Biochar for Enhanced Surface Water Quality

Biochar can be used to adsorb contaminants of concern such as aqueous metals in surface water. Biochar is derived from biomass or organic material such as agricultural by-products, forestry by-products, or by-products from the livestock industry. The focus of this project was to treat metal laden water with a sustainable biochar adsorbent in mining influenced areas of the southwestern U.S. Three biomass sources were chosen for producing biochar: ponderosa pine timber waste, hemp stalks, and cattle bones. All three feedstock sources were chosen based on their abundance in the southwestern U.S. The material characteristics of each biochar were assessed using N
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-physisorption, Scanning Electron Micrographs, and X-Ray powder Diffraction. Isothermal adsorption experiments involving solutions of aqueous metals in acidic water were conducted to compare adsorption capacities and to test the overall effectiveness of biochar's applicable adsorption capabilities. This was demonstrated with a bench-scale water treatment system designed to handle the passive flow of water. Moreover, a full-scale application was conceived for an active mine site located in the southwestern U.S.