Effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles and sheep manure biochar on the behavior of methylene blue organic contaminant in sandy loam and loam soils

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (T: 1 and 3%), sheep manure biochar (B: 1 and 3%), and their combination (T0.5% + B0.5% and T1.5% + B1.5%) on the degradation/sorption of methylene blue (MB: 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg soil) in sandy loam (SL) and loam (L) soils with variable light radiation (ultraviolet_(UV) and visible_(VS)). According to the results, the application of T (especially with UV radiation exposure), B, and their combination significantly reduced the MB concentration in the soils compared to the control treatment (without T and B). In addition, the combined application of T and B (T1.5% + B1.5%) was significantly more efficient than the other treatments in the reduction of the MB extraction in the studied soils. However, B and T application decreased the soil MB concentration, but due to the competition between the ions in the soils and MB for adsorption on the B and T surfaces, insufficient water in the soils to form appropriate amounts of degradable hydroxyl radicals, low absorption of UV radiation by T (due to the high thickness of the soil layer), and consumption of large amounts of T for soil organic matter degradation, the efficacy of these amendments decreased. Moreover, lack of using specialized biochar for this cationic contaminant (modification of the B functional groups) diminished the efficiency of this adsorbent in the soil, which requires further investigations.