Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption

Deshraj Singh Thakur; Santosh Narayan Chadar

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Research Article |

| Peer-Reviewed

Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption

Deshraj Singh Thakur

, Santosh Narayan Chadar^*

Published in American Journal of Nanosciences (Volume 10, Issue 1)

Received: 6 November 2025 Accepted: 19 November 2025 Published: 26 January 2026

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

The conversion of agricultural byproducts into advanced nanomaterials offers an ecologically sound strategy for addressing wastewater contamination. This study investigates biochar derived from maize straw, assessing its effectiveness as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals and nutrient pollutants. The synthesis involved pyrolyzing maize straw under oxygen-limited conditions, followed by ball-milling and mortar pestle to create nanoscale particles, which significantly enhanced its surface properties for chemical reactivity. Extensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM–EDS, and zeta potential measurements revealed a material with a highly porous structure, abundant oxygenated functional groups, and disordered graphitic domains. Leveraging these structural insights, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, demonstrating substantial removal capacities for lead, cadmium, copper, ammonium, and phosphate ions. Subsequent kinetic and isotherm modeling indicated that the adsorption mechanism aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir–Freundlich models, suggesting a chemisorption process and monolayer adsorption onto diverse active sites. Thermodynamic analysis further characterized the process as spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the synthesized biochar exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over contaminant removal efficiency across five regeneration cycles, thereby confirming its structural integrity and operational resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight MSB's potential to integrate waste valorization with efficient contaminant sequestration, positioning it as an environmentally engineered solution for advanced wastewater purification. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of cost-effective, renewable, and high-performance adsorbent materials, supporting the broader transition towards circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable environmental innovations.

Published in	American Journal of Nanosciences (Volume 10, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
Page(s)	1-16
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Maize Straw biochar, Wastewater Treatment, Adsorption Mechanism, Heavy Metals, Nutrient Removal, Circular Bioeconomy, Sustainability

