Removal of ammonium from aqueous solutions using alkali-modified biochars

Biochars converted from agricultural residuals can effectively remove ammonium from water. This work further improved the sorption ability of biochars to aqueous ammonium through alkali modification. Three modified biochars were prepared from agricultural residuals pre-treated with NaOH solution through low-temperature (300 °C) slow pyrolysis. The modified biochars effectively removed ammonium ions from water under various conditions with relatively fast adsorption kinetics (reached equilibrium within 10 h) and extremely high adsorption capacity (>200 mg/g). The Langmuir maximum capacity of the three modified biochars were between 313.9 and 518.9 mg/g, higher than many other ammonium adsorbents. Although the sorption of ammonium onto the modified biochar was affected by pH and temperature, it was high under all of the tested conditions. Findings from this work indicated that alkali-modified biochars can be used as an alternative adsorbent for the removal of ammonium from wastewater.     

Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature on Chemical and Surface Properties of Biochar of Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

The biochar is an important carbon-rich product that is generated from biomass sources through pyrolysis. Biochar (charcoal) can be both used directly as a potential source of solid biofuels and as soil amendments for barren lands. The aim of this study was investigate influence of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical properties and structure of biochar. The biochars were produced by pyrolysis of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) using a fixed-bed reactor at different pyrolysis temperatures (400–700°C). The produced biochars were characterized by proximate and elemental analysis, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, particle size distributions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results showed that both chemical and surface properties of the biochars were significantly affected by the pyrolysis temperature. Aromatic hydrocarbons, hydroxyl and carbonyl compounds were the majority components of the biochar. The biochar obtained at 700°C had a high fixed carbon content (66.16%) as well as a high heating value, and therefore it could be used as solid fuel, precursor in the activated carbons manufacture (specific surface area until 25.38 m² g^?1), or to obtain category-A briquettes.     

不同炭化温度制备的蚕丝被废弃物生物炭对重金属Cd2+的吸附性能

以蚕丝被废弃物为原料,在300、500和700 ℃高温缺氧条件下热解炭化制备成3种生物炭(BC300、BC500和BC700).利用扫描电镜(SEM)、傅里叶红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、比表面积分析仪等对其理化性质进行表征,并研究了不同温度下制备的生物炭对溶液中Cd²⁺的吸附特性.结果表明: 随着炭化温度上升,BET比表面积、pH、灰分均增大,生物炭表面形态结构越来越不规则.XRD结果显示:不同温度下获得的生物炭中均含有一定量的方解石,FT-IR光谱图上的峰主要为-OH和方解石典型的吸收峰;pH对生物炭吸附Cd²⁺的影响不大;Langmuir方程能更好地拟合3种生物炭对Cd²⁺的吸附等温过程,其最大吸附量分别为25.61、52.41和91.07 mg·g^-1.3种生物炭对Cd²⁺吸附过程均更符合准二级动力学方程,且BC700对Cd²⁺的吸附效果最佳.进一步研究离子浓度及阳离子共存对BC700吸附Cd²⁺的影响,结果显示: NaCl浓度越高,对Cd²⁺的吸附抑制越明显;共存阳离子中,Ca²⁺和Mg²⁺对Cd²⁺的吸附抑制更明显,而K⁺几乎无影响.因此,以蚕丝被废弃物制备的生物炭作为去除水体中Cd²⁺的吸附剂具有较强的应用潜力.     

不同来源生物炭对砷在土壤中吸附与解吸的影响

采用OECD Guideline 106批平衡方法研究了由凋落松针、玉米秸秆、牛粪制备的3种生物炭对As(Ⅴ)在棕壤中的吸附和解吸特性的影响.结果表明：3种生物炭的添加量为0.5%时,对As(Ⅴ)在土壤中的吸附量大小顺序为牛粪炭处理＞松针炭处理＞玉米秸秆炭处理,这与生物炭的基本性质密切相关;等温吸附曲线能用Langmuir方程进行很好的拟合(R² =0.997);与对照相比,生物炭处理对砷的吸附容量(lgK_f 为1.99～2.10)和吸附强度(1/N 为0413～0.449)降低,生物炭对As(Ⅴ)的主要吸附机制为物理吸附;生物炭处理对As(Ⅴ)解吸率大小顺序为：玉米秸秆炭处理＞松针炭处理＞牛粪炭处理,解吸率在14.5%～18.7%.添加3种来源生物炭降低了棕壤对As(Ⅴ)的吸附,这可能会导致砷的有效性增强,更易被生物吸收,进而增强土壤中砷的毒性.     

