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. 2025 Feb 25;30(5):1048.
doi: 10.3390/molecules30051048.

A Study on the Oxidative Functionalization of a Poplar Biochar

Antonella Di Vincenzo  1 , Ettore Madonia  2 , Calogero Librici  2 , Paola Bambina  2 , Delia Chillura Martino  1 , Susanna Guernelli  3 , Paolo Lo Meo  1 , Pellegrino Conte  2
Affiliations

A Study on the Oxidative Functionalization of a Poplar Biochar

Antonella Di Vincenzo et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

This study investigates the functionalization of a poplar biochar (PB), obtained by high-temperature pyrolysis, under oxidative conditions typically used in organic synthesis. In particular, concentrated nitric acid, a sulfonitric mixture and a piranha mixture were applied as oxidants at different temperatures and reaction times. In order to assess the outcome of the reaction conditions on the characteristics of the resultant products, these were characterized by a combination of imaging (SEM), spectroscopic (ATR-FTIR, RAMAN) and FFC-NMR relaxometric techniques. The latter techniques, rationalized in terms of the Kohlrausch-type stretched exponential kinetic model, were analyzed using a recently developed heuristic Monte Carlo method, providing insights into the water dynamics within material pore networks. Additionally, the water-holding capacity of the modified biochars and their abilities to adsorb some model dyes were evaluated. The results clarify the relationship between oxidative treatment conditions and biochar properties, highlighting their impact on both structural modifications and water dynamics within the porous network, and enabling us to identify the best reaction conditions for optimizing the features of the oxidized product.

Keywords: FFC-NMR relaxometry; adsorption; biochar; oxidation; piranha mixture; sulfonitric mixture.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selected SEM micrographs for materials PB (a), A5 (b), B7 (c,f), B2 (d), and B4 (e).
Figure 2
Figure 2
ATR-FTIR spectrum of PB.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Superimposed ATR-FTIR spectra of the materials in the 1800–800 cm−1 region: (a) PB, A1–A7, C; (b) B1–B7.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Superimposed Raman spectra of PB, A3, A5, B4 and B7.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Relaxometric data for material B7: (a) NMRD curve; (b) IIT curve (Equation (3)) from Monte Carlo analysis.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Structures of the dyes used as model pollutants for the adsorption tests.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Histograms depicting the adsorption test results at pH 4.4 (left) and 6.7 (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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