References

[1]	Wang, Y.; Wang, J.; et al. Biochar for the Treatment of Wastewater: A Critical Review. Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 404, 126934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.126934
[2]	Zhang, H.; Zhao, X.; et al. Application of Modified Biochar for Wastewater Treatment: A Review. J. Environ. Manag. 2022, 313, 114955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114955
[3]	Ahmed, M. J.; et al. Adsorption of Heavy Metals Using Agricultural Waste-Derived Biochar: A Review. Environ. Res. 2022, 206, 112275. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.112275
[4]	Meena, R. et al. Biochar in Wastewater Treatment and Its Role in the Circular Bioeconomy. Bioresour. Technol. Rep. 2022, 17, 100925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biteb.2021.100925
[5]	Mohan, A. et al. Biochar Production and Applications in Environmental Remediation: A Review. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2020, 54(13), 847–862. `
[6]	Jiang, H.; Chen, H.; Duan, Z.; Huang, Z.; Wei, K. Research Progress and Trends of Biochar in the Field of Wastewater Treatment by Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs): A Bibliometric Analysis. J. Hazard. Mater. Adv. 2023, 10, 100305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2023.100305
[7]	Saravanan, A.; Senthil Kumar, P. Biochar Derived Carbonaceous Material for Various Environmental Applications: Systematic Review. Environ. Res. 2022, 214 (Part 1), 113857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113857
[8]	Zhang, D.; et al. Limitations and Challenges of Conventional Biochar in Wastewater Treatment. Environ. Pollut. 2022, 310, 119802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119802
[9]	Singh, P.; Bhatnagar, S., biochar: A Sustainable material for Environmental Remediation. Today, 2021, 39, 101233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2021.101233
[10]	Zhang, R.; et al., Biochar for Removal of Emerging Pollutants: Mechanisms and Perspectives. J. Hazard. Mater. 2023, 440, 129856. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129856
[11]	Li, S. et al. Enhanced Adsorption of Metal Ions on Structured Biochar. Chemosphere 2022, 300, 134544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134544
[12]	Ninkuu, V.; Liu, Z.; Qin, A.; Xie, Y.; Song, X.; Sun, X. Impact of Straw Returning on Soil Ecology and Crop Yield: A Review. Heliyon 2025, 11 (2), e41651. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41651
[13]	Fakhar, A.; Canatoy, R. C.; Galgo, S. J. C.; Rafique, M.; Sarfraz, R. Advancements in Modified Biochar Production Techniques and Soil Application: A Critical Review. Fuel 2025, 400, 135745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2025.135745
[14]	Guo, J. et al. Influence of Pyrolysis Temperature on Structure and Adsorption Behavior of Maize-Straw Biochar. PLoS One 2020, 15(10), e0238105. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238105
[15]	Emamverdian, A.; Khalofah, A.; Pehlivan, N.; Ghorbani, A. Utilizing Nano-Biochar and Biochar for Sustainable Heavy Metal Remediation and Enhanced Crop Tolerance: Innovative Approaches in Nano-Biosensing and Environmental Health. Ind. Crops Prod. 2025, 234, 121462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121462
[16]	Zhang, X. S.; et al. Advances in Heavy Metal Wastewater Treatment with Biochar. Bioengineered 2024, 15(1), 2418675. https://doi.org/10.1080/21655979.2024.2418675
[17]	Trivedi, Y.; et al. Biochar Potential for Pollutant Removal during Wastewater Treatment. Chemosphere 2025, 359, 146897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.146897
[18]	Ighalo, J. O.; Conradie, J.; Ohoro, C. R.; Amaku, J. F.; Oyedotun, K. O.; Maxakato, N. W.; Akpomie, K. G.; Okeke, E. S.; Olisah, C.; Malloum, A.; Adegoke, K. A. Biochar from Coconut Residues: An Overview of Production, Properties, and Applications. Ind. Crops Prod. 2023, 204 (Part A), 117300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2023.117300
[19]	Jiang, M. et al. Nanobiochar for the Remediation of Contaminated Soil and Water. J. Environ. Manag. 2023, 345, 118630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118630
[20]	Sani, M. N. H.; et al. Waste-Derived Nanobiochar: A New Avenue towards Sustainable Applications. Sci. Total Environ. 2023, 905, 167251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167251
[21]	Singh, N.; Khandelwal, N.; Tiwari, E.; et al. Interaction of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles with Microplastics: Impact of Weathering under Riverine Conditions. Water Res. 2020, 189, 116622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116622
[22]	Chu, B.; Lou, Y.; Tan, Y.; Lin, J.; Liu, X. Nitrogen-Doped Mesoporous Activated Carbon from Lentinus Edodes Residue: An Optimized Adsorbent for Pharmaceuticals in Aqueous Solutions. Front. Chem. 2024, 12, 1419287. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2024.1419287
[23]	Zhang, X.; Lv, D.; Li, B.; et al. Polydopamine-Functionalized Magnetic Algae Composite for Efficient Removal of Polystyrene Microplastics: Mechanistic Insights and Performance. Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp. 2025, 137594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2025.137594
[24]	Li, Z.; Ruiyan, N.; Yu, J.; Yu, L.; Cao, D. Removal of Cadmium from Aqueous Solution by Magnetic Biochar: Adsorption Characteristics and Mechanism. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2023, 31(4), 6543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31664-5
[25]	Sisay, G. B.; Mekonnen, M. L. Mg Modified Nanobiochar from Spent Coffee Grounds: Evaluation of the Phosphate Removal Efficiency and Its Application as a Phosphorus Release Fertilizer. Res. Square 2022. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2328452/v1
[26]	Narwal, N.; Katyal, D.; Bathi, J. R. Green Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Momordica Charantia: Kinetics of Removal of Heavy Metal and Microplastic Pollutants. Reg. Stud. Mar. Sci. 2025, 104189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104189
