Reduction of Bromate by Cobalt-Impregnated Biochar Fabricated via Pyrolysis of Lignin Using CO2 as a Reaction Medium.

In this study, pyrolysis of lignin impregnated with cobalt (Co) was conducted to fabricate a Co-biochar (i.e., Co/lignin biochar) for use as a catalyst for bromate (BrO3-) reduction. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was employed as a reaction medium in the pyrolysis to induce desired effects associated with CO2; (1) the enhanced thermal cracking of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) evolved from the thermal degradation of biomass, and (2) the direct reaction between CO2 and VOCs, which resulted in the enhanced generation of syngas (i.e., H2 and CO). This study placed main emphases on three parts: (1) the role of impregnated Co in pyrolysis of lignin in the presence of CO2, (2) the characterization of Co/lignin biochar, and (3) evaluation of catalytic capability of Co-lignin biochar in BrO3- reduction. The findings from the pyrolysis experiments strongly evidenced that the desired CO2 effects were strengthened due to catalytic effect of impregnated Co in lignin. For example, the enhanced generation of syngas from pyrolysis of Coimpregnated lignin in CO2 was more significant than the case without Co impregnation. Moreover, pyrolysis of Coimpregnated lignin in CO2 led to production of biochar of which surface area (599 m2 g-1) is nearly 100 times greater than the biochar produced in N2 (6.6 m2 g-1). Co/lignin biochar produced in CO2 also showed a great performance in catalyzing BrO3- reduction as compared to the biochar produced in N2.