Adsorption of Tetracycline by Ammonium Molybdate Modified Chinese Fir Biochars

Abstract

Tetracycline (TC) adsorption amount on original wood biochar was finitely, so modification is imperative to improve its adsorption capacity. This study mixed chinese fir sawdust with ammonium molybdate to prepare a modified chinese fir biochar (MCB) via pyrolysis at 800 °C. Meanwhile, pristine chinese fir biochar (CB) was produced as control. The effects of pH, adsorption time, initial concentration and adsorbent dosage on the adsorption process were also studied. Langmuir model and quasi second-order kinetic model were used describe the characteristics of adsorption process. The optimally capacity of TC adsorption on MCB reached 36 mg/g, which was 6 – fold increase to CB. Therefore, modification by ammonium molybdate can be used as a potential way of chinese fir sawdust biochar for increasing adsorption capacity of TC from antibiotic sewage water.