[27]	Feng, J.; Dong, Y.; Li, H.; Tu, J.; Chen, Y. Engineered Magnetic Metal–Organic Frameworks for Efficient and Broad-Spectrum Adsorption of Micro/Nanoplastics in Beverages. J. Hazard. Mater. 2025, 495, 139040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139040
[28]	Xiang, W.; Zhang, X.; Chen, J.; Zou, W.; He, F.; Hu, X.; Tsang, D.; Ok, Y. S.; Gao, B. Biochar Technology in Wastewater Treatment: A Critical Review. Chemosphere 2020, 252, 126539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126539
[29]	Li, S. et al. Biochar-Supported Nanocomposites for Efficient Pollutant Removal from Water. Bioresour. Technol. 2024, 401, 125586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2023.125586
[30]	Jha, S.; Gaur, R.; Shahabuddin, S.; Tyagi, I. Biochar as Sustainable Alternative and Green Adsorbent for the Remediation of Noxious Pollutants: A Comprehensive Review. Toxics 2023, 11 (2), 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020117
[31]	Hefny, R.; Ibrahim, M.; Morad, D. Study of Adsorption Performance of Biochar for Heavy Metals Removal. J. Eng. Res. Rep. 2020, 19, 27–40. https://doi.org/10.9734/jerr/2020/v19i417239
[32]	Gogoi, D.; Shah, A. K.; Qureshi, M.; Golder, A. K.; Peela, N. R. Silver Grafted Graphitic-Carbon Nitride Ternary Heterojunction Ag/g-C₃N₄ (Urea)-g-C₃N₄ (Thiourea) with Efficient Charge Transfer for Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Green H₂ Production.
[33]	Hasan, G. G.; et al. Nanostructured Mn@NiO Composite for Addressing Multi-Pollutant Challenges in Petroleum-Contaminated Water. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 2024, 31(31), 44254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-34012-3
[34]	Niu, Y.; Yu, W.; Yang, S.; Wan, Q. Understanding the Relationship between Pore Size, Surface Charge Density, and Cu²⁺ Adsorption in Mesoporous Silica. Sci. Rep. 2024, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64337-5
[35]	Zhang, S.; Wang, R.; Zhu, J.; Xie, X.; Luo, M.; Peng, H.; Liu, Y.; Feng, F.; Shi, R.; Yin, W. Two-Step Synthesis of Coconut Shell Biochar-Based Ternary Composite to Efficiently Remove Organic Pollutants by Photocatalytic Degradation. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2024, 12 (3), 112963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2024.112963
[36]	Bhagat, R. M.; et al. Tailoring the Pore Structure of Mesoporous Composite Agro-Based Adsorbents for Enhanced Removal of Cu (II) and Ni (II) Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewater. Clean Technol. Environ. Policy 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-025-03316-4
[37]	Elbasiouny, H.; Elbehiry, F.; Al Anany, F.; Almashad, A.; Khalifa, A.; Khalil, A.; Elramady, H.; Brevik, E. Contaminate Remediation with Biochar and Nanobiochar Focusing on Food Waste Biochar: A Review. Egypt. J. Soil Sci. 2023, 63 (4), 641–658. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejss.2023.229851.1642
[38]	Chaubey, A. K.; et al. Definitive Review of Nanobiochar. ACS Omega 2024, 9(15), 10289–10304. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c09963
[39]	Nthwane, Y. B.; Fouda-Mbanga, B. G.; Thwala, M.; Pillay, K. J. E. T. A Comprehensive Review of Heavy Metals (Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺) Removal from Wastewater Using Low-Cost Adsorbents and Possible Revalorisation of Spent Adsorbents in Blood Fingerprint Application. Environ. Technol. 2025, 46 (3), 414–430. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2024.2358450
[40]	Jagadeesh, N.; Sundaram, B. Adsorption of Pollutants from Wastewater by Biochar: A Review. J. Hazard. Mater. Adv. 2023, 9, 100226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100226
[41]	García-Rollán, M.; Sanz-Santos, E.; Belver, C.; Bedia, J. Key Adsorbents and Influencing Factors in the Adsorption of Micro- and Nanoplastics: A Review. J. Environ. Manage. 2025, 383, 125394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125394
[42]	Shakya, A.; Vithanage, M.; Agarwal, T. Influence of Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Properties and Cr (VI) Adsorption from Water with Groundnut Shell Biochars: Mechanistic Approach. Environ. Res. 2022, 215 (Pt 1), 114243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114243
[43]	Lodhi, N.; Narayan Chadar, S.; Singh Thakur, D.; Raikwar, A. A Comprehensive Study on Biochar-Based Nanocomposites in the Removal of Organic Pollutants from Wastewater. J. Water Environ. Nanotechnol. 2024, 9(3), 302–317. https://doi.org/10.22090/jwent.2024.03.04
[44]	Fu, Y.; Zhang, J.; Guan, T. High-Value Utilization of Corn Straw: From Waste to Wealth. Sustainability 2023, 15, 14618. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914618
[45]	Zhang, Y.; et al. Highly Efficient Removal of Pb (II) from Water by Mesoporous Amino-Functionalized Silica Aerogels: Experimental, DFT Investigations, and Life Cycle Assessment. Microporous Mesoporous Mater. 2022, 345, 112280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2022.112280
[46]	Kanthasamy, A.; Almatrafi, E.; Ali, I.; Sait, H. H.; Zwawi, M.; Abnisa, F.; Peng, L. C.; Ayodele, B. V. Biochar Production from Valorization of Agricultural Wastes: Data-Driven Modelling Using Machine Learning Algorithms. Fuel 2023, 351, 128948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128948
[47]	Mohan, P. Effective Acrylamide Adsorption in Aqueous Environments Using Maize Straw Nanobiochar (MNBC). Nanotechnol. Environ. Eng. 2024, 9, Article 377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-024-00377-6
[48]	Li, Z. et al. Biochar-Derived Carbon Materials for Energy and Environmental Applications. Fuel 2024, 339, 127440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2023.127440
[49]	Singh Thakur, D.; Narayan Chadar, S. The Role of Nanobiochar in Enhancing Phytoremediation: A New Frontier in Environmental Sustainability. J. Water Environ. Nanotechnol. 2025, 10(2), 200–226. https://doi.org/10.22090/jwent.2025.02.008
[50]	Ashfaq, M.; Chauhan, D.; Talreja, N. Nanobiochar: An Emerging Material for the Environment, Energy, and Biomedical Applications. In 2024, pp 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-6544-7_1

