Pre-pyrolysis metal and base addition catalyzes pore development and improves organic micropollutant adsorption to pine biochar

Biochars were produced from pine feedstock pretreated with aqueous base, NaOH, at pH 9 and 11, alkali alkaline earth metals (AAEMs) Na, K, Ca, Mg 10−3 1 M. The effects of base AAEM pretreatment on biochar surface area, pore size distribution, adsorption capacity two organic micropollutants (OMPs), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid sulfamethoxazole, water background dissolved matter (DOM) evaluated. Base significantly increased area within micropores (<2 nm diameter). caused widening, increasing pores >2 in diameter. catalytic activity AAEMs, assessed by generation non-micropore decreased the following order: Ca > K Na Mg. All biochars outperformed untreated for OMP adsorption. Biochar 11 showed over an order magnitude increase adsorption, nearly matching performance commercial activated carbon. was positively correlated micropore negatively which linked to higher levels DOM competition. feedstocks can treatment applications tuning structure area.