Batch and continuous reactor studies for the adsorption of As(III) from wastewater using a hybrid biochar loaded with transition metal oxides: Kinetics and mass transfer analysis

As(III) presence in low concentration (1-5 mg/L) in water presents a challenging problem in its removal. In the present study, biochar prepared by the pyrolysis of mustard cake and loaded with Fe-Mn binary oxides through hydrothermal technique was used for adsorptive removal of As(III) from water in batch and continuous modes. The synthesised biochar exhibited mesoporous structures in the range of 2-50 nm (based on BET analysis). The maximum adsorption capacity (95.7 mg/g) obtained using biochar loaded with both Fe-Mn oxides was found to be 1.4 times higher than that of pristine biochar. The adsorption equilibria was best described by Freundlich isotherm (based on R2 and χ2) suggesting that the As(III) adsorption was multilayered. The external mass transfer coefficients (βL = 10-5 cm2/s) were observed to be higher than the film (Df = 10-7 – 10-9 cm2/s) and intraparticle (Di = 10-9 cm2/s) diffusivities in batch mode. In column studies, Thomas model gave the best correlation coefficient (R2 > 0.95) and the adsorption was limited by external mass transfer. Kinetic rate constant decreased with increase in initial As(III) concentration and flow rate. The oxide loaded biochar exhibited reusability up to three times for As(III) removal.