Mohammad Boshir Ahmed
University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Title: Role of surface functional groups in functionalized biochar for environmental remediation of antibiotics in single and competitive mode
Biography
Biography: Mohammad Boshir Ahmed
Abstract
Functionalized biochar (fBC) was prepared through pyrolysis of woody biomass and functionalized using oH3PO4 acid. Characterizations of fBC were carried out using Fourier Transmittance Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ζ potential measurement, and scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. FTIR result revealed that fBC contained –OH, -CH, C=O, C=C and –COOH functional groups, whereas Raman spectra clearly indicated the development of highly disordered structure (e.g. C-O, D band) along with graphitic structure (C=C i.e. G band) with increased intensity ratio (ID/IG). XPS result also confirmed that the present of C=C (at 284.8 eV), C-O (at 286.3 eV), C=O (at 287.8 eV), and -COOH (at 289.0 eV). ζ potential value was found to be at pH ~2.5. SEM showed development of microspore structure onto fBC surface. EDS data suggested that fBC mostly contained carbon (~75%), oxygen (~10%), nitrogen and phosphorous. The application of fBC at different pH to remove emerging contaminants antibiotics such as sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfamethazine (SMT), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and chloramphenicol (CP) antibiotics in both single and competitive mode from water was found very effective. Maximum sorption capacity was observed at the pH range of 4.0-5.0 for all antibiotics. Functional groups of fBC played a vital role for removing those antibiotics at different pH. H-bond formation, π-π electron donor acceptor and electrostatic interactions were the main sorption mechanisms at different pH. The application of prepared fBC for treatment of antibiotics from different water and wastewater was successful. Therefore, fBC is a potent sorbent for removing antibiotics