Synthesis of pozzolan and sugarcane bagasse derived geopolymer-biochar composites for methylene blue sequestration from aqueous medium.

In this study, four pozzolan-based geopolymers GP, GP, GP, and GP were synthesized by alkaline activation and by substituting 0, 5, 10, and 20% of the precursor with sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar, respectively. The composites were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyses, and applied to sequester methylene blue (MB) dye in an aqueous medium in batch mode. The alkaline activation of pozzolan-biochar blends resulted in the formation of poly (Ferro-sialate-siloxo)-biochar chains.