Tailoring the difference - Tailored biochars for sustainable water treatment: Customizing adsorbents for specific applications

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School of Engineering | Doctoral thesis (article-based) | Defence date: 2023-10-06
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Date

2023

Department

Rakennetun ympäristön laitos
Department of Built Environment

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Mcode

Degree programme

Language

en

Pages

51 + app. 65

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Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL THESES, 146/2023

Abstract

The rapid development of modern society increased the demand for sustainable resource use and switch from fossil resources to greener naturally based alternatives. Together with the world, the water treatment field is looking for ways to implement environmentally friendly solutions and reduce emissions. One of process optimization directions is substitution of activated carbon for adsorption process. Activated carbon is produced from fossil coal, which excavation and transportation have a significant carbon footprint. A potential alternative material for activated carbon is a carbonous adsorbent produced from locally available and renewable biomass, also called biochar. However, the adsorptive properties of biochar cannot compete with the conventional activated carbon and thus require improvement. The adsorptive properties can be improved via manipulation and adjustment of biochar production conditions. This adjustment process is called tailoring. The systematic understanding of the tailoring possibilities is missing despite the extensive research on biochar modification.   This dissertation attempts to introduce insights in the knowledge gaps about tailoring and produce a big-picture vision on the process. Due to the broadness of the topic, the dissertation has its boundaries. It focuses on the main factors which affect biochar properties, namely biomass, activation method and temperature control. The compiled from four articles study describes how each production factor affect the final properties of the produced adsorbent, and what challenges they introduce to the tailoring process. Moreover, the dissertation emphasizes how the connection of production factors within the tailoring process can improve the tailored biochar properties. To study the properties of the tailored biochar, the study uses batch adsorption method and utilizes scanning electron microscopy and specific BET surface area measurements for characterization.   Finally, dissertation reflects on the implications of the tailoring process in the future. The improvement of biochar properties via the implementation of tailoring in the biochar production process will make biochar an attractive green substitute for activated carbon on adsorbents market. The local availability and optimized production process of tailored biochar would benefit the water treatment field environmentally and economically. Yet, at this moment the tailoring is a theoretical concept which is studied mostly in laboratory scale. The practical implementation of tailoring is not possible without a structured understanding of the process and consideration of the possible limitations. Thereby, mainly the options for further investigation are gathered in the study.

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Supervising professor

Vahala, Riku, Prof., Aalto University, Department of Built Environment, Finland

Thesis advisor

Yazdani, Maryam Roza, Aalto University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Finland

Keywords

adsorption, activated carbon, biochar, biomass, engineered adsorbent, tailoring, water treatment

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Parts

  • [Publication 1]: Tomin, O., Yazdani, M.R., 2023. Bio-based activated carbon from husk- and wood-based biomass: comparison of carbon activation methods on organic pollutants removal. Water Practice and Technology wpt2023019.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202303152401
    DOI: 10.2166/wpt.2023.019 View at publisher
  • [Publication 2]: Tomin, O., Vahala, R., Yazdani, M.R., 2023. Synthesis and efficiency comparison of reed straw-based biochar as a mesoporous adsorbent for ionic dyes removal. Submitted to Heliyon in August 2023.
  • [Publication 3]: Tomin, O., Vahala, R., Yazdani, M.R., 2021. Tailoring metal-impregnated biochars for selective removal of natural organic matter and dissolved phosphorus from the aqueous phase. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 328, 111499.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202111049982
    DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2021.111499 View at publisher
  • [Publication 4]: Tomin, O., Yazdani, M.R., 2022. Production and characterization of porous magnetic biochar: before and after phosphate adsorption insights. Journal of Porous Materials 29, 849–859.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202205173250
    DOI: 10.1007/s10934-022-01217-1 View at publisher

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https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-64-1429-4

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[diss] Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu / ENG