Efficient removal of pharmaceutical active compounds using modified pinewood biochar – a kinetic, mechanistic study Yongtao Xue, Mohammadreza Kamali, Raf Dewil Ku Leuven, Belgium In this research, pinewood biochar (BC) was prepared and modified with KOH (K-BC) and used for the immobilization of CuO for efficient adsorption and degradation of model pharmaceutical compounds including ciprofloxacin and carbamazepine from polluted waters. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and porosity analysis were performed that indicated that the specific surface area of K-BC was ten-times higher than that of the pristine BC (23 m 2 /g > 2 m 2 /g). More functional groups, such as C-N, COO-, and C=C were present onto the surface of the modified BC, which facilitated the adsorption of the pollutants and promoted the degradation reactions. K-BC-CuO showed complete degradation for the studied pharmaceuticals in the presence of persulfate. Employing the response surface methodology revealed that the effects of various operating parameters on the degradation of CBZ can be ordered as follows: temperature > PS concentration > initial CBZ concentration > K-BC-CuO dosage > pH. Moreover, the scavenging experiments proved that singlet oxygen plays a key role in the degradation of CIP and CBZ using this system. K-BC-CuO also showed excellent performance for the simultaneous degradation of CIP and CBZ, as well as a relatively high TOC removal rate. Since BC is a low-cost and sustainable carbonaceous material, the modification method and integration of CuO would provide a sustainable approach for enhancing the adsorption and degradation of various environmental pollutants, including contaminants of emerging concern. References 1. M. Kamali, L. Appels, E.E. Kwon, T.M. Aminabhavi, R. Dewil, Biochar in water and wastewater treatment - a sustainability assessment, Chem. Eng. J. 420 (2021) 129946. 2. M. Kamali, T.M. Aminabhavi, L.A.C. Tarelho, R. Hellemans, J. Cuypers, I. Capela, M.E. V Costa, R. Dewil, L. Appels, Acclimatized activated sludge for enhanced phenolic wastewater treatment using pinewood biochar, Chem. Eng. J. 427 (2022) 131708. 3. M. Kamali, Y. Xue, M. Khalaj, B. Laats, R. Teuncens, M. Verbist, M.E. V Costa, I. Capela, L. Appels, R. Dewil, ZnO/γ-Fe2O3/Bentonite: An Efficient Solar-Light Active Magnetic Photocatalyst for the Degradation of Pharmaceutical Active Compounds, Mol. 27 (2022).
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