Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies of Ammonia Adsorption onto Sugarcane Biochar at Low Concentration
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/sjmars.5.5.5Keywords:
ammonia adsorption, sugarcane biochar, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, low concentration, water treatmentAbstract
Ammoniacal nitrogen is a pervasive aquatic contaminant that threatens aquatic life, compromises disinfection, and drives eutrophication, yet most adsorption studies address concentrations far above those found in natural waters and polished effluents. This study evaluates sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar (SCBC), pyrolysed at [500] °C, as a low-cost adsorbent for ammonia removal at low initial concentrations ([2–30] mg L-1). The biochar was characterised by proximate analysis, pHpzc, BET, FTIR, and XRD, and batch experiments examined the effects of pH, dose, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature. Kinetic data were interpreted using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intraparticle diffusion models, and equilibrium data using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherms, with model suitability judged by R2, chi-square, and RMSE. Optimum removal of [82]% occurred at pH [7] with a dose of [2] g L-1, and equilibrium was reached within approximately [120] min. The pseudo-second-order model (R2 = [0.998]) and the Langmuir isotherm (R2 = [0.999]) provided the best fits, yielding a maximum monolayer capacity of [12.7] mg g-1. Thermodynamic analysis indicated a spontaneous and endothermic process, and the mean free energy of [10.2] kJ mol-1 pointed to ion exchange, complemented by electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and pore filling. The biochar retained [about 77]% of its efficiency after [five] regeneration cycles. These findings demonstrate that sugarcane biochar is a sustainable, economical option for polishing ammonia-contaminated water at low concentration, while valorising agricultural residue.
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