Efficient Removal of Organic Pollutants Using Magnetic Biochar Derived from Corn Husk
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Abstract
The development of cost-effective and sustainable adsorbents for dye-contaminated wastewater remains a critical environmental challenge. In this study, a magnetic biochar composite (M/BCH) was synthesized from corn husk biomass through FeCl3 impregnation followed by pyrolysis at 600 °C for 4 h. The physicochemical characteristics of the pristine biochar (BCH) and the magnetic composite were systematically investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDS, and N2 adsorption–desorption techniques. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of Fe2O3 into the carbon matrix, while SEM/EDS mapping revealed uniform Fe distribution (~12 wt.%). Textural analysis showed that Fe2O3 deposition reduced the BET surface area and pore volume, indicating partial pore occupation. The adsorption performance of BCH and M/BCH for methylene blue (MB) and methyl red (MR) was evaluated over varying contact times, initial concentrations, adsorbent dosages, and shaking speeds. BCH exhibited relatively higher MB adsorption, attributed to its higher surface area and mesoporous structure, whereas M/BCH showed higher MR removal compared to BCH due to modified surface chemistry, improved electrostatic interactions, and additional mechanisms such as complexation and π–π interactions. The M/BCH composite reached adsorption equilibrium within 120 min and showed increasing dye uptake with higher adsorbent dosage and shaking speed. Importantly, its magnetic properties enabled rapid and efficient post-treatment separation. Overall, the findings demonstrate that corn husk-derived M/BCH was an effective, multifunctional, magnetically separable adsorbent with potential for wastewater treatment applications.
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