Using Activated Biochar from <i>Caryocar brasiliense</i> Pequi Almonds for Removing Methylene Blue Dye in an Aqueous Solution

Abstract

Water pollution remains a global problem that urges researchers to develop new technologies aimed at environmental restoration. Here, this study aimed at obtaining an activated biochar from pequi almonds for dye removal. Before and after adsorption, the materials underwent characterization using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The biochar from the pequi almond was called BA, and the activated biochar from the pequi almond was called ABA. The influence of the pH, contact time, and adsorbate concentration on adsorption was investigated using the dye methylene blue. The morphological assessment revealed higher cracks and pores in the ABA than in the BA. The TG showed that the BA lost approximately 19% more mass than the ABA, indicating that activation occurred. The activation contributed to the decrease in the degree of disorder in the BA because of the increased number of graphitic carbon atoms (ordered) in the ABA, as observed via Raman. The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, while the adsorption isotherms followed the Langmuir model. The BA adsorption capacity was 500.00 mg g−1, constituting a robust solution for dye removal from aqueous environments. Therefore, this implies the success of the process.

Keywords

• water treatment
• chemical activation
• adsorption
• methylene blue
• pequi almond biochar
• NaOH-activated biochar