A comparative study on adsorption of cadmium and lead by hydrochars and biochars derived from rice husk and Zizania latifolia straw

In this study, hydrochars and biochars were prepared from rice husk (RH) and Zizania latifolia straw (ZL) at various pyrolysis temperatures as absorbents, for removing toxic ions from single and competitive solutions of cadmium (Cd) and/or lead (Pb). The adsorption efficiencies of Cd and Pb in both hydrochars and biochars were lower in the competitive solution than in the single solution, and the absorbents had a stronger affinity for Pb than for Cd. Compared to hydrochars, biochars showed more favorable Cd and Pb adsorption capacities in the single or competitive solutions, and the ZL biochars had the maximum adsorption capacity among them. The SEM and FTIR analyses suggest that the predominant adsorption mechanisms of biochars and hydrochars are surfaces monolayer adsorption, precipitation, complexation, and coordination with pi electrons. However, hydrochars derived from ZL exhibited an optimal additional Pb adsorption capacity in the high-level (5 similar to 10 mg L-1 Cd and Pb) competitive solution. This extra Pb adsorption of hydrochars was likely attributed to the Si-O-Si groups and more bumpy structure. Zizania latifolia straw biochar had a huge potential removal of Cd or/and Pb, and applying hydrochars as absorbents was beneficial to the removal of Cd and Pb in polluted solutions.

Automated summary

Hydrochars and biochars prepared from rice husk and Zizania latifolia straw were used as absorbents to remove toxic ions from Cd and/or Pb solutions. Biochars showed better adsorption capacities for Cd and Pb in single and competitive solutions compared to hydrochars. Zizania latifolia straw biochar had the highest adsorption capacity. The adsorption mechanisms involved monolayer adsorption, precipitation, complexation, and coordination with pi electrons.