Optimizing the methylene blue removal from aqueous solution by modified wood biochar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1648039Keywords:
Biochar, MB removal, optimization, pyrolysis, wastewaterAbstract
Wastewater treatment plays a critical role in human health and environmental protection. Biochar removes contaminants, pollutants, heavy metals, nutrients, and leachates from aqueous solutions. Biochar can be produced at low cost from raw materials, and it can be used as an adsorbent due to its high adsorption performance, high carbon content, and large pore/surface properties. The use of biochar in wastewater removal is getting more interesting for researchers. In addition, biochar in wastewater treatment is important because it can reduce waste and provide environmental sustainability. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by pyrolysis, which is the most common method used. We used woody biomass from olive tree pruning wastes (OPW) and they were modified with potassium carbonate (K2CO3). Then pyrolyzed at different temperatures (450, 550, and 650°C) at 10°C/min and produced biochar (code numbers BC-450, BC-550, and BC-650). The filtration process was optimized by the response surface method (RSM). In the experiments, RSM was used to find out how different flow rates (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 L/min), temperatures (30, 60, 90°C), and methylene blue (MB) concentrations (5, 10, 15 ppm) affected the removal of MB from wastewater. The cubic model was selected as the one that best describes the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The optimum percentage removal of MB 69.76%, was achieved at the following conditions: flow rate 0.6 L/min, temperature 30°C, and MB concentration 5 ppm.
Downloads
References
[1]. B. Konadu-Amoah, R. Hu, X. Cui, R. Tao, A. I. Nde-Tchoupe, W. Gwenzi and C. Noubactep, “Understanding the process of phosphate removal in Fe0/H2O systems using the methylene blue method,” Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 465, pp. 143042, 2023.
[2]. V. Jaiman, S. Nama, S. Manwani, and G. Awasthi, “Nanotechnological tweaking for textile industrial dye stress on floras,” Materials Today Proceedings, Vol. 69, pp. 11–20, 2022.
[3]. B. Charmas, B. Wawrzaszek, and K. Jedynak, “Biochars from wood biomass as effective methylene blue adsorbents,” Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing, Vol. 59(4), pp. 176509, 2023.
[4]. A. Demirbaş, “Biomass resource facilities and biomass conversion processing for fuels and chemicals,” Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 42, pp. 1357–1378, 2001.
[5]. N. Boraah, S. Chakma, and P. Kaushal, “Attributes of wood biochar as an efficient adsorbent for remediating heavy metals and emerging contaminants from water: A critical review and bibliometric analysis,” Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Vol. 10, pp. 107825, 2022.
[6]. J. Lehmann and S. Joseph, (Eds.), ‘’Biochar for environmental management: science, technology and implementation (2nd ed.),’’ Routledge, 2015.
[7]. A. Y. Li, H. Deng, Y. H. Jiang, C. H. Ye, B. G. Yu, X.L. Zhou and A.Y. Ma, “Superefficient Removal of Heavy Metals from Wastewater by Mg-Loaded Biochars: Adsorption Characteristics and Removal Mechanisms,” Langmuir, Vol. 36, pp. 9160–9174, 2020.
[8]. X. Tan, Y. Liu, X. Wang, X. Hu, Y. Gu and Z. Yang, “Application of biochar for the removal of pollutants from aqueous solutions,” Chemosphere, Vol. 125, pp. 70–85, 2015.
[9]. N. K. Niazi, I. Bibi, M. Shadid, Y. S. Ok, S.M. Shaheen, J. Rinklebe, H. Wang, B. Murtaza, E. Islam, M. F. Nawaz and A. Lüttge, “Arsenic removal by Japanese oak wood biochar in aqueous solutions and well water: Investigating arsenic fate using integrated spectroscopic and microscopic techniques,” The Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 621, pp. 1642–1651, 2017.
[10]. Q. An, Y. Miao, B. Zhao, Z. Li, and S. Zhu, “An alkali modified biochar for enhancing Mn2+ adsorption: Performance and chemical mechanism,” Materials Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 248, pp. 122895, 2020.
