A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions

Water contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses a serious environmental threat. This study explored a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment using biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse. Two types of biochar: regular (BGB) and iron-modified (BGBFe) were tested for Pb(II) remo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hossam S. Jahin, Mohamed H. H. Abbas, Ihab M. Farid, Amany Gameel, Mohamed A. Bassouny
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Water Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23570008.2025.2467358
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850109419843485696
author Hossam S. Jahin
Mohamed H. H. Abbas
Ihab M. Farid
Amany Gameel
Mohamed A. Bassouny
author_facet Hossam S. Jahin
Mohamed H. H. Abbas
Ihab M. Farid
Amany Gameel
Mohamed A. Bassouny
author_sort Hossam S. Jahin
collection DOAJ
description Water contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses a serious environmental threat. This study explored a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment using biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse. Two types of biochar: regular (BGB) and iron-modified (BGBFe) were tested for Pb(II) removal from contaminated water. Scanning electron micrograph spectra of both types of biochars revealed their porous structure. A batch study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of BGBFe and BGB for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions over a time period up to 360 min. The results revealed significant differences. Within the first 3 hours, BGB removed over 70% of lead, whereas, BGBFe’s achieved a lower removal rate of only 27%. This suggests that regular biochar (BGB) is a promising option for short-term lead remediation in water. The iron modification (BGBFe) did not enhance lead removal and may not be a suitable strategy. The kinetics of Pb(II) sorption and desorption were investigated using 6 kinetic models. Based on the highest r2 values and the lowest standard error of estimate ones, the kinetics of Pb(II) sorption on BGB biochar was best fitted by the first-order kinetic model. Similarly, Pb(II) desorption on this biochar followed the same kinetic model; however the first-order kinetic constant was approximately 4 times higher in the first phase than in the second one. In contrast, Pb(II) sorption kinetics on BGB-Fe was better described to the power-function model; while the desorption data was suited to the second-order model. In conclusion, BGBFe is not a suitable additive for treating waters contaminated with Pb(II). Regular biochar could be more helpful; but within a time frame not exceeding 3 h.
format Article
id doaj-art-36e21201232f4eecb39a6a08495e7c8c
institution OA Journals
issn 2357-0008
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Water Science
spelling doaj-art-36e21201232f4eecb39a6a08495e7c8c2025-08-20T02:38:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupWater Science2357-00082025-12-0139117118210.1080/23570008.2025.2467358A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutionsHossam S. Jahin0Mohamed H. H. Abbas1Ihab M. Farid2Amany Gameel3Mohamed A. Bassouny4Central Laboratory for Environmental Quality Monitoring, National Water Research Centre, Elkantir, EgyptFaculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Toukh, EgyptFaculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Toukh, EgyptFaculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Toukh, EgyptFaculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Toukh, EgyptWater contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses a serious environmental threat. This study explored a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment using biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse. Two types of biochar: regular (BGB) and iron-modified (BGBFe) were tested for Pb(II) removal from contaminated water. Scanning electron micrograph spectra of both types of biochars revealed their porous structure. A batch study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of BGBFe and BGB for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions over a time period up to 360 min. The results revealed significant differences. Within the first 3 hours, BGB removed over 70% of lead, whereas, BGBFe’s achieved a lower removal rate of only 27%. This suggests that regular biochar (BGB) is a promising option for short-term lead remediation in water. The iron modification (BGBFe) did not enhance lead removal and may not be a suitable strategy. The kinetics of Pb(II) sorption and desorption were investigated using 6 kinetic models. Based on the highest r2 values and the lowest standard error of estimate ones, the kinetics of Pb(II) sorption on BGB biochar was best fitted by the first-order kinetic model. Similarly, Pb(II) desorption on this biochar followed the same kinetic model; however the first-order kinetic constant was approximately 4 times higher in the first phase than in the second one. In contrast, Pb(II) sorption kinetics on BGB-Fe was better described to the power-function model; while the desorption data was suited to the second-order model. In conclusion, BGBFe is not a suitable additive for treating waters contaminated with Pb(II). Regular biochar could be more helpful; but within a time frame not exceeding 3 h.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23570008.2025.2467358Leadcontaminated waterbiocharFe enriched biocharsorption/desorption kinetics
spellingShingle Hossam S. Jahin
Mohamed H. H. Abbas
Ihab M. Farid
Amany Gameel
Mohamed A. Bassouny
A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
Water Science
Lead
contaminated water
biochar
Fe enriched biochar
sorption/desorption kinetics
title A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
title_full A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
title_fullStr A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
title_full_unstemmed A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
title_short A comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron-modified biochar for Pb-removal from aqueous solutions
title_sort comparative study on the efficiency of biochar and iron modified biochar for pb removal from aqueous solutions
topic Lead
contaminated water
biochar
Fe enriched biochar
sorption/desorption kinetics
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23570008.2025.2467358
work_keys_str_mv AT hossamsjahin acomparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT mohamedhhabbas acomparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT ihabmfarid acomparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT amanygameel acomparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT mohamedabassouny acomparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT hossamsjahin comparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT mohamedhhabbas comparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT ihabmfarid comparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT amanygameel comparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions
AT mohamedabassouny comparativestudyontheefficiencyofbiocharandironmodifiedbiocharforpbremovalfromaqueoussolutions