Nuclear chemistry

Catalysis

Adsorption

Engineering

Nanoparticle

Materials science

Methylene blue

Inorganic chemistry

Chemical engineering

BET theory

Langmuir adsorption model

Nanotechnology

Organic chemistry

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Zeta potential

Chemistry

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Photocatalysis

Environmental Pollution

A new carboxylate-functionalized hydrochar (CFHC) was successfully prepared by reaction of hydrochar with maleic anhydride under solvent-free conditions and followed by deprotonating carboxyl group of hydrochar with NaHCO3 solution. CFHC was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), elemental analysis (EA), zeta potential, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BET) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and its adsorption properties and mechanisms to methylene blue (MB) and Cd(II) were investigated using the batch method. The isotherm adsorption data were accorded with Langmuir model and the maximum uptakes were 1155.57 and 90.99 mg/g for MB and Cd(II) at the temperature of 303 K, respectively. The joint analysis of batch experiments and characterizations of hydrochar confirmed the π-π interaction was accompanied by electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond for MB adsorption, while the surface complexation and ion exchange were predominant mechanisms for Cd(II) adsorption. Therefore, a highly effective adsorbent CFHC prepared by a simple and environmentally friendly solid-phase synthesis is a promising candidate for wastewater treatment.

Adsorption of methylene blue and Cd(II) onto maleylated modified hydrochar from water