Premium
Comparison of Pine Bark, Biochar and Zeolite as Sorbents for NH 4 + ‐N Removal from Water
Author(s) -
Hina Kiran,
Hedley Mike,
CampsArbestain Marta,
Hanly James
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201300682
Subject(s) - biochar , sorption , sorbent , zeolite , pyrolysis , clinoptilolite , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , raw material , waste management , bark (sound) , environmental chemistry , adsorption , organic chemistry , catalysis , forestry , engineering , geography
To assist the adoption of biochar production as a greenhouse gas mitigation technology, evidence is required that biochar can provide additional economic benefits covering its current cost of manufacture. Biochar has the potential to be used as sorbent for NH 4 + ‐N removal from wastewaters. Two batch studies were conducted to compare (i) sorption of NH 4 + ‐N on pine biochars with different particle sizes and (ii) sorption of NH 4 + ‐N on pine biochar in comparison to alternative sorbents, zeolite (clinoptilolite) and pine bark. Decreasing the particle size of the feedstock (pine chip), or the biochar by crushing after pyrolysis, did not affect its NH 4 + ‐N sorption properties. Sorption of NH 4 + ‐N on comparative sorbents, when added at a dose of 39 mg NH 4 + ‐N L −1 , followed the order zeolite > biochar > bark. Zeolite proved to be the most efficient sorbent for NH 4 + ‐N g −1 removal followed by biochar and bark. Biochar has the potential to be used as a cost effective commercial sorbent for removing NH 4 + ‐N from waste streams.