Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems

Toxicity and pollution of heavy metals in water environments are very serious threats, and how to efficiently remove heavy metals is a difficult problem in water ecosystems. This study takes Cr and Pb as examples to study the adsorption effects of different types of modified biochar on these two hea...

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Main Authors: Yazhai Zhang, Zhilei Xia, Aainaa Izyan Nafsun, Weiying Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/5/402
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author Yazhai Zhang
Zhilei Xia
Aainaa Izyan Nafsun
Weiying Feng
author_facet Yazhai Zhang
Zhilei Xia
Aainaa Izyan Nafsun
Weiying Feng
author_sort Yazhai Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Toxicity and pollution of heavy metals in water environments are very serious threats, and how to efficiently remove heavy metals is a difficult problem in water ecosystems. This study takes Cr and Pb as examples to study the adsorption effects of different types of modified biochar on these two heavy metals and their influencing mechanisms, with the aim of providing precise treatment schemes for water ecological health. Biochar was prepared from apricot branches, apricot shells, and corn stalks through nitrogen doping modification, and its structure and properties were characterized and analyzed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to investigate the microstructure and surface chemical characteristics of the biochar. Adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate its removal efficiency for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> from aqueous solutions. The results showed that nitrogen-doped biochar prepared from corn stalks at 600 °C exhibited the highest Cr<sup>6+</sup> adsorption rate of 81.09%, while the biochar prepared at 500 °C demonstrated the highest Pb<sup>2+</sup> adsorption rate of 91.61%. Comparative analysis of FTIR and SEM data between nitrogen-doped biochar and its original counterparts revealed the underlying adsorption mechanisms, which involve a synergistic effect of coordination interaction, electrostatic attraction, and chemical reduction. This study highlights nitrogen-doped biochar as an efficient and cost-effective material for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous environments. It also provides theoretical and practical insights into the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the management of water pollution.
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spelling doaj-art-2eb4606e872b4176b6b7ea10c31f54972025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-05-0113540210.3390/toxics13050402Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous SystemsYazhai Zhang0Zhilei Xia1Aainaa Izyan Nafsun2Weiying Feng3Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan 26300, Pahang, MalaysiaCollege of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hebei Minzu Normal University, Chengde 067000, ChinaFaculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuh Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan 26300, Pahang, MalaysiaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaToxicity and pollution of heavy metals in water environments are very serious threats, and how to efficiently remove heavy metals is a difficult problem in water ecosystems. This study takes Cr and Pb as examples to study the adsorption effects of different types of modified biochar on these two heavy metals and their influencing mechanisms, with the aim of providing precise treatment schemes for water ecological health. Biochar was prepared from apricot branches, apricot shells, and corn stalks through nitrogen doping modification, and its structure and properties were characterized and analyzed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to investigate the microstructure and surface chemical characteristics of the biochar. Adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate its removal efficiency for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> from aqueous solutions. The results showed that nitrogen-doped biochar prepared from corn stalks at 600 °C exhibited the highest Cr<sup>6+</sup> adsorption rate of 81.09%, while the biochar prepared at 500 °C demonstrated the highest Pb<sup>2+</sup> adsorption rate of 91.61%. Comparative analysis of FTIR and SEM data between nitrogen-doped biochar and its original counterparts revealed the underlying adsorption mechanisms, which involve a synergistic effect of coordination interaction, electrostatic attraction, and chemical reduction. This study highlights nitrogen-doped biochar as an efficient and cost-effective material for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous environments. It also provides theoretical and practical insights into the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the management of water pollution.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/5/402nitrogen-doped biocharCr<sup>6+</sup> adsorptionPb<sup>2+</sup> adsorptionadsorption rate testingbiomass waste utilization
spellingShingle Yazhai Zhang
Zhilei Xia
Aainaa Izyan Nafsun
Weiying Feng
Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
Toxics
nitrogen-doped biochar
Cr<sup>6+</sup> adsorption
Pb<sup>2+</sup> adsorption
adsorption rate testing
biomass waste utilization
title Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
title_full Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
title_fullStr Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
title_full_unstemmed Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
title_short Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Biochar and Its Adsorption Performance for Cr<sup>6+</sup> and Pb<sup>2+</sup> in Aqueous Systems
title_sort preparation of nitrogen doped biochar and its adsorption performance for cr sup 6 sup and pb sup 2 sup in aqueous systems
topic nitrogen-doped biochar
Cr<sup>6+</sup> adsorption
Pb<sup>2+</sup> adsorption
adsorption rate testing
biomass waste utilization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/5/402
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AT aainaaizyannafsun preparationofnitrogendopedbiocharanditsadsorptionperformanceforcrsup6supandpbsup2supinaqueoussystems
AT weiyingfeng preparationofnitrogendopedbiocharanditsadsorptionperformanceforcrsup6supandpbsup2supinaqueoussystems