Microporous Biocarbons Derived from Inonotus obliquus Mushroom and Their Application in the Removal of Liquid and Gaseous Impurities

Abstract

Biocarbons were obtained by physical and chemical activation of the residue of the extraction of chaga fungi (Inonotus obliquus). The residue was subjected to heat treatment carried out in a microwave oven and in a quartz tubular reactor. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, determination of pH, and the contents of acidic and basic oxygen functional groups on the surface of biocarbons by the Boehm method. The final biocarbon adsorbents have surface areas varying from 521–1004 m2/g. The physical activation of the precursor led to a strongly basic character of the surface. Chemical activation of Inonotus obliquus promoted the generation of acid functional groups. All biocarbons were used for methyl red sodium salt adsorption from the liquid phase. The sorption capacities of biocarbons towards the organic dye studied varied from 77 to 158 mg/g. The Langmuir model was found to better describe the experimental results. The results of the kinetic analysis showed that the adsorption of methyl red sodium salt on the biocarbons followed the pseudo-second-order model. The acidic environment was conducive to the adsorption of the dye on the obtained biocarbons. Moreover, thermodynamic studies confirmed that the organic dye adsorption on the biocarbons was a spontaneous endothermic process. The biocarbons obtained were also tested as adsorbents of hydrogen sulfide in dry and wet conditions. The sorption capacities towards hydrogen sulfide varied in the range of 21.9–77.9 mg. The results have shown that the adsorption of hydrogen sulfide depends on the process conditions and the activation procedure of biocarbons (method of activation and thermochemical treatment of samples). It has been shown that the initial material used can be a new precursor for obtaining cheap and—more importantly—universal bioadsorbents characterized by high effectiveness in the removal of air and water pollutants.