Engineering

Physical chemistry

Adsorption

Organic chemistry

Aqueous solution

Chemistry

Sawdust

Pyrolysis

Environmental science

Charcoal

Pulp and paper industry

Magnesium

Biochar

Journal of Environmental Management

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by raw cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) sawdust (RCS) and its derivative magnesium pretreated biochar (Mg-B) was investigated under static and dynamic conditions through batch and column assays. The Hydrus-1D model was used to estimate the transport parameters of the lead measured breakthrough curves. The batch experiments results showed that Mg-B was very efficient in removing lead compared to RCS and several other previously tested natural and modified materials. The column experiments results indicated that for both RCS and Mg-B, lead breakthrough curves and the related removal efficiencies were mainly dependent on the used initial concentration and the adsorbents bed height. The use of Hydrus-1D showed that the two-site chemical non-equilibrium model describes better the experimental lead breakthrough curves for both RCS and Mg-B as the equilibrium model.

Lead removal from aqueous solutions by raw sawdust and magnesium pretreated biochar: Experimental investigations and numerical modelling