Sediment metals adhering to biochar enhanced phosphorus adsorption in sediment capping

Metal ions in sediment were inherent Ca and Fe sources for biochar modification. In this work, effect of Ca2+ and Fe2+ released from sediment on biochar for phosphorus adsorption was evaluated. Results showed that, raw peanut shell biochar (PSB) was poor in phosphorus adsorption (0.48 mg/g); sediment-triggered biochar (S-PSB) exhibited P adsorption capacity of 1.32 mg/g in capping reactor and maximum adsorption capacity of 10.72 mg/g in Langmuir model. Sediment released Ca2+ of 2.2–4.1 mg/L and Fe2+/Fe3+ of 0.2–9.0 mg/L. The metals loaded onto biochar surface in the forms of Ca-O and Fe-O, with Ca and Fe content of 1.47 and 0.29%, respectively. Sediment metals made point of zero charge (pHpzc) of biochar shifted from 5.39 to 6.46. The mechanisms of enhanced P adsorption by S-PSB were surface complexation of CaHPO4 followed by precipitation of Ca3(PO4)2 and Ca5(PO4)3(OH). Sediment metals induced modification of biochar and improvement of P adsorption, which was feasible to overcome the shortcomings of biochar on phosphorus control in sediment capping.