Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 25 No 2 (2021): 324 - 340

 

 

 

 

THE REMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF BIOCHAR DERIVED FROM Morus rubra LINN. BARK

 

(Potensi Pemulihan oleh Terbitan Arang Bio dari Kulit Kayu Morus rubra Linn.)

 

Judith Clarisse Jose¹, Mark Nathaniel Dolina², Maria Carmen Tan²*

 

¹Biology Department

²Chemistry Department

De La Salle University, 2401 Taft Avenue, Manila 0922, Philippines

 

*Corresponding author:  maria.carmen.tan@dlsu.edu.ph

 

 

Received: 15 December 2020; Accepted: 27 March 2021; Published:  25 April 2021

 

 

Abstract

Morus rubra L., commonly known as red mulberry, contains a myriad of phytochemical compounds. Mulberry plants have been previously studied for their potential in the phytoremediation process of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In this study, biochars of red mulberry bark were produced by hydrothermal carbonization using a hydrothermal autoclave reactor (HAR) with PTFE liner and a Parr oxygen combustion vessel (POCV). These biochars were chemically characterized and their remediation potential were also investigated. Solvent extraction using dichloromethane was performed on the bark and biochars derived therefrom and the subsequent samples were evaluated using gas chromatography – electron ionization– mass spectrometry (GC–EI–MS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided the exterior characterization of these biochars, together with the dried red mulberry bark. Compositional analyses were determined by an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). The biochar’s remediation potential of toxic heavy metals was discerned by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Phytochemical analyses revealed the constituents of red mulberry bark which included phytosterol, triterpenes, and triterpenoids, whereas, biochars contained esters, alkanes, alkenes, alkaloids, diene, and fatty alcohol. Comparing the two carbonization processes, the Parr oxygen combustion vessel (POCV) was able to carbonize red mulberry bark more than the hydrothermal autoclave reactor (HAR) with PTFE liner, as observed in their GC-EI-MS and SEM profiles. Elemental analysis showed high percentages of oxygen and carbon in red mulberry bark due to the presence of carbohydrates. Both biochar products effectively absorbed lead (Pb) by almost 60% and minimally absorbed cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) in the heavy metal solution. Copper (Cu) and chromium (Cr) were not remediated from the heavy metal solution by both biochar samples.

 

Keywords:     Morus rubra L., gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis

 

Abstrak

Morus rubra L. umum dikenali sebagai mulberi merah, kaya dengan kandungan sebatian fitokimia. Pokok mulberi pada kajian terdahulu melihat potensinya dalam proses fitoremediasi terhadap unsur toksik (PTEs). Dalam kajian ini, arang bio dari kulit kayu mulberi merah telah dihasilkan melalui pengkarbonan hidrotermal menggunakan reaktor autoklaf hidrotermal (HAR) dengan liner PTFE dan vesel pembakaran oksigen Parr (POCV). Arang bio yang terhasil dicirikan secara kimia dan potensi pemulihannya turut dikaji. Pengekstrakan pelarut diklorometana digunakan terhadap kulit kayu dan terbitan arang bio dan diikuti analisis menggunakan spektrometri jisim-pengionan elektron-kromatografi gas (GC-EI-MS). Mikroskopi imbasan elektron (SEM) menjelaskan pencirian luar arang bio bersama kayu kulit mulberi merah yang telah dikeringkan. Analisis komposisi telah ditentukan melalui spektometer sinar-X serakan tenaga (EDX) dan spektrometer inframerah transformasi Fourier (FT-IR). Potensi pemulihan arang bio terhadap ketoksikan logam berat telah dianalisa menggunakan spektroskopi serapan atom.  Analisis fitokimia menjelaskan jujukan kimia bagi kulit kayu mulberi merah termasuklah fitosterol, triterpene, dan triterpenoid, manakala arang bio mengandungi ester, alkana, alkena, alkaloid, diena dan lemak alkohol. Perbandingan dua proses pengkarbonan vesel pembakaran oksigen Parr (POCV) mampu menghasilkan karbon yang lebih tinggi kandungannya berbanding reaktor autoklaf hidrotermal (HAR) dengan liner PTFE, diperhatikan dalam profil GC-EI-MS dan SEM. Analisis unsur telah menunjukkan peratusan tinggi kehadiran oksigen dan karbon di dalam kulit kayu mulberi merah disebabkan oleh kandungan karbohidrat. Produk arang bio berkesan menyerap plumbun (Pb) sehingga 60% dan serapan minima bagi kadmium (Cd) dan ferum (Fe) di dalam larutan logam berat. Kuprum (Cu) dan kromium (Cr) tidak dapat dipulihkan dari larutan logam berat oleh kedua-dua sampel arang bio.

 

Keywords:     Morus rubra L., spektrometri jisim-pengionan elektron-kromatografi gas, mikroskopi imbasan elektron, spektrometer inframerah transformasi Fourier, spektometer sinar-X serakan tenaga

 

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