Synthesis and characterization of magnetic biochar nanocomposite from oil palm fronds for efficient copper (II) ion removal from leachate

Undesirable organic and inorganic heavy metals in landfill leachate pose significant environmental concerns that require global attention. This research synthesized biochar from oil palm frond (OPF) biomass using the pyrolysis technique, which was then transformed into magnetic biochar via iron oxide co-precipitation for the removal of copper (II) ions from landfill leachate. Various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and vibrational sample magnetometry, were employed to characterize the magnetic biochar. The magnetized biochar demonstrated a high adsorption capacity of 63.45 mg/g and a removal efficiency of 96.3% for Cu (II) ions. The adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, with a rate constant of 0.00027 g/mg<middle dot>min, and aligned well with the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating efficient multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces. Furthermore, the OPF magnetic biochar exhibited a reusability efficiency of 85.92% after five regeneration cycles, highlighting its potential for efficient heavy metal ion removal in wastewater treatment and various industrial applications.