Owing to the depletion of bauxite and increasing demand for alumina, calcination methods for extracting alumina from coal fly ash (CFA) were developed. However, these methods have disadvantages such as the need for high temperatures and the emission of toxic gases. Hence, in this study, Al₂O₃ was extracted from CFA via low-temperature potassium bisulfate calcination technology. Effects of the potassium bisulfate amount, calcination temperature, and calcination time on the alumina extraction efficiency were investigated using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. It was found that this technique could recover alumina efficiently, and potassium bisulfate significantly contributed to the degradation of mullite and corundum phases. Al₂O₃ in CFA was converted into soluble K₃Al(SO₄)₃. With a KHSO₄/Al₂O₃ molar ratio of 7:1, calcining temperature of 230 °C, and calcining time of 3 h, the alumina extraction efficiency reached a maximum of 92.8%. The Avrami–Erofeev equation showed the best fit with the kinetic data for the low-temperature calcination of CFA with KHSO₄. The activation energy was 28.36 kJ/mol.

Biochar derived from straw is a potential low-cost adsorbent for metal ions and organic pollutants, but its practical application is still limited by the adsorption capacity. In this study, the correlation between the biochar’s properties and pyrolysis temperature was explored. The adsorption mechanism was studied by monitoring the changes of biochar properties before and after adsorption using BET, SEM, XPS and FT-IR spectroscopy. The adsorption mechanism was revealed following the adsorption kinetics and the changes in biochar’s properties before and after adsorption. The methylene blue (MB) and Pb²⁺ adsorption removal efficiency reached 95% at the initial concentration of 125 and 500 mg/L, respectively. Physisorption, chemisorption, and pore filling mechanisms determined the adsorption process of MB and Pb²⁺ on biochar. The Pb²⁺ adsorption process was highly affected by chemical co-precipitation at higher pyrolysis temperatures. The appearance of tar particles increased the adsorption rate of Pb²⁺. The biochar obtained at the pyrolysis temperature at 500, 800 and 900°C proved to be applicable for Pb²⁺ removal. Chemisorption and porosity dominated the MB adsorption, and biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 200, 800 and 900°C are potential materials for MB removal. This study provides optimal pyrolysis conditions for transforming maize straw into valuable, low-cost materials for the removal of different pollutants.