Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2023
Abstract
Various human activities have led to multiple contamination of natural water systems. The present study investigated the effect of a novel multifunctional biochar to treat nutrients, oil, and harmful algae in water. Specifically, magnesium (Mg) and biosurfactant rhamnolipid (RL) were incorporated into biochar, including Mg-biochar, RL-biochar, and Mg-RL-biochar. Their adsorption efficiency on phosphate and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) was evaluated in separate batch studies. Also, the inhibition effect of RL-modified biochars on cyanobacteria was investigated. The results showed that Mg-impregnated biochar showed high adsorption capacity on phosphate (118 mg g−1), while RL-modified biochar significantly reduced TPH (especially aromatic and light aliphatic fraction) with adsorption capacity of 44.4 mg g−1. The inhibition effects of biochar composites on algae in water without contaminants were in order of Mg-RL-biochar > RL-biochar > biochar with biomass reduction ranging 61–64%. Overall, Mg-RL-biochar was suggested based on this study due to its ability to remove PO43− and TPH, and inhibit the growth of toxic algae. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Biochar
Recommended Citation
Wei, Z., Xu, Y., Wei, Y., Liu, Y., Niu, S., & Wang, J. (2023). Application of magnesium and biosurfactant functionalized biochar composite in treating cyanobacteria in phosphorus and crude oil contaminated water. Biochar, 5 (1) https://doi.org/10.1007/s42773-023-00249-3