Adsorption of pharmaceuticals from aqueous solutions using biochar derived from cotton gin waste and guayule bagasse

Ndoun, Marlene Carla

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/109880 Copy

Description

Title

Adsorption of pharmaceuticals from aqueous solutions using biochar derived from cotton gin waste and guayule bagasse

Author(s)

Ndoun, Marlene Carla

Issue Date

2021-04-28

Keyword(s)

• PPCPs
• pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Presented by: Marlene Carla Ndoun – Graduate Research Assistant at Pennsylvania State University, mun99@psu.edu Co-authors: Herschel A. Elliott, Heather E. Preisendanz, Clinton F. Williams, Allan Knopf, John E. Watson Abstract: Biochars produced from cotton gin waste (CG) and guayule bagasse (GB) were explored as potential adsorbents for the removal of pharmaceuticals (sulfapyridine-SPY, docusate-DCT and erythromycin-ETM) from aqueous solution. An increase in biochar pyrolysis temperature from 350 to 700 C led to an increase in pH, specific surface area, and surface hydrophobicity. The electronegative surface of all tested biochars indicated that non-Coulombic mechanisms were involved in adsorption of the anionic or uncharged pharmaceuticals under experimental conditions. The adsorption capacities of Sulfapyridine (SPY), Docusate (DCT) and Erythromycin (ETM) on biochar were influenced by the contact time and solution pH, as well as biochar specific surface area and functional groups. Adsorption of these pharmaceutical compounds was dominated by a complex interplay of three mechanisms: hydrophobic partitioning, hydrogen bonding and π–π electron donor–acceptor (EDA) interactions. Despite weaker π–π EDA interactions, reduced hydrophobicity of SPY− and increased electrostatic repulsion between anionic SPY− and the electronegative CG biochar surface at higher pH, the adsorption of SPY unexpectedly increased from 40% to 70% with an increase in pH from 7 to 10. Results suggest the CG and GB biochars could act as effective adsorbents for the removal of pharmaceuticals from reclaimed water prior to irrigation. Biography: Marlene is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department. She is committed to applying innovative solutions that regard proper care of the environment as a standard practice.

Series/Report Name or Number

2021 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC21)

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Language

en

Permalink

• http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109880
• https://youtu.be/fVt6rgr4nJI

Owning Collections