Abstract

We evaluated the potential application of tobacco as a low-cost raw matter for the development of a new and ecological activated biochar, with the aim of chlorpyrifos adsorption. This was performed by means of characterization and testing the efficiency of the activated biochar based on tobacco from seized cigarettes. Chemically and thermally activated biochar were produced with different chemical modifying agents (ZnCl2 and NaOH). The treatments improved the features of adsorbent structure, with an increase of 1775x in SSA of AB-ZnCl2. The adsorption of chlorpyrifos by the activated biochar seems to occur partially by chemical and partially by physical interactions between the pesticide and the surface functional groups O–H, C–H, C=O, C–C, C–H, and C–O. The good adjustments may indicate the adsorption of mono and multilayer. The materials show great results for removal of chlorpyrifos with an estimate qm of 683.30 and 1602.40 µg g−1 for Langmuir, respectively, found for AB and for AB-ZnCl2. This way, the production of activated biochar can be an excellent alternative for the destination and use of tobacco from seized cigarettes, allowing its use in remediation and decontamination of water.