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Thakur, D. S., Chadar, S. N. (2026). Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. American Journal of Nanosciences, 10(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Thakur, D. S.; Chadar, S. N. Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. Am. J. Nanosci. 2026, 10(1), 1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Thakur DS, Chadar SN. Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. Am J Nanosci. 2026;10(1):1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11,
  author = {Deshraj Singh Thakur and Santosh Narayan Chadar},
  title = {Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption},
  journal = {American Journal of Nanosciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajn.20261001.11},
  abstract = {The conversion of agricultural byproducts into advanced nanomaterials offers an ecologically sound strategy for addressing wastewater contamination. This study investigates biochar derived from maize straw, assessing its effectiveness as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals and nutrient pollutants. The synthesis involved pyrolyzing maize straw under oxygen-limited conditions, followed by ball-milling and mortar pestle to create nanoscale particles, which significantly enhanced its surface properties for chemical reactivity. Extensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM–EDS, and zeta potential measurements revealed a material with a highly porous structure, abundant oxygenated functional groups, and disordered graphitic domains. Leveraging these structural insights, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, demonstrating substantial removal capacities for lead, cadmium, copper, ammonium, and phosphate ions. Subsequent kinetic and isotherm modeling indicated that the adsorption mechanism aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir–Freundlich models, suggesting a chemisorption process and monolayer adsorption onto diverse active sites. Thermodynamic analysis further characterized the process as spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the synthesized biochar exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over contaminant removal efficiency across five regeneration cycles, thereby confirming its structural integrity and operational resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight MSB's potential to integrate waste valorization with efficient contaminant sequestration, positioning it as an environmentally engineered solution for advanced wastewater purification. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of cost-effective, renewable, and high-performance adsorbent materials, supporting the broader transition towards circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable environmental innovations.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption
AU  - Deshraj Singh Thakur
AU  - Santosh Narayan Chadar
Y1  - 2026/01/26
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
T2  - American Journal of Nanosciences
JF  - American Journal of Nanosciences
JO  - American Journal of Nanosciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-4858
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
AB  - The conversion of agricultural byproducts into advanced nanomaterials offers an ecologically sound strategy for addressing wastewater contamination. This study investigates biochar derived from maize straw, assessing its effectiveness as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals and nutrient pollutants. The synthesis involved pyrolyzing maize straw under oxygen-limited conditions, followed by ball-milling and mortar pestle to create nanoscale particles, which significantly enhanced its surface properties for chemical reactivity. Extensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM–EDS, and zeta potential measurements revealed a material with a highly porous structure, abundant oxygenated functional groups, and disordered graphitic domains. Leveraging these structural insights, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, demonstrating substantial removal capacities for lead, cadmium, copper, ammonium, and phosphate ions. Subsequent kinetic and isotherm modeling indicated that the adsorption mechanism aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir–Freundlich models, suggesting a chemisorption process and monolayer adsorption onto diverse active sites. Thermodynamic analysis further characterized the process as spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the synthesized biochar exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over contaminant removal efficiency across five regeneration cycles, thereby confirming its structural integrity and operational resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight MSB's potential to integrate waste valorization with efficient contaminant sequestration, positioning it as an environmentally engineered solution for advanced wastewater purification. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of cost-effective, renewable, and high-performance adsorbent materials, supporting the broader transition towards circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable environmental innovations.
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Deshraj Singh Thakur

