Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and efficiency of activated biochars derived from second-generation biomasses—specifically hazelnut shells and rice husks—for remediating water contaminated with herbicides, including atrazine and terbuthylazine. These biomasses, recognized as...

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Main Authors: Federico Apolloni, Federica Menegazzo, Carla Bittencourt, Michela Signoretto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Next Energy
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25000547
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author Federico Apolloni
Federica Menegazzo
Carla Bittencourt
Michela Signoretto
author_facet Federico Apolloni
Federica Menegazzo
Carla Bittencourt
Michela Signoretto
author_sort Federico Apolloni
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and efficiency of activated biochars derived from second-generation biomasses—specifically hazelnut shells and rice husks—for remediating water contaminated with herbicides, including atrazine and terbuthylazine. These biomasses, recognized as agricultural wastes from high-yield crops, undergo a 2-step processing method: initial slow pyrolysis at 700 °C, followed by physical activation using steam at 850 °C. The resulting biochars, both in their natural and activated forms, were characterized using various analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, ash content determination, nitrogen physisorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and programmed temperature desorption. The adsorption capacity of the biochars was initially evaluated using trichloroethylene as a model molecule to simulate the adsorption mechanism of triazine herbicides. After determining the maximum adsorption capacity of the pollutant, adsorption tests for atrazine and terbuthylazine were conducted. The biochars adsorbed up to 93% of the 2 pollutants in the tests. These findings highlight the potential of activated biochars derived from second-generation waste biomass as an effective and sustainable alternative to conventional commercial activated carbons for purifying herbicide-contaminated water.
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spelling doaj-art-97f177a814e04393b3cc4e601190ab632025-08-20T01:57:15ZengElsevierNext Energy2949-821X2025-04-01710029110.1016/j.nxener.2025.100291Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazineFederico Apolloni0Federica Menegazzo1Carla Bittencourt2Michela Signoretto3CATMAT Lab, Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and INSTM-RU Ve, Via Torino 155, Venezia Mestre 30172, Italy; ChIPS, University of Mons, Mons 7000, BelgiumCATMAT Lab, Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and INSTM-RU Ve, Via Torino 155, Venezia Mestre 30172, Italy; Corresponding author.ChIPS, University of Mons, Mons 7000, BelgiumCATMAT Lab, Department of Molecular Sciences and Nanosystems, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and INSTM-RU Ve, Via Torino 155, Venezia Mestre 30172, ItalyThis study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and efficiency of activated biochars derived from second-generation biomasses—specifically hazelnut shells and rice husks—for remediating water contaminated with herbicides, including atrazine and terbuthylazine. These biomasses, recognized as agricultural wastes from high-yield crops, undergo a 2-step processing method: initial slow pyrolysis at 700 °C, followed by physical activation using steam at 850 °C. The resulting biochars, both in their natural and activated forms, were characterized using various analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, ash content determination, nitrogen physisorption, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and programmed temperature desorption. The adsorption capacity of the biochars was initially evaluated using trichloroethylene as a model molecule to simulate the adsorption mechanism of triazine herbicides. After determining the maximum adsorption capacity of the pollutant, adsorption tests for atrazine and terbuthylazine were conducted. The biochars adsorbed up to 93% of the 2 pollutants in the tests. These findings highlight the potential of activated biochars derived from second-generation waste biomass as an effective and sustainable alternative to conventional commercial activated carbons for purifying herbicide-contaminated water.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25000547Hazelnut shells biocharsRice husk biocharsActivated biochar pyrolysisHerbicides adsorptionAtrazine adsorptionTerbuthylazine adsorption
spellingShingle Federico Apolloni
Federica Menegazzo
Carla Bittencourt
Michela Signoretto
Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
Next Energy
Hazelnut shells biochars
Rice husk biochars
Activated biochar pyrolysis
Herbicides adsorption
Atrazine adsorption
Terbuthylazine adsorption
title Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
title_full Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
title_fullStr Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
title_full_unstemmed Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
title_short Hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
title_sort hazelnut shells and rice husks activated biochars for the adsorption of atrazine and terbuthylazine
topic Hazelnut shells biochars
Rice husk biochars
Activated biochar pyrolysis
Herbicides adsorption
Atrazine adsorption
Terbuthylazine adsorption
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949821X25000547
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AT carlabittencourt hazelnutshellsandricehusksactivatedbiocharsfortheadsorptionofatrazineandterbuthylazine
AT michelasignoretto hazelnutshellsandricehusksactivatedbiocharsfortheadsorptionofatrazineandterbuthylazine