Machine learning-driven prediction of phosphorus adsorption capacity of biochar: Insights for adsorbent design and process optimization

Phosphorus (P) pollution in aquatic environments poses significant environmental challenges, necessitating the development of effective remediation strategies, and biochar has emerged as a promising adsorbent for P removal at the cost of extensive research resources worldwide. In this study, a machine learning approach was proposed to simulate and predict the performance of biochar in removing P from water. A dataset consisting of 190 types of biochar was compiled from literature, encompassing various variables including biochar characteristics, water quality parameters, and operating conditions. Subsequently, the random forest and CatBoost algorithms were fine-tuned to establish a predictive model for P adsorption capacity. The results demonstrated that the optimized CatBoost model exhibited high prediction accuracy with an R2 value of 0.9573, and biochar dosage, initial P concentration in water, and C content in biochar were identified as the predominant factors. Furthermore, partial dependence analysis was employed to examine the impact of individual variables and interactions between two features, providing valuable insights for adsorbent design and operating condition optimization. This work presented a comprehensive framework for applying a machine learning approach to address environmental issues and provided a valuable tool for advancing the design and implementation of biochar-based water treatment systems.