Effect of sorption parameters on the removal of malachite green with modified Juniperus Excelsa cone biochar

Abstract

The use of biochar, which is a carbon-rich material obtained by pyrolysis of various organic raw materials for dye pollution in wastewater, is promising for the removal of dyes from wastewater. Modified biochars whose structures are changed are currently being investigated with many studies. In this study, Juniperus Excelsa (JE) cone, which is an economical and accessible tree species, was converted into biochar (JEB) and modified with iron (mJEB) and given magnetic properties. mJEB was characterized and its structure was investigated by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), X-Ray diffraction method (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and point of zero charge (pHPZC). Afterwards, the removal of malachite green (MG) dye by batch adsorption method was investigated in adsorption parameters such as pH, temperature, time, dosage, initial MG concentration. The results showed that MG adsorption with mJEB proceeded via pseudo-second-order (PSO), was an endothermic process and complied with the Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) in MG removal with mJEB was calculated as 38.023 mg/g. Our study will be an important step in dye removal studies with mJEB.