Optimization of atrazine and imidacloprid removal from water using biochars: Designing single or multi-staged batch adsorption systems

BackgroundContamination of surface and ground water by pesticides from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge is one of the main causes of aqueous contaminations world over. Biochar, agricultural waste derived highly aromatic substance produced after pyrolysis and carbonification of biomass have exhibited good adsorption capacity for pesticides and can be used to develop on-site bio-purification systems for organic contaminant removal from polluted waters. However, high amounts of adsorbent required in single stage-batch sorption plant increases the cost of water treatment; therefore, multistage plant systems were investigated.MethodsNormal (RSBC) and phosphoric acid treated (T-RSBC) rice straw biochars were evaluated for atrazine and imidacloprid sorption and data fitted to the Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption data was modelled to develop single or multi-staged adsorber plants for pesticide removal from water.ResultsBoth biochars showed significantly high adsorption capacity for imidacloprid and atrazine. Modelling studies using the Freundlich adsorption parameters suggested that the amounts (kg/1000 L) of RSBC and T-RSBC for 95% of atrazine removal (10 mg/L) in single-, two- and three-staged adsorber plant models were 8.84, 2.44, 1.61 kg and 4.47, 1.42, 0.98 kg, respectively. Corresponding amounts for 95% imidacloprid removal (10 mg/L) were 3.97, 1.22, 0.84 kg and 3.98, 1.38, 0.96 kg, respectively. Thus, the two-staged model suggested 65-72% reduction in amount of adsorbent required over the single stage model, while the three-staged model suggested 30-34% adsorbent saving over the two-staged plant model. Single and two-staged adsorber plant model findings were validated for atrazine removal using T-RSBC. Results suggested that amounts calculated using modelling studies were fairly accurate.ConclusionBiochars, as low cost adsorbents for atrazine and imidacloprid removal from contaminated water, can be used to develop low cost adsorber plants based on multiple batch sorption systems for the removal of these pesticides. Upscaled use of the 2-stage adsorber plant model will substantially reduce the cost of the treatment process, especially at pesticide concentration <10 mg/L as lesser amounts of biochar will be used for treatment process.