Oxidised Biochar from Palm Kernel Shell for Eco-friendly Pollution Management

Sylbialin Amin; Robert Thomas Bachmann; Soon Kong Yong

doi:10.24191/srj.v17i2.10001

Sylbialin Amin Soil Assessment and Remediation Research Group, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Robert Thomas Bachmann Green Chemistry & Sustainable Engineering Technology Cluster, Section of Environmental and Polymer Engineering Technology, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, 78000 Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
Soon Kong Yong Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24191/srj.v17i2.10001

Abstract

Oil palm plantations produce palm kernel shell (PKS) that can be converted into biochar for environment-friendly soil remediation and water treatment. Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) may enhance surface characteristics and the quality of low-rank PKS biochar as a sorbent for environmental decontamination. This study aims to determine the effect of oxidation on the surface characteristics (i.e., specific surface area, surface charge, and chemical properties) of PKS biochar, and compared with that of PKS activated carbon. The surface area for the oxidised PKS biochar was similar to that of PKS biochar, indicating that oxidation did not remove the pore blocking material from the surface area of the PKS biochar. However, oxidation has increased the amount of negatively charged oxygen functional groups in PKS biochar, as indicated by the analyses of the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The CEC value of raw and activated PKS biochar were similar and 4.6 and 2.6 times lower for PKS biochar and oxidised PKS biochar, respectively. Oxidation caused enlargement of pores on PKS biochar and caused a reduction of specific surface area. More research is required to establish the process conditions to create a greater surface area and sorption capacity.

Author Biography

Soon Kong Yong, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Yong Soon Kong is currently holds the position of a Lecturer at the Faculty of Applied Science. His research interests are inorganic synthesis and environmental remediation with value-added agricultural waste materials. Modified agriculture wastes were used in the sorption/immobilization of toxic metal ions from contaminated soil/water. The waste modification process includes introduction of metal-binding ligands such as imines, dithiocarbamate, thiourea, etc.. Dr Yong has studied metal sorption of sulfur-modifed chitosan beads from aqueous systems. He has also collaborated in utilizing waste materials from mushroom for remediaition of metal-contaminated wastewater. His research interests are environmental remediation with value-added agricultural waste materials. Modified agriculture wastes were used in the sorption/immobilization of toxic metal ions from contaminated soil/water. The waste modification process includes introduction of metal-binding ligands such as imines, dithiocarbamate, thiourea, etc.. Dr Yong studies the sorption performance of sulfur-modifed chitosan beads on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn ions from aqueous systems.