Scalable interlinked hierarchical porous biochar-nanosheets for efficient removal of thallium from aquatic environment

Abstract

The scalable development of engineeredcarbonaceous materials for commercialization at industrial scale is a formidable issue. Herein, a scalable and innovative chemical exfoliation approach was introduced to develop interlinkedhierarchical biocharnanosheets (BCNs) framework form agricultural wastes. The developed BCNs exhibited higher surface area (1048.63 m² g^-1) and rational pore structure with average pore size of 2.051 nm. The resulted BCNs showed superior Tl(I) adsorption performance with a maximum adsorption capacity of 448.21 mg g^-1. BCNs maintained its removal potential >80% in presence of higher concentration (0.2 mmol L^-1) of coexisting ions (Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Ni²⁺) and organic acids (humic and fluvic acid). Importantly, the BCNs manifested remarkable recyclability (81.3%) after 18 adsorptiondesorption cycles. Furthermore, a fixed bed column trial exhibited that ~929 bed volumes of the feedstock stream (1.0 mg L^-1) could be efficiently treated, highlighting the potential of BCNs to treat toxic metals polluted water matrices in continuous flow mode at pilot scale. Overall, the present work has significant potential to produce engineered carbon materials at higher scale, paving the way for commercialization of more costeffective products from biomass for various water treatment technology.

Environmental implications

Production of engineered carbonaceous materials with desirable characteristics from agricultural and forestry wastes has experienced remarkable revolutions and breakthroughs. This path to synthesized valuable products is unquestionably environmentally and economically favourable (particularly when waste is applied). However, the engineered synthesis techniques still facing substantial challenges at pilotscale water treatment such as, low yield, complex synthesis route and high cost, failed to commercialized the products at community level where they are most needed. This study focuses to develop a scalable and tuneable approach to produce engineeredbiochar that has the potential to be commercialized at industrial scale to promote waste to wealth concept.