麻豆淫院

A team of researchers in China has developed a new low-cost biochar material that can efficiently remove persistent metal complexes from water, offering a promising tool for improving water quality and environmental safety.

The study, in Biochar X, describes how ferromanganese oxide-modified biochar can capture copper鈥揷itrate complexes, which are difficult to remove using conventional water treatment methods. These metal鈥搊rganic complexes are common in industrial wastewater and pose serious environmental and health concerns due to their stability and tendency to accumulate in ecosystems.

"Unlike free metal ions, metal complexes such as copper鈥揷itrate are very stable and resistant to natural degradation," said Wenhong Fan of Beihang University, the corresponding author of the study.

"Our goal was to design a simple, efficient, and reusable adsorbent that could tackle these stubborn contaminants."

The research team produced the new material by combining coconut shell biochar with iron and manganese oxides through a heat-based process. The resulting biochar was covered with nanosized particles that created abundant active sites for adsorption.

Under optimal conditions, one gram of the modified biochar removed nearly all copper from a 10-milligram-per-liter solution within hours, achieving 99.5% copper removal and 92.6% total organic carbon reduction.

Microscopic and chemical analyses revealed that copper was captured through both chemical and physical adsorption processes. The modified biochar's porous structure allowed pollutants to diffuse into the material, while oxygen-containing functional groups and metal oxides on the surface bound the copper鈥揷itrate complexes tightly.

The material also showed strong performance across a wide range of pH levels and remained stable even in the presence of other ions commonly found in wastewater.

"Efficient removal, simple preparation, and good chemical stability make this biochar a strong candidate for large-scale applications," said Ying Zhu, the study's first author.

"It could be used not only for treating industrial wastewater but also for preventing metal pollution in natural water and soil systems."

The researchers note that further studies will explore how the material can be regenerated and reused over longer cycles and how its adsorption behavior might apply to other metal鈥搊rganic contaminants.

This new biochar represents a practical step toward sustainable, low-cost technologies for water purification and environmental remediation.