Biochar derived from swine manure digestate and applied on the removals of heavy metals and antibiotics

Swine manure digestate (SMD) is rich of functional groups. In this work, raw biochar (BC) was prepared from SMD by oxygen-limiting pyrolysis, and HCl-BC, NH3-BC and Mn-BC were obtained by modifying BC with HCl, NH3·H2O and KMnO4. The modified biochar was negatively charged and showed a larger specific surface area and total pore volume, and higher contents of Si–O–Si and O–H bonds and aromatic rings with CO bond. Among them, Mn-BC, was given a new Mn–O group. The adsorption capacities of biochar were determined using a model aqueous solution containing some metals and antibiotics. The adsorption experiment results showed that Mn-BC had a quite good capacity for Cu and Zn removal. And the removal efficiency of As (III), sulfadimidine and tylosin of 83.98%, 83.76%, and 77.34% respectively, was also observed by using Mn-BC. Mn-BC was considered to be a promising material for the adsorption of heavy metals and antibiotics.