Optimization and mechanistic insights pertaining to cadmium removal using the biochar derived from waste mushroom logs
摘要
This study explores the feasibility of using biochar derived from discarded oak mushroom logs (OMB) for the remove of cadmium (Cd) from industrial wastewater. OMB was produced through pyrolysis of the oak mushroom logs at temperatures of 500, 600, and 700 °C, and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. Subsequently, batch adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of pyrolysis temperature, reaction time, and Cd concentration on Cd adsorption efficiency. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models were used to investigate the adsorption kinetics, with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models were applied to fit the equilibrium adsorption data. Among the tested biochars, OMB–500 demonstrated the highest Cd adsorption capacity of 41.07 mg/g. Kinetic analysis indicated that the adsorption was predominantly governed by chemisorption. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the adsorption conditions, considering pH, biochar dose, reaction time, and ionic strength as the key environmental variables. Spectroscopic and experimental investigations revealed that Cd adsorption occurred via surface complexation and ion exchange interactions with oxygen-containing functional groups. These findings suggest that OMB is a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to commercial adsorbents for Cd removal from wastewater.