Utilizing biochar to decorate nanoscale FeS for the highly effective decontamination of Se(IV) from simulated wastewater

Selenium (Se) as an essential nutrient for human beings at trace concentrations, the allowable concentration for the human is only 40 mu g/L. Iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles have been applied for excessive of selenium (Se) remediation in surface water and groundwater. In this study, FeS nanoparticles were anchored onto biochar (BC) to reduce agglomeration of FeS and prepared into the composite of FeS-BC by pyrolysis to economically and efficiently remove Se(IV) from simulated wastewater based on the excellent performance of FeS and the low cost of BC. Characterizations presented the uniform anchorage of FeS on the BC surface to prevent agglomeration. The results of batch experiments revealed that the removal of Se(IV) by FeS-BC nanomaterials significantly depended on the pH value, with the maximum removal of similar to 174.96 mg/g at pH 3.0. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model well reflected the kinetic removal of Se(IV) in pure Se(IV) solution with different concentration, as well as the coexistence of K+, Ca2+, Cl-, and SO42- ions. The presence of K+ ions significantly inhibited the removal of Se(IV) with the increase of K+ ion concentration compared with the effect of the other three ions. SEM-EDS and XPS analyses indicated that the removal process was achieved through adsorption by surface complexation, and reductive precipitation of Se(IV) into Se-0 with the electron donor of Fe(II) and S(-II) ions. The FeS-BC nano-material exhibited an excellent application prospect in the remediation of Se(IV).

Automated summary

In this study, FeS nanoparticles were anchored onto biochar (BC) to remove Se(IV) from simulated wastewater. The FeS-BC nanomaterials showed excellent performance in removing Se(IV) at pH 3.0, with a maximum removal capacity of 174.96 mg/g. The removal process involved adsorption by surface complexation and reductive precipitation of Se(IV) into Se-0. The FeS-BC nanomaterial exhibited great potential for the remediation of Se(IV).