Cited by 287Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removalThermochemical Biomass Conversion ProcessesEnvironmental remediation with nanomaterials

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 2 of the 16 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Low-Cost Biochar Adsorbents for Water Purification Including Microplastics Removal

Open access

Abstract

The applicability of steam activated pine and spruce bark biochar for storm water and wastewater purification has been investigated. Biochar samples produced from the bark of scots pine (Pinus sylvestrus) and spruce (Picea spp.) by conventional slow pyrolysis at 475 °C were steam activated at 800 °C. Steam activation was selected as a relatively inexpensive method for creating porous biochar adsorbents from the bark-containing sidestreams of the wood refining industry. A suite of standard analytical procedures were carried out to quantify the performance of the activated biochar in removing both cations and residual organics from aqueous media. Phenol and microplastics retention and cation exchange capacity were employed as key test parameters. Despite relatively low surface areas (200–600 m2/g), the steam-activated biochars were highly suitable adsorbents for the chemical species tested as well as for microplastics removal. The results indicate that ultra-high porosities are not necessary for satisfactory water purification, supporting the economic feasibility of bio-based adsorbent production.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Steam-activated biochars from pine and spruce bark, despite modest surface areas (200–600 m²/g), removed phenol, cations, and larger microplastics effectively, showing ultrahigh porosity is not necessary. Pine bark AC performed best for phenol and CEC, while spruce bark AC with broader pores retained more 10-µm microbeads.

Key findings

  • Steam-activated biochars had surface areas of 187–603 m²/g; pine bark AC activated with 30% steam and high gas flow had 603 m²/g and the maximum phenol adsorption capacity of 169 mg/g, comparable to much higher-surface-area activated carbons.
  • CEC was greater for pine bark ACs (16–24 mmol/kg) than spruce bark ACs (9–11 mmol/kg); spruce ACs had higher ash (12–15 wt-% vs. 5–6 wt-% for pine AC) and more exchangeable Ca.
  • Microplastics retention was 100% for larger PE particles and nearly 100% for fleece fibers (only 1–4 fibers detected after elution), with no differences among tested ACs; 10-µm spherical microbead retention was weaker, and retained MP material ranged from 0.130 ± 0.040 g to 0.293 ± 0.046 g depending on AC.
  • Surface areas of 400–600 m²/g were adequate for efficient removal of tested contaminants from storm and wastewater, supporting economic feasibility of steam-activated biochar.

Methods

  • Pine and spruce bark biochars were produced by slow pyrolysis at 475 °C for 3 h, then steam activated at 800 °C for 3.5 h using 30% or 40% steam and low or high N₂ gas flow; particle size fractions were also compared.
  • Characterization included elemental analysis, ash content, BET surface area and DFT pore size distribution; batch phenol adsorption used 0.1 g sorbent in 15 mL phenol solution (100–2000 mg/L) for 24 h with spectrophotometric analysis at 271 nm; CEC and exchangeable cations were measured by NH₄OAc/KCl extraction.
  • Microplastics column tests used 20 g activated biochar, washed with 5 L tap water, then eluted with 30 fractions of 50 mL tap water; MP types were 2 g spherical PE microbeads (10 µm), 2 g cylindrical PE pieces (2–3 mm), and 2 g fleece shirt fibers, each in triplicate.

Limitations

  • The paper states that raw materials were inhomogeneous (contained some stem wood), spruce bark’s high ash may have caused pore blockage, the microplastics sorption mechanism remains unknown, and further research is needed on recovery of micrometer-scale MP and on economic feasibility of different sidestreams.
  • Evident from the text: phenol tests for biochars were single determinations (ACs were duplicated), CEC was determined only for selected activated biochars, and MP tests used tap water and specific synthetic particles, limiting generalization.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/app10030788

Cites

45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

2 of 16 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 47 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 26
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
33 of 33
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Phenol adsorption is an indicator of organic contaminant removal.

    “including phenol adsorption as an indicator of organic contaminant removal”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Cation exchange capacity determination estimates inorganic contaminant removal capacity.

    “cation exchange capacity (CEC) determination to estimate inorganic contaminate removal capacity”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Steam activation is a relatively inexpensive method for creating porous biochar adsorbents.

    “Steam activation was selected as a relatively inexpensive method for creating porous biochar adsorbents from the bark-containing sidestreams of the wood refining industry.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Phenol adsorption occurs mainly in the micropores, but sufficient mesoporosity is needed to create channels into the micropores.

    “Phenol adsorption occurs in the micropores, but sufficient mesoporosity is also needed to create channels into the micropores.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Adsorption occurs mainly in the micropores, but larger pores work as channels into the micropores.

    “The adsorption occurs mainly in the micropores, but larger pores work as channels into the micropores.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The effect of entrained stem wood on the results was minimal.

    “The effect of the stem wood was, however, likely minimal as the quantities of entrained stem wood were small.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Steam-activated biochar is economically feasible for water purification.

    “The results support the economic feasibility of steam-activated biochar for such water purification purposes.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Biochars present an inexpensive means of removing MPs from waters.

    “Biochars present an inexpensive means of removing MPs from waters with the added benefit of the simultaneous removal of other contaminants.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Small particle size generally favors porosity development because of the larger reactive surface area for the activation reagent.

    “Although small particle size generally favors porosity development because of the larger reactive surface area for the activation reagent, crushing is an extra step in the manufacturing process.”
9 of 9

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • The 40% steam treatment is labeled low gas flow despite using the high flow rate

    Minor

    The methods say the 40% steam treatment used only the high nitrogen flow. Table 2 labels that treatment "low gas flow," although its 300 L/h nitrogen rate is the rate labeled high gas flow for the 30% treatment.

  • A cited steam-activation example is titled as CO2 activation

    Minor

    The introduction cites reference 16 as an example of steam activation of oil palm stones, but the paper's reference list identifies that study as using CO2 activation.

2 of 2

Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Siipola, V., Pflugmacher, S., Romar, H., Wendling, L., & Koukkari, P.
Affiliations
  • VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (FI)
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • University of Oulu (FI)
Corresponding author
Siipola, Virpi
Venue
Applied Sciences
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-01-22
Volume
10
Issue
3
Pages
788
ISSN
2076-3417 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3001312199
Cited by
287
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 51 · 2025: 66 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 6
FWCI
7.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Applied Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
Funders
Maa- ja MetsätalousministeriÖ (754/03.02.06.00/2018)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Adsorption and biosorption for pollutant removal
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Fuel Technology › Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Environmental remediation with nanomaterials
Keywords
biochar adsorbent, steam activation, pine bark, spruce bark, Pinus sylvestris, wastewater treatment, microplastic removal, phenol removal, cation exchange capacity, residual organic matter, low-cost adsorbent, porous biochar

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