[11]. S. I. Anthonysamy, P. Lahijani, M. Mohammadi, and A. R. Mohamed, “Alkali-modified biochar as a sustainable adsorbent for the low-temperature uptake of nitric oxide,” International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 19, pp. 7127–7140, 2021.
[12]. International Olive Council (2013). World olive oil figures. http://www.internationaloliveoil.org/estaticos/view/131-world-olive-oil-figures (accessed April 2024).
[13]. A. Zabaniotou, D. Rovas and M. Monteleone, ‘’Management of Olive Grove Pruning and Solid Waste from Olive Oil Extraction Via Thermochemical Processes,’’ Waste and Biomass Valorization, Vol. 6, pp 831-842, 2015.
[14]. Food and Agriculture Organization. (2019). The state of food and agriculture. http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0680e/i0680e.pdf (accessed 12 June 2025).
[15]. M. Öztürk, V. Altay, T. B. Gönenç, T. B. Ünal, R. Efe, E. Akçiçek and A. Buhari, ‘’An Overview of Olive Cultivation in Turkey: Botanical Features, Eco-Physiology and Phytochemical Aspects’’, Agronomy, Vol. 11(2), pp. 295, 2021.
[16]. J.F. Garcia Martin, M. Cuevas, C.H. Feng, P.A. Mateos, M.T. Garcia and S. Sanchez, ‘’Energetic valorisation of olive biomass: olive-tree pruning, olive stones and pomaces’’, Processes, Vol. 8(5), pp. 511, 2020.
[17]. D. Fen, P. Yan, Y. Li, Yu Zhang, Y. Wang, Y. Zhao, G. Wei, J. Gao. and S. Sun, “Mechanism of functionalized biochar/K2CO3 cross-linking capture of multi-concentration CO2,” Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 241, pp. 107614, 2022.
[18]. L. Zhu, N. Zhao, L. Tong, and Y. Lv, “Structural and adsorption characteristics of potassium carbonate activated biochar,” RSC Advances, Vol. 8, pp. 21012–21019, 2018.
[19]. Y. Shen, C. F. J. Loong, W. Chen, L. Ge., W. P. Chan, A. Veksha and G. Lisak, “Closed-Loop K2CO3 activation of biochar for coproduction of microporous carbon and syngas,” Energy & Fuels, Vol. 38, pp. 3186–3197, 2024.
[20]. The BioRender website. Available: https://app.biorender.com/
[21]. S. Mariyam, M. Alherbawi, S. Pradhan, T. Al-Ansari, and G. McKay, “Biochar yield prediction using response surface methodology: effect of fixed carbon and pyrolysis operating conditions,” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Vol. 14, pp. 28879–28892, 2023.
[22]. M. Al Jedaih, Z.A. Salem, and K. Alzboon, ‘’Biochar for Lead Removal from Aqueous Solution,’’ Jordan Journal of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Vol. 15(4), 2024.
[23]. M. Bartoli, M. A. Nasir, P. Jagdale, E. Passaglia, R. Spiniello, C. Rosso, M. Giorcelli, R. Massimo and A. Tagliaferro, “Influence of pyrolytic thermal history on olive pruning biochar and related epoxy composites mechanical properties,” Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 54, pp. 1863–1873, 2019.
[24]. A. G. Adeniyi, C. A. Adeyanju, E. C. Emenike, S. K. Otoikhian, S. Ogunniyi, K. O. Iwuozor and A. A. Raji, “Thermal energy recovery and valorisation of Delonix regia stem for biochar production,” Environmental Challenges, Vol. 9, pp. 100630, 2022.
[25]. A. Crespo-Barreiro, N. Gómez, J. González-Arias, N. Ortiz-Liébana, F. González-Andrés, and J. Cara-Jiménez, “Scaling-Up of the Production of Biochar from Olive Tree Pruning for Agricultural Use: Evaluation of Biochar Characteristics and Phytotoxicity,” Agriculture, Vol. 13, pp. 1064, 2023.
[26]. J. Hu, Y. Chen, K. Qian, Z. Yang, H. Yang, Y. Li, and H. Chen, "Evolution of char structure during mengdong coal pyrolysis: Influence of temperature and K₂CO₃," Fuel Processing Technology, Vol. 159, pp. 178–186, 2017.
