Sorption of lead and methylene blue onto hickory biochars from different pyrolysis temperatures: Importance of physicochemical properties

Hickory biochars were obtained through slow pyrolysis under 350 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C. Multiple characterization techniques were used to characterize the biochars and showed pyrolysis temperature affected their O/C ratios, surface areas, cation-exchange capacities, zeta potential, surface acidic groups. As the result, the biochars showed different adsorption ability to Pb(II) and methylene blue in aqueous solutions, which was due to the important roles of the physicochemical properties of the biochars in controlling the sorption processes. This work provided a comprehensive evaluation of biochars, and thus expanded on previous research on effects of pyrolysis temperature on biochar properties.