Title: Activated multifunctional nanoparticle biochar for highly efficient capture and removal of Ni(II) and micro-organisms from water samples

Authors: Felix Sunday Nworie; Frank I. Nwabue; Eucharia Nwoke

Addresses: Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria ' Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria ' Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract: World Health Organization projected that over two billion people around the globe depend on water sources contaminated with heavy metals and microbes. To find a low cost and environmentally friendly method of handling the challenges associated with unsafe drinking water this study reports the preparation, activation, characterisation, immobilisation and removal of pathogenic organisms from water using multifunctional nanoparticle derived from biomass of plantain peel. The activated and immobilised biochar were characterised using FTIR, XRD, BET, SEM. Effect of extraneous variables such as pH, initial Ni(II) ion concentration was studied and applied in determining the mechanism of sorption which was mainly by ion exchange with minor chelation. Antimicrobial evaluation of the biochar and its immobilised counterpart indicated that they have high potential to be used as microbial agents.

Keywords: biochar; immobilisation; plantain peel; micro-organisms; Ni(II); mechanism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2024.137965

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2024 Vol.33 No.4, pp.422 - 437

Accepted: 17 Aug 2021
Published online: 12 Apr 2024 *

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