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Surface Characteristics of Four Biochars and Their Adsorption of Cd and Atrazine in Aqueous Solution
Received:May 24, 2014  
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KeyWord:biochar;pyrolysis;adsorption;cadmium;atrazine
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
CAO Mei-zhu School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
PAN Li-ping Agricultural College, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
ZHANG Chao-lan School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China zhangcl@gxu.edu.cn 
YANG Wei-wei School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
WEI Jia-ming School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
ZHANG Fei-long School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
WEI Yan-hong School of Environment, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China  
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Abstract:
      Biochars have recently been used to remediate water contaminated by heavy metals and organic pollutants. In this paper, four biochars derived from organic wastes(sugarcane top, cassava stem, rice straw and silkworm excrement) collected from Guangxi were selected to examine their pore structure by Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM), type and quantity of total oxygen-containing functional groups via Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy(FTIR) and Boehm titration, and adsorption characteristics of Cd2+ and atrazine(AT) at different initial concentrations of Cd and AT and different pH values. Biochars obtained at high pyrolytic temperature(700 ℃) had more pores and basic functional groups but fewer acid functional groups than those at low pyrolytic temperature(300 ℃). The adsorption of Cd and AT by the biochars could be well characterized with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The Cd and AT adsorption increased with initial concentrations of Cd and AT. The adsorption efficiencies of Cd and AT were greater for biochars at 700 ℃ than 300 ℃. Biochars adsorbed more Cd but less AT at pH 6 than pH 4. Rice straw- and silkworm excrement-derived biochars had greater adsorption capacity for Cd2+, while sugarcane top derived-biochar had more adsorption for AT.