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2026 Vol.31, Issue 4 Preview Page

Research Paper

Effects of Adsorption and Persulfate Oxidation on the Kinetics of Pharmaceutical Removal and Oxidant Consumption in Biochar-Based Processes

바이오차 기반 공정에서 흡착 및 과황산염 산화가 의약물질 제거 속도와 산화제 소모에 미치는 영향

Soyeong Park1
,
Sujin Hwang1
,
Eunyoung Kwak1
,
Cheolyong Kim1*
박 소영1
,
황 수진1
,
곽 은영1
,
김 철용1*
1Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
1인천대학교 도시환경공학부
*Corresponding Author
31 August 2026. pp. 14-25
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Abstract

This study investigated the coupled sorption and persulfate-based oxidation behaviors of pharmaceuticals using biochars derived from Sargassum and wooden chopsticks. Carbamazepine (CBZ) sorption onto Sargassum biochar exhibited typical saturation behavior and was well described by Langmuir and Freundlich models. The rate constant increased with biochar dosage, indicating adsorption-controlled kinetics. In contrast, sulfamethoxazole (SMX) sorption onto wooden chopstick biochar showed concave-upward isotherms and rate constants independent of biochar dosage, suggesting limitations associated with pore accessibility or intraparticle diffusion. In persulfate-assisted systems, pollutant removal followed two-stage kinetics, consisting of rapid initial removal and slower subsequent degradation. The initial stage was mainly governed by sorption, while the later stage was associated with persulfate-driven oxidation. Increasing biochar dosage enhanced both pollutant removal and oxidant consumption, but oxidant utilization efficiency did not increase proportionally. In SMX–PDS systems, rapid initial removal under high oxidant conditions was attributed to simultaneous sorption and oxidation, leading to accelerated surface site turnover. These results demonstrate that pollutant removal is governed by coupled sorption–oxidation processes, with their interaction critically influencing reaction kinetics and oxidant efficiency.

Keywords
Advanced oxidation
Biochar
Persulfate activation
Pharmaceutical
Sorption
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국지하수토양환경학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
  • Journal Title(Ko) :지하수토양환경
  • Volume : 31
  • No :4
  • Pages :14-25
  • Received Date : 2026-04-24
  • Revised Date : 2026-05-14
  • Accepted Date : 2026-07-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7857/JSGE.2026.31.4.014
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