Interface interactions between insecticide carbofuran and tea waste biochars produced at different pyrolysis temperatures

Biochars showed a potential as adsorbents for organic contaminants, however, have not been tested for carbofuran, which has been detected frequently in water. This study provides evidences for the use of infused tea residue derived biochar for carbofuran removal. Biochars were produced at 300, 500 and 700 °C by slow pyrolysis and were characterized by proximate and ultimate analysis, FT-IR, SEM, BET and pore size distribution. Pyrolysis temperature showed a pronounced effect on biochar properties. The maximum carbofuran removal was achieved at pH 5. Freundlich and Temkin models best fit the equilibrium data. Biochars produced at 700 °C showed the highest sorption intensity. The adsorption process was likely to be a favorable chemisorption process with electrostatic interactions between carbofuran molecules and biochar surface. Acid-base interactions, electrophilic addition reactions and amide bond formations are the possible mechanisms of carbofuran adsorption. Overall, biochars prepared from tea waste can be utilized as effective adsorbents for removal of aqueous carbofuran.     

Biochar derived from anaerobically digested sugar beet tailings: characterization and phosphate removal potential

Two biochars were produced from anaerobically digested and undigested sugar beet tailings through slow-pyrolysis at 600 °C. The digested sugar beet tailing biochar (DSTC) and raw sugar beet tailing biochar (STC) yields were around 45.5% and 36.3% of initial dry weight, respectively. Compared to STC, DSTC had similar pH and surface functional groups, but higher surface area, and its surface was less negatively charged. SEM-EDS and XRD analyses showed that colloidal and nano-sized periclase (MgO) was presented on the surface of DSTC. Laboratory adsorption experiments were conducted to assess the phosphate removal ability of the two biochars, an activated carbon (AC), and three Fe-modified biochar/AC adsorbents. The DSTC showed the highest phosphate removal ability with a removal rate around 73%. Our results suggest that anaerobically digested sugar beet tailings can be used as feedstock materials to produce high quality biochars, which could be used as adsorbents to reclaim phosphate.     

Pyrolysis temperature determines the amendment effects of poplar residue-derived biochars on reducing CO2 emission

Poplars and their hybrids are widely planted in both plantation forestry and agroforestry systems of the world. Along with the utilization and plantation management processes, a large amount of biomass residues are produced, but the relationship between biochar properties and soil CO₂ emissions is largely unknown. Here, a laboratory incubation study was conducted to assess the effects of different biochars and their corresponding biomass residues on soil CO₂ emissions during the 180 days of incubation. Poplar residue-derived biochars were larger in the surface area and total pore volume but lower in nutrients and pH values than the rice straw-derived biochar. Increasing pyrolysis temperature led to a decrease in the total nitrogen (TN) content of poplar leaf- and rice straw-derived biochars, but enhanced the TN in the poplar twig- and poplar bark-derived biochars. After 180-day incubation, the total cumulative CO₂ emission decreased by 33.1%–73.8% in the biochar amendments compared to their corresponding biomass residue addition, whereas the biochars derived from poplar twig and bark residues had more positive effects on reducing soil CO₂ emissions, but depended on the pyrolysis temperature. Correlation analysis showed a significant and positive correlation between the CO₂ emissions and TN content of bio-based materials but the negative relationships to total carbon content and C/N ratio. Meanwhile the positive correlations of CO₂ emissions to the surface area, t-plot micropore area, and volume of the biochars were detected. Our results suggest that application of poplar twig- and poplar bark-derived biochars has a great potential for mitigating global warming.     

Biochar supply-chain and challenges to commercialization

Produced through pyrolysis, biochars are used as a soil amendment. Differences in feedstock and processing result in differentiated products which impact their values in different soil conditions. Despite the enormous potential, biochars have not been widely used. This paper overviews the benefits and potential demand for biochar and features of supply chain, and identifies opportunities for viable introduction of biochars. The value of biochars should be evaluated as a part of the pyrolysis system that coproduces biochars and biofuels. Biochars can improve agricultural productivity and soil functioning and contribute to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Furthermore, it can provide extra benefit by contributing to fire prevention. The cost of biochar system depends on the costs of feedstock acquisition, transportation, and processing. Biochar is most likely to be adopted in locations with marginal land and high-value crop, and near low-cost feedstock sources. The adoption of biochar can be enhanced by compensation for carbon sequestration, further investment in research, and learning of producers to enhance efficiency of the supply chain.     

