Sustainable Phosphate Remediation via Hierarchical Mg-Fe Layered Double Hydroxides on Magnetic Biochar from Agricultural Waste

Addressing aquatic phosphate pollution requires advanced materials that combine high selectivity with recyclability. Here, we present a hierarchically structured composite integrating Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with magnetic biochar derived from mulberry branches—an abundant agricultural...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Xiuling Li, Lei Xin, Yuhan Peng, Shihao Zhang, Delong Guan, Jing Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Magnetochemistry
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2312-7481/11/4/27
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Summary:Addressing aquatic phosphate pollution requires advanced materials that combine high selectivity with recyclability. Here, we present a hierarchically structured composite integrating Mg-Fe layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with magnetic biochar derived from mulberry branches—an abundant agricultural byproduct. Through hydrothermal synthesis, the composite achieves a unique architecture combining Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>-enabled magnetic recovery (2.63 emu·g<sup>−1</sup> saturation) with LDHs’ anion exchange capacity and biochar’s porous network. Systematic characterization reveals phosphate capture mechanisms dominated by hydrogen bonding through deprotonated carboxyl groups, inner-sphere complexation with metal oxides, and interlayer anion exchange, enabling 99.22% phosphate removal at optimal conditions (pH 6, 25 °C). Crucially, the material demonstrates exceptional selectivity over competing Cl<sup>−</sup> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> ions while maintaining 87.83% efficiency after three regeneration cycles via alkaline treatment. Kinetic and thermodynamic analyses confirm chemisorption-driven uptake aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.9998) and Langmuir monolayer adsorption (7.72 mg·g<sup>−1</sup> capacity). This waste-derived magnetic composite establishes a sustainable paradigm for eutrophication control, merging selective phosphate sequestration with energy-efficient recovery for circular water treatment applications.
ISSN:2312-7481