In a recent publication in Scientific Reports, a team of researchers including Wei Gao, Yue Shi, Yu Zhou, Jinyang Jia, and Siji Chen, unveiled a promising approach to water purification: high-performance biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More produced from Clivia miniata leaves. This innovative material, referred to as BCL-K-H, demonstrates significantly enhanced properties for removing common water pollutants. Biochar, a carbon-rich material created from biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More, is already known for its large surface area and porous structure, making it a good adsorbent. However, this study takes its capabilities a step further through a specialized pretreatment process.

The researchers utilized Clivia miniata leaves (CL), a type of garden waste, as their feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More. To boost the biochar’s effectiveness, CL underwent a two-step pretreatment involving alkali hydrolysis followed by acid hydrolysis. This process is crucial because it breaks down the dense wood fiber structure of the leaves, which would otherwise limit the biochar’s performance. The pretreated material was then converted into biochar through carbonization and activation.

The results of this modification were substantial. The specific surface area of the treated biochar (BCL-K-H) dramatically increased from 3052.12 square meters per gram (m2/g) to 3555.31 m2/g. Similarly, the total pore volume expanded from 1.94 cubic centimeters per gram (cm3/g) to 2.91 cm3/g. These enhancements in surface area and pore volume are critical because they provide more sites for pollutants to attach to. Furthermore, the characterization of BCL-K-H revealed a significant presence of reactive functional groups like hydroxyl, hydrocarbon, and carboxyl groups on its surface. These groups are active sites that readily bind with pollutants, further boosting the adsorption capacity.

To test the practical application of their enhanced biochar, the researchers investigated its ability to remove tetracycline hydrochloride (TH), a common antibiotic, and Rhodamine B (RhB), a synthetic dye, from water. The findings were impressive: BCL-K-H achieved a maximum adsorption capacity of 1436.56 milligrams per gram (mg/g) for TH and an even higher 1505.47 mg/g for RhB. These figures represent a significant improvement over traditional biochar materials.

The adsorption process itself was found to align with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. This suggests that the adsorption involves chemical interactions, such as electron transfer between the pollutant and the biochar, and occurs on a heterogeneous surface with multiple layers of adsorption. Thermodynamic studies also revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, meaning it absorbs heat, which is typical for chemisorption.

Moreover, the BCL-K-H biochar demonstrated excellent reusability. Even after 10 cycles of adsorption and desorption, the removal rate for both TH and RhB remained above 60%. This highlights the material’s stability and potential for long-term use in water treatment systems. The authors attribute this sustained performance to a combination of mechanisms, including pore filling, pi-pi interactions, electrostatic attraction, and hydrogen bonding between the biochar and the pollutants.

This research presents a viable and sustainable strategy for producing high-performance biochar from readily available garden waste. The enhanced adsorption capabilities, coupled with good reusability, position BCL-K-H as a promising material for addressing water pollution challenges, offering an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for removing various contaminants from water bodies.

Source: Gao, W., Shi, Y., Zhou, Y., Jia, J., & Chen, S. (2025). Biochar with further enhanced properties prepared by acid–base combined pretreatment for removal of water pollutants. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 19432.