A bio-based carbon rich material for efficient remediation of environmental hazardous

Spruce bark, a waste from forestry and wood industry, represent a valuable resource. Subjected to biorefinery, this feedstock leads to separation of extractibles and final conversion products. The main final product is biochar, a rich carbon material that could be efficient in environmental remediation. This study assessed the lead uptake capacity of biochar. The total Pb uptake was a quite fast process (120 min), for a sorbent dose of 0.25 g/L and pH 5. The kinetic was properly described by pseudo-second-order model. Further developments are open considering activation/functionalization of biochar as well as other hazardous pollutants and competitors’ uptake.