Biochar amendment to soils with contrasting organic matter level: effects on N mineralization and biological soil properties

Four biochar types, produced by slow pyrolysis of poultry litter (PL) and pine chips (P) at 400 or 500 °C, were added to two adjacent soils with contrasting soil organic matter (SOM) content (8.9 vs. 16.1 g C kg^?1). The N mineralization rate was determined during 14‐week incubations and assessments were made of the microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase activity, and the microbial community structure (PLFA‐extraction). The addition of PL biochars increased the net N mineralization (i.e., compared to the control treatment) in both soils, while for treatments with P biochars net N immobilization was observed in both soils. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature of both feedstock types led to a decrease in net N mineralization. The ratio of Bacterial to Fungal PLFA biomarkers also increased with addition of biochars, and particularly in the case of the 500 °C biochars. Next to feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature, SOM content clearly affected the assessed soil biological parameters, viz. net N mineralization or immobilization, MBC and dehydrogenase activity were all greater in the H soil. This might be explained by an increased chance of physical contact between the microbial community activated by SOM mineralization upon incubation and discrete biochar particles. However, when considering the H soil's double C and N content, these responses were disproportionally small, which may be partly due to the L soil's, somewhat more labile SOM. Nonetheless, increasing SOM content and microbial biomass and activity generally appears to result in greater mineralization of biochar. Additionally, higher N mineralization after PL addition to the H soil with lower pH than the L soil can be due to the liming effect of the PL biochars.     

Monitoring the Changes of Chemical Properties of Rice Straw–Derived Biochars Modified by Different Oxidizing Agents and Their Adsorptive Performance for Organics

Biochar derived from agricultural biomass waste is increasingly recognized as a multifunctional material for various applications according to its characteristics. In this study, rice straw–derived biochars were produced at different temperatures (550, 650, 750°C), then they were modified by using different oxidizing agents, including KOH, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₂O₂, and KMnO_4. The influence of carbonization temperature and the oxidizing agent's nature on the surface chemistry was investigated. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis detected lactone, carbonyl, quinone or conjugated quinone, carboxyl-carbonate structure, and alcohol groups in most of the oxidized samples. Modified biochars have low pH values compared with their parent biochars. This is due to the fact that most treatments of biochar increase the acidic functional groups on the surface. Modified biochars presented greater capacities for adsorption of organic species of different molecular sizes such as iodine, phenol, and methylene blue from solutions. Such behavior proves that the most important surface properties of these biochars affecting their solution adsorption behavior are their acidity/alkalinity and hydrophilicity.     

Criteria to Select Biochars for Field Studies based on Biochar Chemical Properties

One factor limiting the understanding and evaluation of biochar for soil amendment and carbon sequestration applications is the scarcity of long-term, large-scale field studies. Limited land, time, and material resources require that biochars for field trials be carefully selected. In this study, 17 biochars from the fast pyrolysis, slow pyrolysis, and gasification of corn stover, switchgrass, and wood were thoroughly characterized and subjected to an 8-week soil incubation as a way to select the most promising biochars for a field trial. The methods used to characterize the biochars included proximate analysis, CHNS elemental analysis, Brunauer?CEmmett?CTeller surface (BET) area, photo-acoustic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and quantitative ¹³?C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The soil incubation study was used to relate biochar properties to three soil responses: pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and water leachate electrical conductivity (EC). Characterization results suggest that biochars made in a kiln process where some oxygen was present in the reaction atmosphere have properties intermediate between slow pyrolysis and gasification and therefore, should be grouped separately. A close correlation was observed between aromaticity determined by NMR and fixed carbon fraction determined by proximate analysis, suggesting that the simpler, less expensive proximate analysis method can be used to gain aromaticity information. Of the 17 biochars originally assessed, four biochars were ultimately selected for their potential to improve soil properties and to provide soil data to refine the selection scheme: corn stover low-temperature fast pyrolysis (highest amended soil CEC, information on high volatile matter/O?CC ratio biochar), switchgrass O₂/steam gasification (relatively high BET surface area, and amended soil pH, EC, and CEC), switchgrass slow pyrolysis (higher-amended soil pH and EC), and hardwood kiln carbonization (information on slow pyrolysis, gasification and kiln-produced differences).     

