Highly efficient and magnetically separable palm seed-based biochar for the removal of nickel

Abstract

Magnetic biocomposite (MB) was fabricated by co-precipitation of palm seed-based biochar in the presence of Fe3O4 particles. The MB sorption behaviour was investigated using nickel as the target pollutant. The MB characterisation revealed that its maintained micro-mesoporous character and high saturation magnetisation (65.8 Am-2/kg) enable it to be separated from a solution using a magnet. The nickel removal efficiency of MB, 87% (28 mg/g), was achieved at pH 3; however, this was reduced to 45-75% (15-24 mg/g) in the presence of competing ions. The isotherms and kinetics studies revealed a monolayer interaction via a two-stepped sorption mechanism.