Boosting acetaminophen degradation in water by peracetic acid activation: A novel approach using chestnut shell-derived biochar at varied pyrolysis temperatures

Thi-Kim-Tuyen Nguyen; Thanh-Binh Nguyen; Chiu-Wen Chen; Wei-Hsin Chen; Xuan-Thanh Bui; Su Shiung Lam; Cheng-Di Dong

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2024.119143

Boosting acetaminophen degradation in water by peracetic acid activation: A novel approach using chestnut shell-derived biochar at varied pyrolysis temperatures

Environ Res. 2024 May 13;252(Pt 4):119143. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119143. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Thi-Kim-Tuyen Nguyen¹, Thanh-Binh Nguyen¹, Chiu-Wen Chen², Wei-Hsin Chen³, Xuan-Thanh Bui⁴, Su Shiung Lam⁵, Cheng-Di Dong⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan.
² Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan.
³ Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, 407, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, 411, Taiwan.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM), Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), 268 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam.
⁵ Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
⁶ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 38751000
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119143

Abstract

In this study, biochar derived from chestnut shells was synthesized through pyrolysis at varying temperatures from 300 °C to 900 °C. The study unveiled that the pyrolysis temperature is pivotal in defining the physical and chemical attributes of biochar, notably its adsorption capabilities and its role in activating peracetic acid (PAA) for the efficient removal of acetaminophen (APAP) from aquatic environments. Notably, the biochar processed at 900 °C, referred to as CN900, demonstrated an exceptional adsorption efficiency of 55.8 mg g^-1, significantly outperforming its counterparts produced at lower temperatures (CN300, CN500, and CN700). This enhanced performance of CN900 is attributed to its increased surface area, improved micro-porosity, and a greater abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups, which are a consequence of the elevated pyrolysis temperature. These oxygen-rich functional groups, such as carbonyls, play a crucial role in facilitating the decomposition of the O-O bond in PAA, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through electron transfer mechanisms. This investigation contributes to the development of sustainable and cost-effective materials for water purification, underscoring the potential of chestnut shell-derived biochar as an efficient adsorbent and catalyst for PAA activation, thereby offering a viable solution for environmental cleanup efforts.

Keywords: Acetaminophen; Adsorption; Biochar; Chestnut; Peracetic acid; Pyrolysis temperature.