Breakthrough in COVID-19 Adsorption: Scientists Develop Ultra-Efficient Biochar Material

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Northeastern University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against COVID-19, developing a biochar material that exhibits unparalleled efficiency in adsorbing COVID-19 drug residues. The researchers, led by Ting Sun, discovered that self-doping of biochar with heteroatoms such as boron, nitrogen, and sulfur significantly enhances its electronic structure and surface properties, enabling it to achieve rapid and efficient adsorption of COVID-19 drug residues.

Key Takeaways:

  • The developed biochar material, known as AMAC-3, exhibits a high specific surface area of 2754 cm^2/g, a large pore volume of 2.513 cm^3/g, and an appropriate degree of graphitization.
  • AMAC-3 achieved equilibrium adsorption of 20 mg L^-1 COVID-19 drug residues within 5-8 min, with an equilibrium adsorption capacity ranging from 158 to 195 mg g^-1 and a drug removal rate between 79% and 98%.
  • The research showed that the shorter adsorption equilibrium time and higher removal rate were attributed to the rapid mass transfer and electrons attraction.
  • Boron was found to be the preferred binding site for heteroatoms due to its electron-deficient nature.
  • The developed biochar material maintained high adsorption efficiency in the presence of coexisting anions and spiked real water samples.

Statistics:

  • The developed biochar material, AMAC-3, achieved equilibrium adsorption of 20 mg L^-1 COVID-19 drug residues within 5-8 min.
  • The adsorption equilibrium capacity of AMAC-3 ranged from 158 to 195 mg g^-1.
  • The drug removal rate by AMAC-3 was between 79% and 98%.
  • The material maintained high adsorption efficiency, even in the presence of coexisting anions, with a removal efficiency of 95% or higher.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers at Northeastern University Release New Data on COVID-19 (Electronic Structure of Biochar Modified Through Self-doping With Boron, Nitrogen and Sulfur Atoms for Rapid and Efficient Adsorption Of Covid-19 Drug Residues). News of Science. June 29, 2025; p 163.
  • Sun, T., et al. "Electronic Structure of Biochar Modified Through Self-doping With Boron, Nitrogen and Sulfur Atoms for Rapid and Efficient Adsorption Of Covid-19 Drug Residues." Separation and Purification Technology 2025;359.
  • Northeastern University, College of Science, Shenyang 110819, People's Republic of China.