Preparation and Characterization of Apricot Kernel Shell Biochar and Its Adsorption Mechanism for Atrazine

In this study, the preparation of apricot kernel shell biochar by a hydrothermal method and its adsorption mechanism for atrazine was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectrum (FTIR) analytical techniques. The results show that the biochar prepared from the apricot kernel shell has an evenly distributed, nonaggregated carbon microsphere structure and contains a large number of oxygen-containing groups. The higher the preparation temperature is, the more functional groups exist and the better the potential adsorption performance is. The adsorption kinetics of atrazine on apricot kernel shell biochar were fitted with a quasi-second-order kinetic equation (R 2 ≥ 0.995, p < 0.05). The isothermal adsorption data were in accordance with the Freundlich model (R 2 ≥ 0.911, p < 0.05). The adsorption of atrazine on apricot kernel shell biochar includes two processes: surface adsorption and diffusion. The adsorption capacity of apricot kernel shell biochar for atrazine increases with increasing preparation temperature and decreases with increasing pH and Ca 2+ concentration. The adsorption mechanism includes hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, biochar prepared from apricot shells, an agricultural waste, exhibits good adsorption performance for atrazine and has a good application prospect in addressing agricultural non-point source pollution, especially in pesticide residue pollution control.