[27]. S. Kloss, F. Zehetner, A. Dellantonio, R. Hamid, F. Ottner, V. Liedtke, and G. Soja, "Characterization of slow pyrolysis biochars: Effects of feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature on biochar properties," Journal of Environmental Quality, Vol. 41, pp. 990–1000, 2012.
[28]. J. F. Garcia Martin, M. Cuevas, C. H. Feng, P. A. Mateos, M. T. Garcia, and S. Sanchez, "Energetic valorisation of olive biomass: Olive-tree pruning, olive stones and pomaces," Processes, Vol. 8, pp. 511, 2020.
[29]. T. Wang, J. Wu, Y. Zhang, J. Liu, Z. Sui, H. Zhang, and W. P. Pan, "Increasing the chlorine active sites in the micropores of biochar for improved mercury adsorption," Fuel, Vol. 229, pp. 60–67, 2018.
[30]. Q. An, Y. Miao, B. Zhao, Z. Li, and S. Zhe, "An alkali modified biochar for enhancing Mn²⁺ adsorption: Performance and chemical mechanism," Material Chemistry and Physics, Vol. 248, pp. 122895, 2020.
[31]. Z. Liu, J. Zhang, L. Zhang , Y. Guan, J. Hao, Y. Zhang and H. Gao, “Efficient removal of Congo red and methylene blue using biochar from Medulla Tetrapanacis modified by potassium carbonate,” Bioresource Technology, Vol. 376, pp. 128912, 2023.
[32]. Y. Tang, X. R. Zhang, Q. F. Yang, Y. Y. Yan, W. Ding, W. Du, F. N. Hu, Z. C. Geng, and C. Y. Xu, “Enhanced removal of the ammonium, nitrate and phosphate by biochars derived from apple tree branches via different modification methods,” Separation and Purification Technology, pp. 131740, 2025.
[33]. H. Yu, Y. Zhang, L. Wang, Y. Tuo, S. Yan, J. Ma, X. Zhang, Y. Shen, H. Guo, and L. Han, “Experimental and DFT insights into the adsorption mechanism of methylene blue by alkali-modified corn straw biochar,” RSC Advances, Vol. 14, pp. 1854–1865, 2024.
[34]. H. Zeghioud, L. Fryda, H. Djelal, A. Assadi, and A. Kane, “A comprehensive review of biochar in removal of organic pollutants from wastewater: Characterization, toxicity, activation/functionalization and influencing treatment factors,” Journal of Water Process Engineering, Vol. 47, pp. 102801, 2022.
[35]. C. Liu, W. Wang, R. Wu, Y. Liu, X. Lin, H. Kan, and Y. Zheng, “Preparation of Acid- and Alkali-Modified biochar for removal of methylene blue pigment,” ACS Omega, Vol. 5, pp. 30906–30922, 2020.
[36]. S. P. Viswanthan, S. P. Neelamury, S. Parakkuzhiyil, G. V. Njazhakunnathu, A. Sebastian, B. Padmakumar, and T. P. Ambatt, “Removal efficiency of methylene blue from aqueous medium using biochar derived from Phragmites karka, a highly invasive wetland weed,” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Vol. 12, pp. 3257–3273, 2020.
[37]. S. Dawood, T. K. Sen and C. Phan, ‘’Adsorption removal of Methylene Blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution by bio-char prepared from Eucalyptus sheathiana bark: kinetic, equilibrium, mechanism, thermodynamic and process design,” Desalination and Water Treatment, Vol. 57, pp. 28964–28980, 2016.
[38]. B.P. Thillainayagam, R. Nagalingam, and P. Saravanan, “Batch and column studies on removal of methylene blue dye by microalgae biochar,” Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, Vol. 13, pp. 10327–10342, 2022.
[39]. Y. Mu, H. Du, W. He, and H. Ma, “Functionalized mesoporous magnetic biochar for methylene blue removal: Performance assessment and mechanism exploration,” Diamond and Related Materials, Vol. 121, pp. 108795, 2021.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Environmental Research and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles in Environmental Research and Technology (ERT) are published under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
This license allows others to copy, distribute, and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes only, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and to the journal.
