Impact of Deashing Treatment on Biochar Structural Properties and Potential Sorption Mechanisms of Phenanthrene

Knowledge of the mineral effects of biochars on their sorption of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) is limited. Sorption of phenanthrene (PHE) by plant-residue derived biochars (PLABs) and animal waste-derived biochars (ANIBs) obtained at two heating treatment temperatures (HTTs) (450 and 600 °C) and their corresponding deashed biochars was investigated. The decreased surface polarity and increased bulk polarity of biochars after deashing treatment indicated that abundant minerals of biochars benefit external exposure of polar groups associated organic matter (OM). Organic carbon (OC)-normalized distribution coefficients (Koc) of PHE by biochars generally increased after deashing, likely due to enhancement of favorable and hydrophobic sorption sites caused by mineral removal. Positive correlation between PHE log Koc by PLABs and bulk polarity combined with negative correlation between PHE log Koc values by ANIBs and surface polarity suggested PLABs and ANIBs have different sorption mechanisms, proba...