ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF ATRAZINE FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING BIOCHAR DERIVED FROM EUCALYPTUS SPP. SAWDUST

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the adsorptive performance of biochar produced from Eucalyptus spp. sawdust for the removal of atrazine from aqueous solutions. Methods: The biochar was produced by pyrolysis at 600 °C under a nitrogen (N₂) atmosphere and characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and zeta potential analysis. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time, initial concentration, and temperature. In addition, adsorption kinetics, equilibrium isotherms, thermodynamic behavior, and the reusability of the material through successive regeneration cycles were evaluated. Results: The biochar exhibited superior adsorptive performance compared with the raw biomass, achieving removal efficiencies above 80%. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within approximately 30 min, and the experimental data showed good agreement with the applied kinetic and isotherm models. The adsorption process was favored under acidic conditions and at 25 °C. Reusability tests demonstrated that the adsorbent maintained high removal efficiency for up to three consecutive cycles. Conclusion: These findings indicate that biochar derived from Eucalyptus spp. sawdust represents a promising and sustainable adsorbent for atrazine removal from contaminated aqueous systems.