Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is of significant interest in the environmental field due to its high toxicity. Biochar is commonly used as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. However, its lower removal efficiency remains a persistent challenge. This study develops an iron-modified rice st...

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Main Authors: Hang Liu, Runlin Yao, Mingling Yu, Zongda Ye, Yingrui Lu, Xiaolong Yu, Jin Tang, Jianteng Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/458
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author Hang Liu
Runlin Yao
Mingling Yu
Zongda Ye
Yingrui Lu
Xiaolong Yu
Jin Tang
Jianteng Sun
author_facet Hang Liu
Runlin Yao
Mingling Yu
Zongda Ye
Yingrui Lu
Xiaolong Yu
Jin Tang
Jianteng Sun
author_sort Hang Liu
collection DOAJ
description Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is of significant interest in the environmental field due to its high toxicity. Biochar is commonly used as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. However, its lower removal efficiency remains a persistent challenge. This study develops an iron-modified rice straw biochar through a simple precipitation and pyrolysis method and applies it for Cr(VI) removal in wastewater, which could convert waste into treasure and improve the adsorption performance of adsorbent. In the adsorption experiments, the results revealed that the adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) reached 95.54% within 480 min (conditions: adsorbent dosage 2.67 g/L, pH 2.5, temperature 25 ± 2 °C). The Langmuir isotherm model was more suitable to describe the adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) by Fe-BC, and the fitted adsorption capacity achieved 10.03 mg/g. The experimental process was better described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step. The thermodynamic experiments revealed that the adsorption process of Cr(VI) by Fe-BC was spontaneous and endothermic. Column experiments demonstrated that a lower flow speed was beneficial to adsorption performance. Mechanistic studies highlighted the synergistic roles of electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and reduction in Cr(VI) removal. These findings provide novel perspectives and innovative approaches for the development and application of adsorbents.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2305-6304
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-accfaa19ded3450dbef0df8232d85e852025-08-20T03:32:28ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-05-0113645810.3390/toxics13060458Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw BiocharHang Liu0Runlin Yao1Mingling Yu2Zongda Ye3Yingrui Lu4Xiaolong Yu5Jin Tang6Jianteng Sun7School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, ChinaDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong KongDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong KongNatural Resources Ecological Restoration Center of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, ChinaNatural Resources Ecological Restoration Center of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, ChinaHexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is of significant interest in the environmental field due to its high toxicity. Biochar is commonly used as an adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater. However, its lower removal efficiency remains a persistent challenge. This study develops an iron-modified rice straw biochar through a simple precipitation and pyrolysis method and applies it for Cr(VI) removal in wastewater, which could convert waste into treasure and improve the adsorption performance of adsorbent. In the adsorption experiments, the results revealed that the adsorption efficiency of Cr(VI) reached 95.54% within 480 min (conditions: adsorbent dosage 2.67 g/L, pH 2.5, temperature 25 ± 2 °C). The Langmuir isotherm model was more suitable to describe the adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) by Fe-BC, and the fitted adsorption capacity achieved 10.03 mg/g. The experimental process was better described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the adsorption process chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step. The thermodynamic experiments revealed that the adsorption process of Cr(VI) by Fe-BC was spontaneous and endothermic. Column experiments demonstrated that a lower flow speed was beneficial to adsorption performance. Mechanistic studies highlighted the synergistic roles of electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and reduction in Cr(VI) removal. These findings provide novel perspectives and innovative approaches for the development and application of adsorbents.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/458iron-modified biocharCr(VI)adsorptionheavy metals
spellingShingle Hang Liu
Runlin Yao
Mingling Yu
Zongda Ye
Yingrui Lu
Xiaolong Yu
Jin Tang
Jianteng Sun
Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
Toxics
iron-modified biochar
Cr(VI)
adsorption
heavy metals
title Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
title_full Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
title_fullStr Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
title_full_unstemmed Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
title_short Converting Waste into Treasure: Efficient Adsorption of Cr(VI) Using Iron-Modified Rice Straw Biochar
title_sort converting waste into treasure efficient adsorption of cr vi using iron modified rice straw biochar
topic iron-modified biochar
Cr(VI)
adsorption
heavy metals
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/458
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