Efficient removal of Cr(VI) containing tunnel wastewater by sludge biochar loaded with ferrous sulfate

The ease of agglomeration reduced the removal of pollutants by FeS particles. Hence, sludge biochar was employed as a support to produce FeS-loaded biochar composites (FeS@BC) using a solvothermal method, for removing Cr(VI) from wastewater. The performance and mechanism of Cr(VI) removal on FeS@BC were investigated through adsorption experiments and characterization techniques. The adsorption tests revealed that under optimal conditions of solution pH of 3 and dosage of 40 mg, FeS@BC achieved a removal efficiency of over 97 % for 50 mg/L Cr(VI). The presence of Cl - and NO - 3 did not affect Cr(VI) removal, whereas sulfate, phosphate, and carbonate inhibited the removal process. Low concentrations of humic acid (1–5 mg/L) held a negligible influence on removing, but elevated concentrations of humic acid inhibited Cr(VI) removal. The behavior of FeS@BC in removing Cr(VI) complied with to the pseudo-second-order and the Langmuir model. At 308.15 K, the largest removal capability of FeS@BC for Cr(VI) reached 185.874 mg/g. Thermodynamic studies confirmed that the Cr(VI) removing processes on FeS@BC were a spontaneous, entropy-driven, endothermic chemical adsorption. The primary mechanism for removing Cr(VI) on FeS@BC included reduction, electrostatic adsorption, complexation, and precipitation, with the reduction process playing a crucial role. This indicated that sludge biochar loaded with FeS was an ideal material for removing Cr(VI) from wastewater. ● FeS-loaded sludge biochar was prepared by the thermal dissolution method. ● The maximum removal capacity of FeS@BC for Cr(VI) reached 185.874 mg/g. ● The removal mechanism involved complexation, reduction, electrostatic interactions, and precipitation.