Insights into the mechanism of methylene blue removed by novel and classic biochars

The adsorption behavior and the underlying mechanism of methylene blue (MB) sorption on biochars prepared from different feedstocks at 500 °C were evaluated. The biochar feedstocks included Magnolia grandiflora Linn. leaves biochar (MBC), pomelo (Citrus grandis) peel biochar (PBC) and badam shell biochar (BBC). The results of characterizing and analyzing the samples showed that different biochars had different effects on the adsorption of MB. It could be found that MBC had the best adsorption effect on MB due to its largest average pore diameter of 5.55 nm determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. Under the optimal conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities of BBC, PBC and MBC were 29.7, 85.15 and 99.3 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that the amount of adsorption was affected by the pH value. The maximum adsorption capacity of MBC was 46.99 mg/g when it was at pH of 3, whereas for the same experimental conditions the maximum adsorption capacity of BBC and PBC was 25.29 mg/g at pH of 11 and 36.08 mg/g at pH of 7, respectively. Therefore, MBC was found to be a most efficient low-cost adsorbentl for dye wastewater treatment compared with BBC and PBC, and it had the best removal effect under acidic conditions.