Evaluation of Fenton-like reaction for sorption and degradation of kasugamycin in the presence of biochar.

Although the use of biochar as an adsorbent for the removal of various pollutants from wastewater is well established, the use of biochar/modified biochar for the scavenging of antibiotics from aqueous media in the Fenton-like system receives less attention. The highest kasugamycin (KSM) adsorption capacity (5.0 mg g) was obtained from the pristine biochar at the lowest initial pH of 3 in Fenton-like system. The Fenton-like system improved the KSM adsorption capacity of pristine biochar by 222.2%, 169.9%, and 159.9% at 25 °C, 35 °C, and 45 °C comparing to control, respectively, and it also increased adsorption capacity by 97.4%, 63.8%, and 56.8% comparing to modified biochar. The amounts of biochar applied and the Fenton-like system affected KSM mineralization and degradation. The KSM degradation products had a significant amount of small molecular organic matter (m/z 384) and a tetrahydropyran structure that was difficult to degrade. The highly efficient degradation of KSM in Fenton-like system can be attributed to the generation of large amounts of hydroxyl radical (·OH) and functional groups (C=C, C=O, etc.).