Evaluation of phosphorus adsorption capacity of sesame straw biochar on aqueous solution: influence of activation methods and pyrolysis temperatures

Selective adsorption of antibiotics from human urine using biochar modified by dimethyl sulfoxide, deep eutectic solvent, and ionic liquid

Antibiotics present in human urine pose significant challenges for the use of urine-based fertilizers in agriculture. This study introduces a novel two-stage approach utilizing distinct biochar types to mitigate this concern. Initially, a modified biochar selectively adsorbed azithromycin (AZ), ciprofloxacin (CPX), sulfamethoxazole (SMX), trimethoprim (TMP), and tetracycline (TC) from human urine. Subsequently, a separate pristine biochar was employed to capture nutrients. Biochar, derived from sewage sludge and pyrolyzed at 550 and 700 °C, was modified using dimethyl sulfoxide, deep eutectic solvent, and ionic liquid to enhance antibiotic removal in the first stage. The modifications introduced hydrophilic functional groups (-OH/-COOH), which favor antibiotic adsorption. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, with the Langmuir isotherm model best describing the adsorption data. The maximum adsorption capacities for AZ, CPX, SMX, TMP, and TC after the modification were 196.08, 263.16, 81.30, 370.37, and 833.33 μg/g, respectively. Pristine biochar exhibited a superior ammonia adsorption capacity compared to the modified biochar. Hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, and chemisorption drove antibiotic adsorption on the modified biochar. Regeneration efficiency declined due to solvent accumulation and potential byproduct formation on the biochar surface (<30% removal capacity after three cycles). This study presents innovative biochar modification strategies for selective antibiotic adsorption, laying the groundwork for environmentally friendly urine-based fertilizers in agriculture.

Synthesis of a novel magnetic calcium-rich biochar nanocomposite for efficient removal of phosphate from aqueous solution

Phosphorus (P) scarcity and eutrophication have triggered the development of new materials for P recovery. In this work, a novel magnetic calcium-rich biochar nanocomposite (MCRB) was prepared through co-precipitation of crab shell derived biochar, Fe2+ and Fe3+. Characteristics of the material demonstrated that the MCRB was rich in calcite and that the Fe3O4 NPs with a diameter range of 18-22 nanometers were uniformly adhered on the biochar surface by strong ether linking (C-O-Fe). Batch tests demonstrated that the removal of P was pH dependent with an optimal pH of 3-7. The MCRB exhibited a superior P removal performance, with a maximum removal capacity of 105.6 mg g-1, which was even higher than the majority lanthanum containing compounds. Study of the removal mechanisms revealed that the P removal by MCRB involved the formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP-Ca5(PO4)3OH), electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange. The recyclability test demonstrated that a certain level (approximately 60%) was still maintained even after the six adsorption-desorption process, suggesting that MCRB is a promising material for P removal from wastewater.

Physicochemical properties and performance of non-woody derived biochars for the sustainable removal of aquatic pollutants: A systematic review

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced from the partial combustion of different biomass residues. It can be used as a promising material for adsorbing pollutants from soil and water and promoting environmental sustainability. Extensive research has been conducted on biochars prepared from different feedstocks used for pollutant removal. However, a comprehensive review of biochar derived from non-woody feedstocks (NWF) and its physiochemical attributes, adsorption capacities, and performance in removing heavy metals, antibiotics, and organic pollutants from water systems needs to be included. This review revealed that the biochars derived from NWF and their adsorption efficiency varied greatly according to pyrolysis temperatures. However, biochars (NWF) pyrolyzed at higher temperatures (400-800 °C) manifested excellent physiochemical and structural attributes as well as significant removal effectiveness against antibiotics, heavy metals, and organic compounds from contaminated water. This review further highlighted why biochars prepared from NWF are most valuable/beneficial for water treatment. What preparatory conditions (pyrolysis temperature, residence time, heating rate, and gas flow rate) are necessary to design a desirable biochar containing superior physiochemical and structural properties, and adsorption efficiency for aquatic pollutants? The findings of this review will provide new research directions in the field of water decontamination through the application of NWF-derived adsorbents.

Magnesium doped biochar for simultaneous adsorption of phosphate and nitrogen ions from aqueous solution

Phosphorus (P) and Ammonium Nitrogen (N) are essential nutrients for plants and environmental stability. However, their excess in water causes eutrophication, damaging aquatic ecosystems. While adsorption is a promising solution, finding affordable and efficient adsorbents remains a challenge. In this study, magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and Mg/Fe doped biochars (BC) adsorbents were synthesized, and evaluated for adsorption of individual P and N and a P + N mixture from a solution and wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant. Compared to other adsorbents, Mg/BC showed excellent performance in adsorbing phosphorus (P) and ammonium nitrogen (N) from aqueous solutions. It demonstrated a large adsorption capacity of 64.65 mg/g and 62.50 mg/g from individual P and N solutions, and 30.3 mg/g and 27.67 mg/g from the P and N mixture solution, respectively. In addition, Mg/BC efficiently removed P and N from real-life wastewater. In the real wastewater, P and N removal efficiencies reached 88.30% and 59.36%, respectively. Kinetics analysis revealed that the pseudo-second-order model accurately described the adsorption of phosphorus (P) and ammonium nitrogen (N) in all solutions. The adsorbent followed the monolayer-Langmuir isotherm for N ions and the multilayer-Freundlich isotherm for P, indicating efficient adsorption processes. Thermodynamic experiments indicated that the adsorption of P and N was not only feasible but also occurred spontaneously in a natural manner. This study revealed that the strategic modification of biochar plays a crucial role in advancing effective wastewater treatment technologies designed for nutrient removal.

