Formation of Biochar Nanocomposite Materials Based on CoFe2O4 for Purification of Aqueous Solutions from Chromium Compounds (VI)

The paper proposes a simple one-stage synthesis of organic-inorganic composite materials based on oxide compounds of iron (III) and cobalt (II) with a developed surface. The process of cobalt(II) ferrite (CoFe2O4) structure formation on the biochar surface was studied. As an organic component, biochar was obtained from agricultural waste, including sunflower husks, rice husks, and pea kernels. Composite materials cobalt ferrite/biochar were obtained for the first time using these wastes. The obtained materials were characterized using X-ray phase analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption. A mechanism for forming composite materials is proposed, including the stage of formation of chelate complexes of transition element cations with citric acid on the biochar surface and their subsequent thermal decomposition. High adsorption activity of the synthesized materials in the process of removing chromium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions was established. The sunflower husk biochar composite material based on CoFe2O4 has the highest adsorption capacity of 6.98 mg/g. The results suggest that biochar composites based on CoFe2O4 have great potential for the practical industrial wastewater treatment.