Polyaniline-coated biochar : synthesis, characterization, and Cr(VI) adsorption studies
| dc.contributor.author | Kasavo, Ruth Nzisi | |
| dc.contributor.author | Brink, Hendrik Gideon | |
| dc.contributor.email | deon.brink@up.ac.za | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-04-22T09:07:08Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-04-22T09:07:08Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-06-04 | |
| dc.description | DATA AVAILABILITY : Data will be made available on request. | |
| dc.description.abstract | Polyaniline (PANI) is a promising adsorbent for heavy metal removal due to its high conductivity, large surface area, cost-effective synthesis, and environmental stability. Biochar, derived from organic waste, also shows potential for pollutant removal. In this study, a polyaniline-biochar composite (PANI-NSA/BC) was synthesized and assessed for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. SEM analysis showed rod-like polyaniline structures distributed within the biochar matrix. Batch adsorption studies were performed to evaluate the effects of adsorbent dosage, polyaniline-to-biochar ratio, and solution pH. Cr(VI) removal efficiency decreased with biochar fraction (maximum at 25% biochar) and increased with composite dosage, (maximum at 40 mg). The process was highly pH-dependent, achieving maximum removal at pH 2. These results demonstrate the potential of PANI-NSA/BC for Cr(VI) remediation in water treatment. Future work will focus on scaling up the synthesis, optimizing operational parameters, and exploring the composite’s regeneration and reuse performance under continuous flow conditions. | |
| dc.description.department | Chemical Engineering | |
| dc.description.librarian | am2026 | |
| dc.description.sdg | SDG-12: Responsible consumption and production | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Open access funding provided by University of Pretoria. Supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) through Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalization (OeAD) as well as APPEAR Project 341]. APPEAR is a program of the Austrian Development Organization. | |
| dc.description.uri | https://www.springer.com/journal/43580 | |
| dc.identifier.citation | Kasavo, R. & Brink, H. 2025, 'Polyaniline-coated biochar : synthesis, characterization, and Cr(VI) adsorption studies', MRS Advances, vol. 10, pp. 1143-1148. https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-025-01308-6. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2059-8521 | |
| dc.identifier.other | 10.1557/s43580-025-01308-6 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/109696 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Springer | |
| dc.rights | © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. | |
| dc.subject | Polyaniline (PANI) | |
| dc.subject | Biochar | |
| dc.subject | Cr(VI) | |
| dc.subject | SEM analysis | |
| dc.title | Polyaniline-coated biochar : synthesis, characterization, and Cr(VI) adsorption studies | |
| dc.type | Article |