Biochar – synergies and trade‐offs between soil enhancing properties and C sequestration potential

The characterization of biochar has been predominantly focused around determining physicochemical properties including chemical composition, porosity and volatile content. To date, little systematic research has been done into assessing the properties of biochar that directly relate to its function in soil and how production conditions could impact these. The aim of this study was to evaluate how pyrolysis conditions can influence biochar's potential for soil enhancing benefits by addressing key soil constraints, and identify potential synergies and restrictions. To do this, biochar produced from pine wood chips (PC), wheat straw (WS) and wheat straw pellets (WSP) at four highest treatment temperatures (HTT) (350, 450, 550 and 650 °C) and two heating rates (5 and 100 °C min^?1) were analysed for pH, extractable nutrients, cation exchange capacity (CEC), stable‐C content and labile‐C content. Highest treatment temperature and feedstock selection played an important role in the development of biochar functional properties while overall heating rate (in the range investigated) was found to have no significant effect on pH, stable‐C or labile‐C concentrations. Increasing the HTT reduced biochar yield and labile‐C content while increasing the yield of stable‐C present within biochar. Biochar produced at higher HTT also demonstrated a higher degree of alkalinity improving biochar's ability to increase soil pH. The concentration of extractable nutrients was mainly affected by feedstock selection while the biochar CEC was influenced by HTT, generally reaching its highest values between 450–550 °C. Biochar produced at ≥550 °C showed high combined values for C stability, pH and CEC while lower HTTs favoured nutrient availability. Therefore attempts to maximize biochar's C sequestration potential could reduce the availability of biochar nutrients. Developing our understanding of how feedstock selection and processing conditions influence key biochar properties can be used to refine the pyrolysis process and design of ‘bespoke biochar’ engineered to deliver specific environmental functions.     

Characterization of 60 types of Chinese biomass waste and resultant biochars in terms of their candidacy for soil application

The composition and pyrolysis characteristics of 60 types of biomass waste from the following six source categories were compared: agricultural residues, woody pruning waste from gardens and lawns, aquatic plant material from eutrophic water bodies, nutshells and fruit peels, livestock manure and residual sludge from municipal wastewater treatment. The yield and physicochemical characteristics of the biochar produced from these feedstocks at 350 °C, 500 °C and 650 °C were also examined. Results of correlation and canonical correspondence analysis between feedstock composition and biochar properties showed that feedstock type played an important role in controlling yield and properties of biochars. The yields of biochar dry ash‐free (daf.) basis were positively correlated with cellulose, lignin and lignin/cellulose content of feedstock; and ash content hampered the biochar production. Furthermore, the intensity of correlation between biochar yield and its feedstock composition was improved with pyrolysis temperature and degree of feedstock decomposition. The fixed carbon content in biochar was also negatively influenced by ash content of feedstock, and it increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature when the ash content was below 34.57% in feedstock and decreased when the ash content exceeded. The fixed carbon production in biochar per unit ash‐free mass (af.) was positively related to cellulose, lignin and lignin/cellulose content in feedstock, which were same with the yield of biochar (daf.). But on the contrary, the volatiles content in biochar (af.) had negative correlation with these organic constituents. For most feedstocks, the differences in the biochar characteristics among the biomass categories were greater than within any individual category. C/N, H/C and O/C atomic ratio and bulk density of biochar from different types of biomass were also compared. The results will provide guidance for the reutilization of biomass wastes and production of biochar with specified properties for soil amendment applications.     

Predicting phosphorus bioavailability from high-ash biochars

Background and aims

Biochars are highly variable in nutrient composition and availability, which are determined by types of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions. The aim of this research was to (a) study the bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in biochars using different feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions; (b) develop a robust chemical method for biochar P availability measurements.