Department of·Chemistry, Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University, Chhatarpur, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1918-3212
Santosh Narayan Chadar

Department of·Chemistry, Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University, Chhatarpur, India

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-2042-128X

Download PDF

Submit an Article

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Thakur, D. S., Chadar, S. N. (2026). Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. American Journal of Nanosciences, 10(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Thakur, D. S.; Chadar, S. N. Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. Am. J. Nanosci. 2026, 10(1), 1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Thakur DS, Chadar SN. Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption. Am J Nanosci. 2026;10(1):1-16. doi: 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11,
  author = {Deshraj Singh Thakur and Santosh Narayan Chadar},
  title = {Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption},
  journal = {American Journal of Nanosciences},
  volume = {10},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-16},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajn.20261001.11},
  abstract = {The conversion of agricultural byproducts into advanced nanomaterials offers an ecologically sound strategy for addressing wastewater contamination. This study investigates biochar derived from maize straw, assessing its effectiveness as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals and nutrient pollutants. The synthesis involved pyrolyzing maize straw under oxygen-limited conditions, followed by ball-milling and mortar pestle to create nanoscale particles, which significantly enhanced its surface properties for chemical reactivity. Extensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM–EDS, and zeta potential measurements revealed a material with a highly porous structure, abundant oxygenated functional groups, and disordered graphitic domains. Leveraging these structural insights, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, demonstrating substantial removal capacities for lead, cadmium, copper, ammonium, and phosphate ions. Subsequent kinetic and isotherm modeling indicated that the adsorption mechanism aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir–Freundlich models, suggesting a chemisorption process and monolayer adsorption onto diverse active sites. Thermodynamic analysis further characterized the process as spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the synthesized biochar exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over contaminant removal efficiency across five regeneration cycles, thereby confirming its structural integrity and operational resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight MSB's potential to integrate waste valorization with efficient contaminant sequestration, positioning it as an environmentally engineered solution for advanced wastewater purification. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of cost-effective, renewable, and high-performance adsorbent materials, supporting the broader transition towards circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable environmental innovations.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Maize Straw-Derived Biochar- Nanobiochar for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment: Mechanistic Insights into Heavy Metal and Nutrient Adsorption
AU  - Deshraj Singh Thakur
AU  - Santosh Narayan Chadar
Y1  - 2026/01/26
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
T2  - American Journal of Nanosciences
JF  - American Journal of Nanosciences
JO  - American Journal of Nanosciences
SP  - 1
EP  - 16
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-4858
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajn.20261001.11
AB  - The conversion of agricultural byproducts into advanced nanomaterials offers an ecologically sound strategy for addressing wastewater contamination. This study investigates biochar derived from maize straw, assessing its effectiveness as an adsorbent for the simultaneous removal of heavy metals and nutrient pollutants. The synthesis involved pyrolyzing maize straw under oxygen-limited conditions, followed by ball-milling and mortar pestle to create nanoscale particles, which significantly enhanced its surface properties for chemical reactivity. Extensive characterization using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, BET, SEM–EDS, and zeta potential measurements revealed a material with a highly porous structure, abundant oxygenated functional groups, and disordered graphitic domains. Leveraging these structural insights, batch adsorption experiments were conducted, demonstrating substantial removal capacities for lead, cadmium, copper, ammonium, and phosphate ions. Subsequent kinetic and isotherm modeling indicated that the adsorption mechanism aligned with pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir–Freundlich models, suggesting a chemisorption process and monolayer adsorption onto diverse active sites. Thermodynamic analysis further characterized the process as spontaneous and endothermic. Furthermore, the synthesized biochar exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining over contaminant removal efficiency across five regeneration cycles, thereby confirming its structural integrity and operational resilience. Collectively, these findings highlight MSB's potential to integrate waste valorization with efficient contaminant sequestration, positioning it as an environmentally engineered solution for advanced wastewater purification. This research makes a significant contribution to the development of cost-effective, renewable, and high-performance adsorbent materials, supporting the broader transition towards circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable environmental innovations.
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download