Nanostructured bi-metallic biochar: An innovative approach for arsenic (III) removal from contaminated water

Abstract

Possessing variable valence states, the element Arsenic (As) is intimidating the quality of the ecology and human health severely. In this study, eliminating As (III) from water-based solutions with great efficiency was done using Bagasse-Mn-Al, a sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar impregnated with Mn and Al. The Bagasse-Mn-Al composite yielded higher removal efficiency towards As (III) than the biochar itself. About 89.53 % of As (III) was removed within 65 min maintaining the very first concentration of As (III) at 400 μg/L, initial pH at 2–2.5, and adsorbent dosage at 0.625 g/L. The Bagasse-Mn-Al composite showed an adsorption potential maximum of 54.945 mg/g which is superior to most of the cheaply synthesized metal-impregnated biochar reported. Results from a variety of characterization techniques indicated that the •OH free radical in the Bagasse-Mn-Al composite mainly contributed to the removal of As (III) where oxidation and complexation were the major mechanisms. With high catalytic efficiency, this cost effectively produced metal-coated biochar showed easy and effective separation of As (III) from aqueous solution. Further, this study focuses on the high potential of Bagasse-Mn-Al adsorbent in the treatment of both ground and wastewater.