Activated biochar derived from spent Auricularia auricula substrate for the efficient adsorption of cationic azo dyes from single and binary adsorptive systems

In this study, spent Auricularia auricula substrate (AS)-derived biochar (ASBCs) and activated biochar with NaOH (A-ASBC) were evaluated for the adsorption of cationic azo dyes, including methylene blue (MB), rhodamine B (RB), and crystal violet (CV), from single and binary adsorptive systems. A-ASBC showed a higher maximum adsorption capacity for these dyes (MB: 53.62 mg.g(-1), RB: 32.33 mg.g(-1), CV: 735.73 mg.g(-1)) than ASBCs in a single system because it had a greater specific surface area and more oxygen containing-functional groups on the surface. The adsorption process of the three dyes onto the adsorbents was in good agreement with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, which revealed sorbate polymolecular layer formation over the adsorbent surface and the involvement of chemisorption. The adsorption mechanism showed that the adsorption of three dyes on adsorbents could be postulated as a multistep process with extraordinary affinity-induced adsorption in terms of both physisorption and chemisorption. In the binary adsorptive system, the results showed that all MB, RB, and CV had antagonistic/competitive effects on each other's adsorption (Q(Binary)/Q(Single) < 1). Furthermore, a phytotoxic assay affirmed the effectiveness of the adsorbent in adsorbing dye species from aqueous solutions using Brassica pekinensis L. seeds as the model. Therefore, activated biochar prepared from AS can be used as a potentially economical and effective adsorbent for treating printing and dyeing wastewater.

Automated summary

This study evaluated spent Auricularia auricula substrate-derived biochar and activated biochar with NaOH for adsorption of cationic azo dyes, showing that activated biochar had higher adsorption capacity in single systems and competition effects in binary systems. A phytotoxic assay confirmed the effectiveness of the adsorbent in removing dye species from aqueous solutions, indicating its potential for treating printing and dyeing wastewater.