Agave lechuguilla waste can be applied as biochar-adsorbent to remove arsenic from water

Abstract Fiber extraction from Agave lechuguilla generates approximately 150,000 tons of guishe, a byproduct currently lacking significant commercial value. The production of efficient and inexpensive biochar-adsorbents from guishe can potentially solve the issue of arsenic-contaminated groundwater in Mexico, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. In this report, the synthesis of four iron-modified guishe biochars was presented. The adsorbents were characterized using various techniques, and their performance as an adsorbent for arsenate was assessed by examining the impact of pH, kinetics, and adsorption isotherms. The findings suggest that all biochars can effectively remove arsenic from aqueous solutions. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of arsenic on iron-modified guishe biochar ranged from 2.67 to 21.70 mg g −1 . The utilization of these adsorbents presents a potential alternative solution to the issue of arsenic-contaminated water. Moreover, synthesizing these adsorbents involves using local waste material, representing a cost-effective and sustainable approach to waste management. Graphical abstract