Methods

In the present study, (a) chemical analysis – including total P and extractable P (2% citric acid, 2% formic acid, and neutral ammonium citrate extraction), and (b) a bioassay test using rye-grass grown in a P deficient sandy soil were used to compare the P bioavailability of different biochars. Biochars were produced from two different feedstocks (dairy manure-wood mixture, MAe; biosolid-wood mixture, BSe) at four different pyrolysis temperatures (250, 350, 450, and 550°C).

Results

Results showed that P in feedstock was fully recovered in the biochars. After 6 harvests, the biochars were as effective as the P fertilizers tested [Sechura phosphate rocks (SPR) and calcium dihydrogen phosphate (CaP)] in increasing the shoot yield. However, P uptake followed the order of CaP >MAe biochars >BSe biochars >SPR, on a same TP basis. Based on the Mitscherlich equation, 2% formic acid was the most sensitive indicator of P bioavailability in biochars.

Conclusions

The results suggest that high-ash biochars with high P concentrations are potential P sources with high-agronomic efficiency. We propose the use of 2% formic acid extraction to predict the availability of P in ash-rich biochars.     

Effects of Feedstock and Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Adsorption of Ammonium and Nitrate

Biochar produced by pyrolysis of biomass can be used to counter nitrogen (N) pollution. The present study investigated the effects of feedstock and temperature on characteristics of biochars and their adsorption ability for ammonium N (NH₄ ⁺-N) and nitrate N (NO₃ ⁻-N). Twelve biochars were produced from wheat-straw (W-BC), corn-straw (C-BC) and peanut-shell (P-BC) at pyrolysis temperatures of 400, 500, 600 and 700°C. Biochar physical and chemical properties were determined and the biochars were used for N sorption experiments. The results showed that biochar yield and contents of N, hydrogen and oxygen decreased as pyrolysis temperature increased from 400°C to 700°C, whereas contents of ash, pH and carbon increased with greater pyrolysis temperature. All biochars could sorb substantial amounts of NH₄ ⁺-N, and the sorption characteristics were well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model. The ability of biochars to adsorb NH₄ ⁺-N followed: C-BC>P-BC>W-BC, and the adsorption amount decreased with higher pyrolysis temperature. The ability of C-BC to sorb NH₄ ⁺-N was the highest because it had the largest cation exchange capacity (CEC) among all biochars (e.g., C-BC400 with a CEC of 38.3 cmol kg⁻¹ adsorbed 2.3 mg NH₄ ⁺-N g⁻¹ in solutions with 50 mg NH₄ ⁺ L⁻¹). Compared with NH₄ ⁺-N, none of NO₃ ⁻-N was adsorbed to biochars at different NO₃ ⁻ concentrations. Instead, some NO₃ ⁻-N was even released from the biochar materials. We conclude that biochars can be used under conditions where NH₄ ⁺-N (or NH₃) pollution is a concern, but further research is needed in terms of applying biochars to reduce NO₃ ⁻-N pollution.     

Influence of NH3/CO2 Modification on the Characteristic of Biochar and the CO2 Capture

This paper was aimed to study the influence of modification of biochar on the performance of CO₂ adsorption. Biochar, obtained from cotton stalk pyrolysis in a fixed bed reactor, was modified with ammonia and CO₂. The physicochemical properties of biochars were characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and automatic adsorption equipment (Micromeritics, ASAP 2020, USA). CO₂ adsorption of biochar was performed in thermogravimetric analyzer. The results showed that the surface area of char was increased significantly by CO₂ modification, while N-contained compound on char surface was enriched obviously by NH₃ modification. CO₂ adsorption of biochar increased greatly with CO₂ and NH₃ modification. CO₂ adsorption was mainly attributed to physical adsorption at 20 °C, and the adsorption quantity (maximum = 99 mg/g) was proportional to the micropore volume of the char. However, at 120 °C, molecular thermal motion increase, chemical adsorption start to play a dominated role, and the adsorption was directly proportional to the N content of this char.     

