Abstract
A novel nitrogen-doped biochar embedded with cobalt (Co-NB) was fabricated via pyrolysis of glucose pretreated with melamine (N donor) and Co(II). The Co-NB showed high catalytic capability by converting p-nitrophenol (PNP) into p-aminophenol (PAP) by NaBH4. The analyses of FE-SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy XPS of the Co-NB showed hierarchical porous structure (BET 326.5 m2g− 1and pore volume: 0.2403 cm3g− 1) with well-dispersed Co nanoparticles (20–60 nm) on the N-doped graphitic biochar surface. The Co-NB showed higher PNP reduction capability compared to the Co-biochar without N-doping, achieving 94.3% removal within 4 min at 0.24 g L− 1catalyst dose and initial concentration of 0.35 mM PNP. Further conversion experiments under varying environmental conditions (e.g., NaBH4concentration (7.5–30 mM), biochar dosage (0.12–1.0 g L− 1), initial PNP concentration (0.08–0.17 mM)) were conducted in batch mode. The reusability of Co-NB was validated by the repetitive conversion experiments (5 cycles). The overall results demonstrated biochar potential as catalysts for environmental applications if properly designed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 103-110 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Science of the Total Environment |
Volume | 612 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 15 Jan 2018 |
Keywords
- Catalytic reduction
- Electron shuttle
- Engineered biochar
- Glucose
- Nitrogen doping
- p-Nitrophenol
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Chemistry
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Pollution