Adsorption–desorption properties and control mechanism of aromatic organophosphate esters on biochar–mineral complexes

Zijuan Zhong; Han Mao; Zhaofeng Chang; Haobo Guo; Luping Tian; Wei Du; Danping Wu; Peng Zhang; Hao Li; Yunjiang Yu

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Mar 2025)

Adsorption–desorption properties and control mechanism of aromatic organophosphate esters on biochar–mineral complexes

Zijuan Zhong,
Han Mao,
Zhaofeng Chang,
Haobo Guo,
Luping Tian,
Wei Du,
Danping Wu,
Peng Zhang,
Hao Li,
Yunjiang Yu

Affiliations

Zijuan Zhong: Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environment Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong 510655, China; South China Univ Technol, Sch Environm & Energy, Guangzhou 510006, China
Han Mao: Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environment Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong 510655, China
Zhaofeng Chang: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China; Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environment Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong 510655, China; Corresponding author at: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China.
Haobo Guo: Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environment Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong 510655, China
Luping Tian: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China
Wei Du: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China
Danping Wu: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China
Peng Zhang: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China
Hao Li: Kunming University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Carbon Sequestration and Pollution Control, Kunming 650500, China
Yunjiang Yu: Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, South China Institute of Environment Sciences, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong 510655, China; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 292
p. 117979

Abstract

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With the widespread application of biochar, biochar–mineral complexes are formed in large quantities in the environment. However, there are few reports on their adsorption and desorption mechanisms for organophosphate esters (OPEs). In this study, biochar–mineral complexes (MBC@FH and MBC@F) were prepared through co–ball–milling with biochar and minerals (α–FeO(OH) and Fe2O3). The properties of pristine biochar and MBC@FH/F were compared, and the adsorption–desorption mechanisms of OPEs on all biochar materials were analyzed. The results showed that MBC@FH/F complexes have a larger specific surface area, more oxygen–containing functional groups, stronger aromaticity, and larger pore structures, but less persistent free radicals than pristine biochar. MBC@FH/F complexes exhibited lower secondary kinetic adsorption rate constant (k2), higher intraparticle diffusion rate constant (k1p) and adsorption capacity than pristine biochar. Hydrophobic interactions controlled the adsorption of TPhP and TPPO on MBC@FH/F complexes, and π–π interactions, pore filling, hydrogen bonding also participated in the adsorption process. MBC@F had higher aromaticity than MBC@FH, thus having stronger adsorption capacity than MBC@FH. The large spatial volume of TPPO inhibited its diffusion on biochar materials, demonstrating a smaller adsorption amounts than TPhP. The desorption was only observed for TPhP, while no desorption occurred for TPPO. The retention amount of TPhP on MBC@FH/F was represented by subtracting the desorption amount from their adsorption amount, which increased by 1.22–6.98 times, reaching 4.48–41.07 mg/g. In addition, the desorption hysteresis decreases with increasing pore diameter of MBC@FH/F. This study illustrated that the formation of biochar-mineral complexes may be more conducive to the adsorption of OPEs.

Published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

ISSN: 0147-6513 (Print); 1090-2414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering: Environmental pollution; Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecotoxicology-and-environmental-safety

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