Utilization of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) peel-derived biochar for the adsorptive removal of tetracycline from aqueous solution

• Published in: International journal of phytoremediation 2024-12, Vol.26 (14), p.2313-2324
• Main Authors: Hoang, Le-Thuy-Thuy-Trang, Phan, Hoang-Vinh-Truong, Nguyen, Ngoc-Nhi, Dang, Thanh-Truc, Tran, Thanh-Nha, Nguyen, Van-Kieu, Dao, Minh-Trung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adsorbents; Adsorption; Adsorptivity; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Aqueous solutions; Biochar; Biodegradation, Environmental; Cactaceae - chemistry; Charcoal; Charcoal - chemistry; Charge materials; Electrostatic properties; Fruit; Functional groups; Hylocereus undatus; Ionic strength; Isotherms; Kinetics; Porous materials; Structural analysis; Surface chemistry; Tetracycline; Water Pollutants, Chemical
• ISSN: 1522-6514; 1549-7879; 1549-7879
• DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2024.2389471

The peel of Hylocereus undatus was employed in the preparation of biochar and firstly applied for tetracycline removal from aqueous solution. Based on different characterization techniques, the material was found to possess a variety of surface functional groups on a porous structure and a pH point of zero charge (pH pzc ) of 9.3. Adsorption of tetracycline (TC) was conducted under varying conditions, revealing significant effects of carbonization temperature, solution pH, adsorbent dose, ionic strength, contact time and initial concentration of TC on the biochar adsorption capacity. Kinetic data on TC adsorption were best described using the Elovich kinetic model, with an initial adsorption rate of 167.3 mg g −1  min −1 . Isotherm data on adsorption of the desired biochar showed the best fit with the Temkin isotherm model, followed by the Langmuir model, displaying maximum adsorption capacity at 12.4 mg g −1 . The electrostatic interactions between the charged biochar surfaces and certain fractions of TC were proposed as the major mechanism, together with H-bonding, pore-filling effect and π-π interaction. This study demonstrates great potential of H. undatus peel as a starting material to prepare an effective and reusable adsorbent in the removal of TC. Literature is available on a large number of plant-based biochar adsorbents for the removal of antibiotics. However, to the best of our knowledge, no report has been published on applying biochar derived from Hylocereus undatus peel for antibiotics removal. This type of fruit peel is available in massive amounts in Vietnam and is considered as an agricultural solid waste. Therefore, to fill the gap in the literature and to converse this leftover waste into a value-added byproduct, we chose this study to prepare H. undatus peel-derived biochar for the elimination of TC in an aqueous solution.