Exploring the Adsorption of Pb on Microalgae-Derived Biochar: A Versatile Material for Environmental Remediation and Electroanalytical Applications

Chemosensors

卷:10

Martina Zava¹  Andrea Pozzi¹  Davide Spanu¹  Davide Faccini¹  Damiano Monticelli¹  Carlo Dossi²  Gilberto Binda³ 

[1] Department of Science and High Technology, University of Insubria, Via Valleggio 11, 22100 Como, Italy;

[2] Department of Theoretical and Applied Science, University of Insubria, Via J.H. Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy;

[3] Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway;

关键词: pyrolysis;    biochar;    toxic elements;    remediation;    adsorption;    electrochemical sensor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/chemosensors10050168

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Biochar, a carbon material obtained by pyrolysis of biomasses, is increasingly applied in environmental remediation and sensing thanks to its functional properties, cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness. The adsorption capacity of biochar, strictly dependent on its specific surface area, heteroatom doping and surface functional groups, is crucial for these applications. Here, biochar produced at low temperature (350 °C) from a marine microalga (Nannochloropsis sp.) is proposed as an efficient adsorbent of lead (II) ions in aqueous solution; this production strategy promotes the natural self-doping of biochar without requiring harsh conditions. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption process, as well as the effect of pH, ionic strength and dissolved organic matter on the adsorption efficiency were systematically assessed. The microalgae-derived biochar shows superior adsorption performances compared to a nutshell-derived one (used as a reference of lignocellulosic feedstocks) under all the tested conditions. The microalgae-derived biochar was finally used to decorate screen-printed carbon electrodes to improve the electroanalytical performances towards the voltammetric detection of lead (II) ions. A two-fold increase in sensitivity was obtained compared to the unmodified electrode thanks to the enhanced electron transfer and adsorption properties provided by biochar. These results highlight the potentialities of microalgae-derived biochar for environmental and sensing applications.

【 授权许可】

Unknown