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Volume 2
Journal of Environmental Research
Page 45
JOINT EVENT
July 26-27, 2018 Rome, Italy
&
6
th
Edition of International Conference on
Water Pollution & Sewage Management
4
th
International Conference on
Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment
Mohammad B Ahmed et al., J Environ Res 2018, Volume: 2
Role of surface functional groups in functionalized biochar for environmental remediation of
antibiotics in single and competitive mode
Mohammad B Ahmed
1
, John L Zhou, Huu H Ngo
1
, Md. A H Johir
1
and
Dalel Belhaj
2
1
University of Technology Sydney, Australia
2
ENIS - University of Sfax, Tunisia
F
unctionalized biochar (fBC) was prepared through pyrolysis of woody biomass and functionalized using
o
H
3
PO
4
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 from water.
Recent Publications
1. Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, Hao Ngo, Md. Abu Hasan Johir and Kireesan Sornalingam (2018) Sorptive removal of
phenolic endocrine disruptors by functionalized biochar: competitive interaction mechanism, removal efficacy and
application in wastewater. Chem. Eng. J. 335:801-811.
2. AhmedMB, Zhou J L, NgoHH, GuoW, JohirMAH, SornalingamK and Sahedur RahmanM(2017) Chloramphenicol
interaction with functionalized biochar in water: sorptive mechanism, molecular imprinting effect and repeatable
application. Sci Total Environ. 609:885-895.
3. Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, John L Zhou, Huu Hao Ngo, Wenshan Guo, Md. Abu Hasan Johir and Dalel Belhaj
(2017) Competitive sorption affinity of sulfonamides and chloramphenicol antibiotics toward functionalized biochar
for water and wastewater treatment. Bioresour. Technol. 238:306-312.
4. Mohammad Boshir Ahmed, John L Zhou, Huu Hao Ngo, Wenshan Guo, Md. Abu Hasan Johir and Kireesan
Sornalingam (2017) Single and competitive sorption properties and mechanism of functionalized biochar for
removing sulfonamide antibiotics from water. Chem. Eng. J. 311:348-358.