Characterization and adsorption applications of composite biochars of clay minerals and biomass

Composite mineral-biochars of a homogeneous biomass (cellulose) and heterogeneous (oak leaves) were fabricated with either 5 wt% or 10 minerals (montmorillonite (MMT), kaolinite, sand) then pyrolyzed at 600 °C for 60 min. Characterizations including proximate analysis, ultimate surface area porosity, morphology, chemistry confirmed that present on the biochar, MMT/kaolinite-biochar composites showed strengthening in chars’ aromatic structures, as well increases oxygen-containing functional groups. Methylene blue adsorption isotherms indicated MMT/kaolinite-biochars had higher capacities than pure biomass-sand biochars (110 mgMB/gchar 24 MMT-cellulose char cellulose char, respectively). A multilinear model relating capacity adsorbent properties was developed to measure relative contribution biochar behavior. The indicates pore volume hydrogen bonding dominant controlling methylene onto biochars. Findings from this work indicate composite prepared inexpensive clay are promising remediating organic contaminants water.