Hydrochar from Sargassum muticum: a sustainable approach for high-capacity removal of Rhodamine B dye

Abstract

In this study, an environmentally friendly protocol for the recovery of hydrochar by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of the macroalga Sargassum muticum was presented. HTC conditions such as temperature (180–300 °C) and reaction time (60–300 min) were investigated to study the differences between the obtained samples and find the optimal conditions that maximize the yield of hydrochar. The acquired results demonstrate that the highest hydrochar yield is reached after 180 min at a reaction temperature of 180 °C. The obtained biocarbons were characterized by several techniques (XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDX, and BET) and their adsorption capability was evaluated in the environmental recovery of water organic pollutants.