The enhancement of reactive red 24 adsorption
from aqueous solution using agricultural waste-derived biochar modified with ZnO nanoparticles
Authors: Huu Tap Van, *a Lan Huong Nguyen,b N. V. Dang, *c Huan-Ping Chao,d Quang Trung Nguyen,a Thu Huong Nguyen,a Thi Bich Lien Nguyen,a Dang Van Thanh,e Hai Duy Nguyen,f Phan Quang Thang,g Pham Thi Ha Thanhh and Vinh Phu Hoang
RSC Advances
: 11 : 5801
Publishing year: 2/2021
In this study, two types of agricultural wastes, sugarcane bagasse (SB) and cassava root husks (CRHs), were
used to fabricate biochars. The pristine biochars derived from SB and CRHs (SBB and CRHB, respectively)
were modified using ZnO nanoparticles to generate modified biochars (SBB-ZnO and CRHB-ZnO,
respectively) for the removal of Reactive Red 24 (RR24) from stimulated wastewater. Batch experiments
were performed to evaluate the effects of ZnO nanoparticles' loading ratio, solution pH, contact time,
and initial RR24 concentration on the RR24 adsorption capacity of biochars. The RR24 adsorption
isotherm and kinetic data on SBB, SBB-ZnO3, CRHB, and CRHB-ZnO3 were analyzed. Results indicate
that SB- and CRH-derived biochars with a ZnO nanoparticle loading ratio of 3 wt% could generate
maximum adsorption capacities of RR24 thanks to the double growth on the BET surface of modified
biochars. The RR24 adsorption capacities of CRHB-ZnO3 and SBB-ZnO3 reached 81.04 and 105.24 mg
g1, respectively, which were much higher than those of pristine CRHB and SBB (66.19 and 76.14,
respectively) at an initial RR24 concentration of 250 mg L1, pH 3, and contact time of 60 min. The
adsorption of RR24 onto biochars agreed well with the pseudo-first-order model and the Langmuir
isotherm. The RR24 adsorption capacity on modified biochars, which were reused after five adsorption–
desorption cycles showed no insignificant drop. The main adsorption mechanisms of RR24 onto
biochars were controlled by electrostatic interactions between biochars' surface positively charged
functional groups with azo dye anions, pore filling, hydrogen bonding formation, and p–p interaction