Emulsified Oily Wastewater Treatment Using Adsorbent Derived from the Co-Pyrolysis of Oily Sludge and Sawdust
摘要
This study investigated the co-pyrolysis char of oily sludge and sawdust, without chemical activation, as an efficient adsorbent for treating emulsified oily wastewater, a challenging industrial problem. Pyrolysis was conducted at temperatures of 400–700 °C and feedstock mixing ratios (sawdust-to-sludge, 1:1–4:1), with the char obtained under optimal conditions (600 °C, 4:1) without chemical activation, yielding an adsorption capacity of 413.32 mg/g. The co-pyrolysis char showed substantially higher adsorption performance than oily sludge-derived char (86.91 mg/g), while exhibiting relatively better performance than sawdust biochar (388.52 mg/g). The char was subsequently modified via ball milling to enhance its adsorption properties, and its adsorption capacity increased to 538.36 mg/g due to increased surface area, pore volume, and functional groups, despite a reduction in hydrophobicity. Characterization revealed that a higher sawdust ratio in co-pyrolysis feedstock significantly enhanced the char’s porosity and surface area, while the adsorption behavior was mainly associated with pore filling, hydrophobic interactions, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonding. The adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm. This study addressed the dual challenges of waste valorization and emulsified oily wastewater treatment by developing a cost-effective solution that offers practical implications for industrial-scale applications.