Synthesis and phosphate adsorption performance of elephant dung biochar modified with magnesium and iron

Navod ABEYSINGHE; Kaewta JETSRISUPARB; K.H.T. KARUNARATHNA; E.P.S. CHANDANA; Siraprapa SUWANREE; Pornnapa KASEMSIRI; Prinya CHINDAPRASIRT; Jesper T.N. KNIJNENBURG

doi:10.55713/jmmm.v32i1.1243

Authors

Navod ABEYSINGHE International College, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
Kaewta JETSRISUPARB Department of Chemical Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
K.H.T. KARUNARATHNA Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, 81000, Sri Lanka
E.P.S. CHANDANA Department of Biosystems Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Ruhuna, Matara, 81000, Sri Lanka
Siraprapa SUWANREE Department of Chemical Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
Pornnapa KASEMSIRI Department of Chemical Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
Prinya CHINDAPRASIRT Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Department of Civil Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand
Jesper T.N. KNIJNENBURG International College, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand; Sustainable Infrastructure Research and Development Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55713/jmmm.v32i1.1243

Keywords:

adsorption, biochar, elephant dung, phosphate, pyrolysis

Abstract

The large production volume combined with the high lignocellulose content makes elephant dung an attractive and underutilized biomass resource, but also presents waste management problems for elephant orphanages. This study explored the conversion of elephant dung into biochars by slow pyrolysis at 500°C for the recovery of phosphate. The unmodified biochar (BC500) had a specific surface area (S_BET) of 62.5 m²×g^-1 with point of zero charge (pH_PZC) of 7.7. Biochar modification with MgCl₂ (MgBC500) and FeCl₃ (FeBC500) by pre-pyrolysis treatment affected the S_BET (48.7 m²×g^-1 and 259.4 m²×g^-1, respectively) and pH_PZC (8.7 and 3.3, respectively). In FeBC500, Fe was present as magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Instead of adsorption, both BC500 and MgBC500 released phosphate at pH 3-6. Phosphate adsorption onto FeBC500 reached equilibrium within 24 h and followed pseudo-second order kinetics. The adsorption isotherm was best described with the Langmuir equation with a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.744 mg-P×g^-1. The phosphate adsorption behavior was related to the pH_PZC and metal content of the biochar. Conversion of elephant dung into biochar presents an environmentally friendly waste management solution that may find further applications in the adsorption of other nutrients or pollutants.

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