Abstract

The use of biomass, especially waste biomass, as an alternative energy source is a very important issue today. Pyrolysis is a process of thermal degradation of raw material and one of its products is biochar. This product is mainly distinguished by its high carbon content, and by improving its quality through activation, it can be more widely used. Activated biocarbon has a strongly developed surface and porous structure, and as an adsorbent, it can be used as a pollutant sorbent. Chemical activation is one way of improving the quality of carbon materials by applying high temperature and an activator, e.g. KOH. This method allows to obtain sorption materials with the highly developed specific surface area of more than 1100 m2 /g. Another important parameter characterizing activated carbons is the adsorption capacity of the model pollutant by the analyzed sorbent, which allows quantifying the ability to adsorb an organic compound from an aqueous solution. Pyrolysis of waste biomass, which consisted of corn cobs (without kernels) and cherry kernels, was performed. The results of the study of the adsorption capacity of organic pollutants from the aqueous phase by the activated with potassium hydroxide biocarbons are presented. An aqueous solution of Rhodamine B was used as a model pollutant. The effect of waste biomass type on the adsorption capacity of organic pollutant is discussed based on the study.

Authors (5)