Ashebir, et al (2024) Prosopis Juliflora 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 for adsorption of sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin from pharmaceutical wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2024.100691

Pharmaceutical wastewater, often laden with antibiotic residues, poses significant environmental and public health challenges. Conventional treatment methods often fall short in effectively removing these contaminants. Recent research has explored the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material derived 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, as a promising solution.

In a recent study, biochar produced from the invasive plant species Prosopis juliflora was investigated for its potential to adsorb two common antibiotics—sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and ciprofloxacin (CIX)—from pharmaceutical wastewater. The biochar was created using a pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More process, where the plant material was subjected to high temperatures in an oxygen-limited environment. The resulting biochar was characterized by its high surface area and diverse functional groups, which are critical for effective adsorption.

The study found that the Prosopis juliflora biochar could remove up to 98.7% of SMZ and 97.8% of CIX from synthetic wastewater under optimal conditions. When applied to real pharmaceutical wastewater, the biochar reduced the concentration of CIX and SMZ by 80.4% and 76.7%, respectively. The adsorption process was best described by the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating a homogeneous and monolayer adsorption surface. Additionally, the adsorption kinetics were well explained by a pseudo-second-order model, suggesting that chemical interactions played a significant role in the process.

This research highlights the potential of Prosopis juliflora biochar as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly adsorbent for treating pharmaceutical wastewater. It underscores the importance of continued exploration into biochar and other sustainable materials for environmental remediation efforts.