Understanding Activation Effects on Low-Temperature Biochar for Optimization of Herbicide Sorption
2019
Beatriz Gámiz | Kathleen Hall | Kurt A. Spokas | Lucia Cox
Activation treatments are often used as a means of increasing a biochar’s sorption capacity for agrochemical compounds but can also provide valuable insight into sorption mechanisms. This work investigates the effects of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> activation on a low-temperature (350 °C) grape wood biochar, evaluates subsequent changes to the removal efficiency (RE) of cyhalofop and clomazone, and elucidates potential sorption mechanisms. Activation by H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> decreased the biochar pH, ash content, and C content. Additionally, the biochar O content and surface area increased following activation, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data suggested a slight increase in surface O groups and a decrease in aliphatic C. Cyhalofop RE significantly increased following activation, while clomazone RE was unchanged. The increased sorption of cyhalofop was attributed to pH effects and charge-based interactions with biochar O moieties. Results from this study suggest that H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> activation treatments on low-temperature biochars may improve the removal of organic acid herbicides but are of little value in optimizing the removal of polar, non-ionizable herbicides.
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