Application of KOH modified seaweed hydrochar as a biosorbent of vanadium from aqueous solution: characterisations, mechanisms and regeneration capacity

Vanadium exists as a mobile and toxic trace metal in many alkaline residue leachates. Its removal and recovery not only reduces a global environmental risk but is also critical to the emergence of innovative technologies and the circular economy. In parallel, the use of treated biomass feedstock is receiving increased attention as a low cost adsorbent for toxic metals in wastewater. This study investigated the adsorption of Vanadium (V) from aqueous solution by KOH modified seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) hydrochar (HCKOH). The results showed that HCKOH is an effective V(V) adsorbent, achieving maximum uptake of 12.3mgg−1 at solution pH 4, 60min contact time and temperature 293K. The kinetics followed a pseudo second order model with film diffusion controlling the overall adsorption rate. The type I adsorption isotherm was well fitted to a Langmuir model (qm=12.3mgg-1,R 2=0.970, RMSE=0.66) and a thermodynamic study indicated that the V(V) adsorption was both exothermic and spontaneous. The low enthalpy change (-10.97kJ mol−1) indicated a weak binding of V(V) to HCKOH pointing to the possibility of V recovery. The impact of co-existing cations on V(V) uptake was negligible for Na(I) and Ga (III) but was reduced slightly for Al(III). Desorption and re-adsorption results (3 cycles) indicated that HCKOH has reusable potential to remove and recover V(V) from waste leachates