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11 (1) 2021

Adsorption of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate onto rice husk biochar for nitrogen removal


Author - Affiliation:
Vo Thi Minh Thao - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Canh - Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology , Vietnam
Nguyen Lu Nguyet Hang - Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology , Vietnam
Nguyen Minh Khanh - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Nguyen Ngoc Phi - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Pham Thi Ai Niem - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Tran Tuan Anh - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Nguyen Thi Hanh Nguyen - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Nguyen Tan Duc - Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Corresponding author: Vo Thi Minh Thao - vothiminhthao1993@gmail.com
Submitted: 17-03-2021
Accepted: 24-03-2021
Published: 24-03-2021

Abstract
This study aims to investigate the adsorption capacity of ammonium NH4+, nitrite NO2- and nitrate NO3- onto rice husk biochar (RHB) obtained from 550 °C pyrolysis temperature in the context of using low-cost absorbent for recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Raw RHB at its original size 5–8 mm has been choosen for testing its adsorption capacity as well as several key material properties (pHPZC, surface area, and elemental analysis). From surface functional group analysis, there existed the O–H group (at frequency 3443 cm-1), –CH3 (2360 cm-1), and either –C=O or C=C group (in the range of frequency 1600–1650 cm-1) as well as –COOH (1456 cm‒1) that helped enhance chemical adsorption. The experimental adsorption data has been roughly consistent with Langmuir and Freundlich models that used to calculate the maximum saturated monolayer adsorption capacity Q0max of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate were 0.1003, 0.2477, and 0.1290 mg/g respectively. Therefore, RHB could be a potential candidate for biofilter application in both targets cost-efficient and sustainable that worth applied at scale.

Keywords
adsorption; biochar; Langmuir; Freundlich; nitrogen compound

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Cite this paper as:

Vo, T. M. T., Nguyen, T. C., Nguyen, L. N. H., Nguyen, M. K., Nguyen, N. P., Pham, T. A. N., Tran, T. A., Nguyen, T. H. N., & Nguyen, T. D. (2021). Adsorption of ammonium, nitrite, and nitrate onto rice husk biochar for nitrogen removal. Ho Chi Minh City Open University Journal of Science – Engineering and Technology, 11(1), 29-43. doi:10.46223/HCMCOUJS.tech.en.11.1.1622.2021


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