Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs): In our daily lives, we encounter a vast number of man-made chemicals. With over a hundred thousand chemicals in commerce and over a thousand new ones introduced yearly, our environment faces an influx of chemical substances. Over the past two decades, advancements in detection methods led to the recognition of CECs. CECs are notable for their environmental persistence, presence in living organisms, and potential health effects. Drinking water contaminated with CECs is linked to higher health issues. Conventional water treatment systems struggle with CEC removal, necessitating efficient techniques to safeguard public health and the environment. Knowledge gaps and research directions: Managing substantial biomass waste from forestry, agriculture, fishery, and aquaculture sustainably is essential. Transforming this waste into value-added products, particularly for water treatment, can promote sustainable waste management and the circular economy. Biochar, derived from biomass, offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to commercial materials. It can replace activated carbon for adsorption or serve as an alternative to polymer-based electrodes for electrochemical treatment. Challenges include lengthy adsorption times, limited uptake capacities, efficiency variations for different CECs, and effective regeneration. The overall goal of this proposed research is to develop effective and eco-friendly techniques for removing CECs using biochar-based materials. Objective 1: The target CECs will be identified based on environmental significance, concentration, health risks, and absence of effective removal methods. To develop biochar adsorbents with enhanced capacity and selectivity and short adsorption time, we will explore the suitability of different waste biomass and synthesis conditions for biochar production. The material properties and adsorption mechanisms will be investigated using advanced characterization techniques, and the adsorption performance will be assessed in batch and flow-through setups, considering regeneration and reusability. Objective 2: Biochar adsorbents offer advantages, but regenerating them can be resource-intensive. We will study the development of biochar electrodes for electrosorption and electrodesorption to enhance the removal efficiency and regeneration process. Electrodes characteristics and electrosorption mechanism will be explored. Objective 3: This objective focuses on the complete degradation of CECs via biochar electrodes. The impact of degradation conditions will be studied, and degradation mechanisms will be identified through advanced characterization techniques. Significance: This research enhances biochar for CECs treatment, benefiting the environment and human health. It will train HQP and generate knowledge for mobilization and dissemination. It will have a positive economic impact on industries by transforming their waste into value-added products.