Removal of acenaphthene by biochar and raw biomass with coexisting heavy metal and phenanthrene

Rice bran, bamboo and the biochar derived from them were used as four sorbents for the removal of acenaphthene from aqueous solution. The effects of coexisting metal ions and organic compounds on their sorption performances were investigated. The sorption capacity of acenaphthene by biochar prepared from rice bran and bamboo was significantly higher than the raw biomass. The coexisting Cu 2+ and Cr(VI) both inhibited the sorption of acenaphthene by the biochar, whereas the sorption of acenaphthene by the biomass was less affected by the coexisting ions. The coexisting phenanthrene exhibited obvious competition with acenaphthene on the biochar, but it showed no competition with acenaphthene on the biomass. The partition process was a dominate sorption mechanism for acenaphthene on the biomass, which was not easily affected by the coexisting substances. Both partition and surface adsorption were enabled for acenaphthene on the biochar, and the latter was more affected by coexisting heavy metals and organic compounds.