Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Mechanochemical synthesis of calcium-biochar for decontamination of arsenic-containing acid mine drainage

  • Jingyi Gao
  • , Mengdi Zhao
  • , Zibo Xu
  • , Kang Liu
  • , Hua Zhong
  • , Daniel C.W. Tsang*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • EIT Institute for Advanced Study
  • Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Ca-biochar is an efficient material for As(III)-containing acid mine drainage (AMD) decontamination, while it is challenging to fabricate Ca-biochar with oyster shell waste as the Ca source due to its complex structure. Herein, a mechanochemical method was proposed to activate oyster shell waste and wood waste for Ca-biochar design and production, and its efficacy and relevant mechanisms for AMD detoxification were evaluated. The smaller size Ca-biochar produced by the medium-speed ball milling showed a higher As(III) removal (74.0 %) compared to high-speed ball milling (60.9 %), attributed to the formation of finer Ca(OH)2 while avoiding particle aggregation, which could release more Ca (89.0 mg/g) and alkalinity for the co-precipitation of As. Meanwhile, wood-based biochar substrate served as a platform for co-precipitation, and its surface functionality supported the oxidative immobilization of As. This study presents a promising route for upcycling food and wood waste to produce Ca-biochar for AMD decontamination.

Original languageEnglish
Article number129892
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume390
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

  • Arsenic redox transformation
  • Ball-milled biochar
  • Calcium co-precipitation
  • Food waste valorization
  • Industrial wastewater treatment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanochemical synthesis of calcium-biochar for decontamination of arsenic-containing acid mine drainage'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this