Browsing by Author "Shinin Espinoza, Michelle Stephany"

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    Uso de biocarbón obtenido del bagazo de caña en la remoción de cromo hexavalente de soluciones acuosas
    (Universidad de Cuenca, 2025-09-01) Shinin Espinoza, Michelle Stephany; Vivanco Troya, Paúl Emerson; Vera Cabezas, Luisa Mayra
    Cr(VI) contamination, a toxic and carcinogenic heavy metal, is a critical environmental problem in Ecuador, especially in the tanning industry, which generates effluents with high concentrations of this pollutant. Given the limitations of conventional treatment methods, this research evaluates biochar obtained from sugarcane bagasse as a potential adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The bagasse was subjected to slow pyrolysis under an inert atmosphere to obtain a carbonaceous material with high porosity and surface area. Biochar characterization included particle size analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, BET analysis, and zero-charge point analysis. Adsorption tests were performed in batches, varying parameters such as contact time, pH, and adsorbent dosage, and kinetic and equilibrium models were applied to describe the adsorption mechanism. The results show a removal efficiency greater than 90% under optimal conditions and a suitable contact time of 30 minutes. By fitting the experimental data to kinetic and equilibrium models, a favorable dual adsorption mechanism was determined: chemisorption and physisorption; additionally, an initial phase limited by intraparticle diffusion, followed by a phase limited by the boundary layer and/or by the approach to equilibrium. Therefore, it is concluded that sugarcane bagasse biochar represents a sustainable, economical, and efficient alternative for the treatment of water contaminated with Cr(VI), promoting the valorization of agroindustrial waste and contributing to the mitigation of the environmental impact of the tanning industry.