adsorbent modified with Fe 3 O 4 (B57 5%) are the best adsorbents for the lead pollutants’ removal. The results were compared within a 5% significance level. TEM, BET, VSM, FT-IR, and XRD analyses were undertaken for sample specification. The analyses showed that the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles are modified on the adsorbents.