Fe(III) loaded chitosan-biochar composite fibers for the removal of phosphate from water

Excess phosphorous (P) in aquatic systems causes adverse environmental impacts including eutrophication. This study fabricated Fe(III) loaded chitosan-biochar composite fibers (FBC-N and FBC-C) from paper mill sludge biochar produced under N 2 (BC-N) CO (BC-C) conditions at 600 °C for adsorptive removal of phosphate water. Investigations using SEM/EDX, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, specific surface area measurement revealed the morphological physico-chemical characteristics adsorbent. The Freundlich isotherm model well described adsorption on BC-N, while Redlich–Peterson best fitted data three other adsorbents. maximum capacities were 9.63, 8.56, 16.43, 19.24 mg P g −1 BC-C, FBC-N, FBC-C, respectively, indicating better by (FBCs) than pristine biochars. pseudo-first-order kinetic suitably explained BC-C FBC-N FBC-C followed pseudo-second-order Elovich model, respectively. Molecular level observations K-edge XANES spectra confirmed that associated with iron (Fe) minerals (Fe-P) primary species all suggests FBCs hold high potential as inexpensive green adsorbents remediating contaminated water, encourage resource recovery via bio-based management hazardous waste. • Chitosan-biochar (FBC) prepared sludge. showed higher efficiency compared to Phosphate model. was governed mainly chemisorption. association Fe FBCs.