In this study, the efficiency of biochar (BC) produced from sugarcane bagasse at different pyrolysis temperatures (300, 400, 500 and 600 ºC) for simultaneous removal of CdII, PbII, CuII, CrIII, NiII and ZnII ions from aqueous solutions was assessed. All BC were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The effects of pyrolysis temperature, initial adsorbate concentration and adsorbent dosage on adorption capacity of BC were examined through batch experiments. The BC efficiency was also evaluated after a desorption cycle. The maximal adsorptions (CdII: 51.50%, CrIII: 74.35%, CuII: 91.18%, NiII: 47.05%, PbII: 96.17% and ZnII: 40.50%) were observed for BC produced at 500 ºC, probably because of its higher porosity and presence of functional groups detected by SEM and FTIR. The maximum adsorption capacity for CdII, CrIII, CuII, NiII and ZnII (ions fitted to Langmuir model) were 175, 303, 455, 156 and 128 µg g-1, respectively. The predominance of phenolic groups observed in Py-GC-MS data may explain the high percentage of multi-element removal. Experimental data were best fitted to pseudo-second order, Sips and Freundlich models. The BC presented good removal results after a desorption cycle.

ABSTRACT The main contribution of this research is to optimize the operating conditions of an anaerobic reactor applied to the treatment of wastewater from cassava starch production. A 20-L anaerobic reactor was used, operating in a batch system, with temperature control. Temperature and inoculum total volatile solids (TVSi) were controlled for evaluation of effects on the removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and reactor total volatile solids (TVSr) by means of a Central Composite Rotational Design (CCRD). Twelve trials were analyzed simultaneously by the desirable function approach. The higher COD removal (96.82%) was obtained at 42 °C and 12.0% TVSi. The largest TVSr removal (69.31%) was registered at 45 °C and 10.0% TVSi. Equations representative of the process were obtained from the responses of variables, being statistically significant at a 90% confidence level. Based on the desirability function approach, we can conclude that an optimal operational condition for the anaerobic reactor is at 39.7 °C and 10.8% TVSi. The estimated COD and TVSr removal efficiencies under these operating conditions were 90.45% and 63.12%, respectively.