Nguyen, et al (2024) Degradation of tetracycline in water using hydrogen peroxide activated by soybean residue-derived magnetic 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. Water Science and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2024.10.001

Antibiotic pollution, especially tetracycline (TC), is an increasing environmental concern due to its persistent residues in water sources, contributing to antibiotic resistance. A recent study investigated an innovative solution: using magnetic biochar derived from soybean residues to degrade tetracycline in water via a Fenton-like reaction with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂).

The research developed this magnetic biochar, termed Fe-SoyB, by incorporating goethite (α-FeOOH) into soybean residue biochar, which provides a cost-effective and sustainable waste reuse strategy. Key parameters impacting the TC degradation process, including pHpH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline a substance is. A pH of 7 is neutral, while lower pH values indicate acidity and higher values indicate alkalinity. Biochars are normally alkaline and can influence soil pH, often increasing it, which can be beneficial More, H₂O₂ concentration, and Fe-SoyB dosage, were optimized. The best results were observed at a pH of 3, an H₂O₂ concentration of 245 mmol/L, and a biochar dose of 0.75 g/L, where the system achieved up to 90% TC removal within 150 minutes.

The Fe-SoyB catalyst also demonstrated substantial reusability, maintaining nearly 80% efficiency over three cycles, making it a viable option for practical applications. While its effectiveness slightly decreased in real water samples, likely due to competing substances, it still achieved respectable removal rates, suggesting potential use in wastewater treatment.

This soybean-derived magnetic biochar presents a promising, environmentally friendly approach to tackling antibiotic contamination in water, potentially enhancing sustainable practices in water treatment. Future research is recommended to explore its efficiency across various pollutants and water conditions.