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Comparative studies of heavy metal removal from aqueous solution using novel biomass and biochar-based adsorbents: characterization, process optimization, and regeneration

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Abstract

In this study, the hierarchical screening was done for the selection of the best bio-sorbent for the adsorption of heavy metal ions. Cotton husk, corn cob, neem leaves, Delonix leaves (Gulmohar), Spathodea campanulata leaves (African tulip), orange peel, dried Tabebuia argentea flower (The tree of gold), sweet lemon peel, red gram seed coat, and Delonix regia were employed for adsorption of nickel and copper ions from aqueous solution and finally, the engineered orange peel biochar, which was found to be best performing material (with removal efficiency equal to 96% and 98% for copper and nickel, respectively), was screened out for subsequent studies. Characterization of the orange peel Biochar was carried out by SEM, BET, and FTIR techniques. From BET analysis, it was found that pyrolization of orange peel biomass increased its surface area from 52 to 230 m2−g−1. The operating parameters of the adsorption batch process were optimized via response surface methodology to maximize the adsorbent utilization and to minimize the cost of the adsorption process. The optimized value of metal removal percentage obtained equaled to 99.5% and 92.4% for nickel and copper ions, respectively, with orange peel biochar as adsorbent. 0.8 M \({\mathrm{H}}_{2}{\mathrm{SO}}_{4}\) was used for the desorption of copper and nickel from orange peel biochar and it showed a desorption efficiency of 93.44% and 92.0%, respectively. The engineered orange peel biochar showed reusability up to 5 cycles for copper and nickel and therefore can be considered low-cost and efficient bio-sorbent to remove heavy metal ions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors of this paper would like to thank CSIR 22(0783)/19/EMR-II for funding the project and also would like to thank BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus and HBL Power Systems for facilitating this project to their fullest capacity.

Funding

This study is supported by CSIR under the scheme 22(0783)/19/EMR-II, with recipient I. Sreedhar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, 500078, India

    Sadamanti Sireesha, Utkarsh Upadhyay & Inkollu Sreedhar

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  1. Sadamanti Sireesha
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  2. Utkarsh Upadhyay
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  3. Inkollu Sreedhar
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Contributions

SS—experimental studies.

UU—thermodynamics and RSM studies.

IS—project mentoring and monitoring.

KLA—characterization of effluent.

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Correspondence to Inkollu Sreedhar.

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To be presented in International Chemical Engineering Conference on “100 Glorious Years of Chemical Engineering & Technology” from September 17 to 19, 2021, organized by Department of Chemical Engineering at Dr. B R Ambedkar NIT Jalandhar, Punjab, India (Organizing Chairman: Dr. Raj Kumar Arya & Organizing Secretary: Dr. Anurag Kumar Tiwari)

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Sireesha, S., Upadhyay, U. & Sreedhar, I. Comparative studies of heavy metal removal from aqueous solution using novel biomass and biochar-based adsorbents: characterization, process optimization, and regeneration. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02186-2

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