Hello
In my experiment, I have found that the same removal efficiency of organic pollutant by biochar with and without oxidant at 20min. So, I suspect that there might be oxidation took place in biochar without oxidant. Can you suggest me the method to identify oxidation occurred in the biochar without oxidant?
Hi Aimal Khan ,
can you provide further details regarding the oxidant, presence of catalyst, the organic pollutant, the temperature and pH of the solution?
In your experiments with and without oxidant, biochar was always present right? If correct you should include two additional tests to your experimental design, organic pollutant only (no biochar, no oxidant) and organic pollutant + oxidant only (no biochar).
If concentration of organic pollutant only remains constant throughout the experimental period you can rule out precipitation, photo-oxidation, adsorption onto reactor wall, volatilisation and other phenomena.
If concentration of organic pollutant in presence of oxidant does not change throughout the experiment period this suggest that the activation energy required for the oxidant to work is insufficient. If the redox reaction is pH dependent it may also suggest that the pH used in your solution is not suitable.
If concentration of organic pollutant decreases in presence of biochar and organic concentration in both controls remains constant you can be quite confident that the biochar has adsorbed the organic pollutant. However, you need to ensure that your biochar does not release minerals or condensate into the solution which could induce other phenomena.
Hope this helps?
All the best, Rob.
Hi Robert Thomas Bachmann
Thank you Sir, I am glad with your detailed suggestions and helpful advice. So, i will perform those experiments for further confirmation.
With regards,
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