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. 2022 Apr 20;12(1):6507.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-10165-4.

Biochar from fungiculture waste for adsorption of endocrine disruptors in water

Raquel Andrade Leite Vieira  1 , Thaisa Borim Pickler  1 , Talita Cristina Mena Segato  1 , Angela Faustino Jozala  2 , Denise Grotto  3
Affiliations

Biochar from fungiculture waste for adsorption of endocrine disruptors in water

Raquel Andrade Leite Vieira et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The agricultural residues are ecofriendly alternatives for removing contaminants from water. In this way, a novel biochar from the spent mushroom substrate (SMS) was produced and assessed to remove endocrine disruptor from water in batch and fixed-bed method. SMS were dried, ground, and pyrolyzed. Pyrolysis was carried out in three different conditions at 250 and 450 °C, with a residence time of 1 h, and at 600 °C with a residence time of 20 min. The biochar was firstly tested in a pilot batch with 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and progesterone. The residual concentrations of the endocrine disruptors were determined by HPLC. The biochar obtained at 600 °C showed the best removal efficiency results. Then, adsorption parameters (isotherm and kinetics), fixed bed tests and biochar characterization were carried out. The Langmuir model fits better to progesterone while the Freundlich model fits better to EE2. The Langmuir model isotherm indicated a maximum adsorption capacity of 232.64 mg progesterone/g biochar, and 138.98 mg EE2/g biochar. Images from scanning electrons microscopy showed that the 600 °C biochar presented higher porosity than others. In the fixed bed test the removal capacity was more than 80% for both endocrine disruptors. Thus, the biochar showed a good and viable option for removal of contaminants, such as hormones.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Images of scanning electron microscopy of Spent Mushroom Substrate (SMS), before pyrolysis (A). Biochar from SMS after pyrolysis at (B) 250 °C, (C) 450 °C and (D) 600 °C. In (E) X-ray diffraction patterns of the biochar at 600 °C; in (F) Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra of the biochar at 600 °C; in (G) Behavior of pH for the pHPZC test for the biochar pyrolyzed at 600 °C. The white arrow shows the blisters in the biochar at 600 °C.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Removal efficiency over time of 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and progesterone.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kinetic adsorption of the biochar for 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and progesterone.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Breakthrough curves of the pyrolyzed biochar for 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and progesterone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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