生物质炭添加对杉木人工林土壤原有有机碳矿化的影响

通过培养试验,利用¹³C标记技术研究不同热解温度制备的生物质炭添加对杉木人工林土壤原有有机碳矿化的影响,为生物质资源有效利用和亚热带人工林固碳管理提供科学依据.生物质炭制备材料分别为木荷(阔叶树种)和杉木(针叶树种)凋落物,培养温度为25 ℃,时间为112 d.结果表明: 在整个培养阶段,与对照土壤相比,不同生物质炭添加对土壤原有有机碳矿化的影响均呈现先促进后抑制的规律,具体表现为杉木生物质炭处理仅在培养0～3 d表现为显著促进作用,在7～112 d均呈现为显著抑制作用,而木荷生物质炭处理则在培养0～14 d表现为促进作用,在28～112 d均表现为显著的抑制作用.培养结束时,3种杉木生物质炭(350、550和750 ℃)处理均显著抑制了土壤原有有机碳矿化,2种木荷生物质炭(350和550 ℃)处理也表现为显著的抑制作用.木荷生物质炭和杉木生物质炭的分解率介于0.8%～2.8%,随着热解温度的升高,生物质炭的分解率呈下降趋势,且同一热解温度下木荷生物质炭的分解率显著高于杉木生物质炭.上述结果表明,原材料和制备温度是生物质炭影响土壤原有有机碳矿化和生物质炭分解的重要因素.     

The forms of alkalis in the biochar produced from crop residues at different temperatures

The forms of alkalis of the biochars produced from the straws of canola, corn, soybean and peanut at different temperatures (300, 500 and 700°C) were studied by means of oxygen-limited pyrolysis. The alkalinity and pH of the biochars increased with increased pyrolysis temperature. The X-ray diffraction spectra and the content of carbonates of the biochars suggested that carbonates were the major alkaline components in the biochars generated at the high temperature; they were also responsible for the strong buffer plateau-regions on the acid-base titration curves at 500 and 700°C. The data of FTIR-PAS and zeta potentials indicated that the functional groups such as -COO(-) (-COOH) and -O(-) (-OH) contained by the biochars contributed greatly to the alkalinity of the biochar samples tested, especially for those generated at the lower temperature. These functional groups were also responsible for the negative charges of the biochars.     

Pyrogenic temperature affects the particle size of biochar-supported nanoscaled zero valent iron (nZVI) and its silver removal capacity

Particle size of nanoscaled zero valent iron (nZVI) in nanocomposites can be affected by support materials. In this work, nZVI was supported by bamboo-derived biochars produced at 450 °C (BBL) and 600 °C (BBH). Total iron (Fe) contents were 14.4 and 11.9% for nZVI immobilized in BBL (nZVI/BBL) and BBH (nZVI/BBH), respectively. The resultant nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray analyses (SEM/EDS). The nZVI was successfully embedded in biochar pores and surfaces as confirmed by SEM/EDS and XRD. TEM revealed that particle sizes of nZVI in nZVI/BBL and nZVI/BBH were roughly 26 and 40 nm, respectively. The Ag⁺ sorption isotherms (25–300 mg L^?1 Ag⁺) suggested that 1 kg of nZVI in nZVI/BBL and nZVI/BBH removed as much as 745.5 and 534.5 g Ag⁺, respectively. The results suggested that Ag⁺ removal capacity was related to particle size of nZVI, which was also affected by pyrogenic temperature.     

Removal of Chromium (VI) from Aqueous Solution Using Mycelial Pellets of Penicillium simplicissimum Impregnated with Powdered Biochar

The mycelia pellets of Penicillium simplicissimum impregnated with powdered biochar (MPPSIPB) were synthesized and applied to remove chromium (VI) from aqueous solution. The effects of pH, MPPSIPB dosage, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and contact time were investigated via batch experiments. Results indicated that the percentage removal of Cr(VI) was significantly dependent on the pH of the solution. Ten grams mycelial pellets and 0.2 g powdered biochar could form the most stable pellets. The maximum value of biosorption of Cr(VI) was 28.0 mg/g. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the mycelia pellets of Penicillium simplicissimum had abundant filamentous network, which entrapped powdered biochar firmly. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis suggested that O?H, N?H, C?H, C?O, and C?OH groups from MPPSIPB were involved in chromium binding and the subsequent reduction. Kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order equation fit best for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution. Freundlich isotherm was found to apply better for the adsorption equilibrium data with respect to the Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, MPPSIPB can be separated from aqueous solution completely by filtration. Both experimental study and modeling results indicated that MPPSIPB exhibited remarkable affinity for chromate and had a potential application in Cr(VI) removal from water.