Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration
The adsorption capacity of a biochar (BC) obtained from pine wood residues was evaluated for its ability to remove two pharmaceuticals: fluoxetine (FLX) and sulfamethizole (SMZ). The material showed promising results in FLX removal, but a limited capacity in the case of SMZ. In order to improve thes...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Nuria Bernárdez-Rodas Emilio Rosales Marta Pazos Óscar González-Prieto Luis Ortiz Torres M. Ángeles Sanromán |
| author_facet | Nuria Bernárdez-Rodas Emilio Rosales Marta Pazos Óscar González-Prieto Luis Ortiz Torres M. Ángeles Sanromán |
| author_sort | Nuria Bernárdez-Rodas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The adsorption capacity of a biochar (BC) obtained from pine wood residues was evaluated for its ability to remove two pharmaceuticals: fluoxetine (FLX) and sulfamethizole (SMZ). The material showed promising results in FLX removal, but a limited capacity in the case of SMZ. In order to improve these results, BC surface modifications were made by doping with nitrogen, as well as using acid, basic and electrochemical treatments. A three-dimensional electrosorption treatment proved to be the most effective, increasing the adsorption rate from 0.45 to 13.46 mg/g after evaluating different operating conditions, such as the electrodes used or the BC dosage. Consecutive cycles of BC use were performed through desorption and electro-regeneration techniques to test its capacity for reuse, and it was observed that application in the 25 mA electric field increased the useful life of the material. Finally, the effect of ionic strength was studied, highlighting that the presence of ions did not significantly affect the efficiency of SMZ removal, although a slight increase was observed at a high ion concentration, probably due to a salinization effect. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-254e1972736f4ad1b759cb1fd16fbc45 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-254e1972736f4ad1b759cb1fd16fbc452025-08-20T02:09:22ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-03-01307143510.3390/molecules30071435Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar RegenerationNuria Bernárdez-Rodas0Emilio Rosales1Marta Pazos2Óscar González-Prieto3Luis Ortiz Torres4M. Ángeles Sanromán5CINTECX, Bioengineering and Sustainable Processes Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, SpainCINTECX, Bioengineering and Sustainable Processes Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, SpainCINTECX, Bioengineering and Sustainable Processes Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, SpainHydro-Forestry Geomodeling Research Group, School of Forestry Engineering, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, SpainHydro-Forestry Geomodeling Research Group, School of Forestry Engineering, University of Vigo, 36005 Pontevedra, SpainCINTECX, Bioengineering and Sustainable Processes Group, Chemical Engineering Department, Universidade de Vigo, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, SpainThe adsorption capacity of a biochar (BC) obtained from pine wood residues was evaluated for its ability to remove two pharmaceuticals: fluoxetine (FLX) and sulfamethizole (SMZ). The material showed promising results in FLX removal, but a limited capacity in the case of SMZ. In order to improve these results, BC surface modifications were made by doping with nitrogen, as well as using acid, basic and electrochemical treatments. A three-dimensional electrosorption treatment proved to be the most effective, increasing the adsorption rate from 0.45 to 13.46 mg/g after evaluating different operating conditions, such as the electrodes used or the BC dosage. Consecutive cycles of BC use were performed through desorption and electro-regeneration techniques to test its capacity for reuse, and it was observed that application in the 25 mA electric field increased the useful life of the material. Finally, the effect of ionic strength was studied, highlighting that the presence of ions did not significantly affect the efficiency of SMZ removal, although a slight increase was observed at a high ion concentration, probably due to a salinization effect.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1435biocharthree-dimensional electrosorptionsulfamethizolefluoxetinemechanismsregeneration |
| spellingShingle | Nuria Bernárdez-Rodas Emilio Rosales Marta Pazos Óscar González-Prieto Luis Ortiz Torres M. Ángeles Sanromán Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration Molecules biochar three-dimensional electrosorption sulfamethizole fluoxetine mechanisms regeneration |
| title | Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration |
| title_full | Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration |
| title_fullStr | Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration |
| title_full_unstemmed | Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration |
| title_short | Three-Dimensional Electrosorption for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Management and Sustainable Biochar Regeneration |
| title_sort | three dimensional electrosorption for pharmaceutical wastewater management and sustainable biochar regeneration |
| topic | biochar three-dimensional electrosorption sulfamethizole fluoxetine mechanisms regeneration |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/7/1435 |
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