Spectral characterization of the impact of modifiers and different prepare temperatures on snow lotus medicinal residue-biochar and dissolved organic matter

This study involved the production of 20 biochar samples derived from secondary medicinal residues of Snow Lotus Oral Liquid, processed within the temperature range of 200-600 °C. Additionally, four medicinal residues, including dissolved organic matter (DOM), from 24 samples obtained using the shaking method, served as the primary source material. The investigation focused on two key factors: the modifier and preparation temperature. These factors were examined to elucidate the spectral characteristics and chemical properties of the pharmaceutical residues, biochar, and DOM. To analyze the alterations in the spectral attributes of biochar and medicinal residues, we employed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) in conjunction with Fourier-infrared one-dimensional and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy. These findings revealed that modifiers enhanced the aromaticity of biochar, and the influence of preparation temperature on biochar was diminished. This observation indicates the stability of the aromatic functional group structure. Comparative analysis indicated that Na2CO3 had a more pronounced structural effect on biochar, which is consistent with its adsorption properties. Furthermore, we utilized the fluorescence indices from UV-visible spectroscopy and excitation-emission-matrix spectra with the PARAFAC model to elucidate the characteristics of the fluorescence components in the DOM released from the samples. The results demonstrated that the DOM released from biochar primarily originated externally. Aromaticity reduction and increased decay will enhance the ability of the biochar to bind pollutants. Those results confirmed the link between the substantial increase in the adsorption performance of the high-temperature modified charcoal in the previous study and the structural changes in the biochar. We investigated the structural changes of biochar and derivative DOM in the presence of two perturbing factors, modifier and preparation temperature. Suitable modifiers were selected. Preparation for the study of adsorption properties of snow lotus medicinal residues.

Experimental and DFT insights into the adsorption mechanism of methylene blue by alkali-modified corn straw biochar

As an efficient and cost-effective adsorbent, biochar has been widely used in the adsorption and removal of dyes. In this study, a simple NaOH-modified biochar with the pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C (NaCBC300) was synthesized, characterized, and investigated for the adsorption performances and mechanisms of methylene blue (MB). NaCBC300 exhibited excellent MB adsorption performance with maximum removal efficiency and adsorption capacity of 99.98% and 290.71 mg g-1, which were three and four times higher than biochar without modification, respectively. This might be attributed to the increased content of -OH and the formation of irregular flakes after NaOH modification. The Freundlich isotherm suggested multilayer adsorption between NaCBC300 and MB. Spectroscopic characterizations demonstrated that multiple mechanisms including π-π interaction, H-bonding, and pore-filling were involved in the adsorption. According to density functional theory (DFT) calculations, electrostatic interaction between NaCBC300 and MB was verified. The highest possibility of the attraction between NaCBC300 and MB was between -COOH in NaCBC300 and R-N(CH3)2 in MB. This work improved our understanding of the mechanism for MB adsorption by modified biochar and provided practical and theoretical guidance for adsorbent preparation with high adsorption ability for dyes.

Multi-factorial investigation of the effect of biochar of the secondary medicinal residue of snow lotus on the adsorption of two azo dyes, methyl red and methyl orange

Azo dye residues pollute water, which are difficult to decompose, and posing a major threat to the ecological environment. The residues of Chinese medicine still have many possibilities for use after its medicinal value has been brought into play. In this study, secondary residue biochar activation (Na2 CO3 -modified, SBA) and secondary residue biochar (unmodified, SBC) were prepared from the secondary residue of snow lotus at 200-600°C. Surface features were obtained by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller N2 method and combined with scanning electron microscopy, and their structures were analyzed by x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, Fourier infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy. The effects of five factors, including initial concentration, contact time and adsorption temperature and so forth, on the adsorption of methyl red (MR) and methyl orange (MO) solutions were investigated. Results showed that the biochar yield, specific surface area, and pore size increased after modification. modification promoted the formation of the internal structure aromatization and oxygen-containing functional groups. Adsorption experiments showed that the surroundings pH = 8, the dyes adsorption concentration of 8 mg/L, adsorption temperature of 20-40°C and time of about 1 h were more stable. Under the condition, the removal of MO by SBA could reach approximately 60%-80% (480-640 mg/g), while the removal of MR could reach more than 90% (>720 mg/g).The charcoal prepared and modified under high temperature conditions was more effective for MO adsorption, while MR relied on low temperature effectively. This study provides a new choice of adsorbent for MR and MO and finds a new direction for the utilization of snow lotus residues.

Development of Rice Straw-derived Biochar-Bentonite Composite and its Application for in situ Sequestration of Ammonium and Phosphate Ions in the Degraded Mine Soil

Nutrient pollution has a diverse impact on the environment and human health. The presence of nutrients, such as ammonium and phosphate, is ubiquitous in the environment due to their extensive use in agricultural land and leaching through non-point sources. In this context, biochar-based composites could play an essential role in improving the soil's nutrient retention capacity. The present study aims to develop bentonite-biochar composites (BNT@BC 400 and 600) and utilize them as an ameliorating material in the coal mine degraded soil to reduce the leaching of ammonium and phosphate ions. The bentonite-biochar composite (BNT@BC 400 and 600) was synthesized using the pristine rice straw-derived biochar using the solvothermal method. The biochar was produced at two different pyrolytic temperatures, 400 °C and 600 °C, and denoted as BC 400 and 600, respectively. Hence, the bentonite-biochar composite was denoted as BNT@BC 400 and 600. The BNT@BC 400 and 600 were characterized using the elemental, proximate, SEM, XRD, and FTIR analysis. Subsequently, the BNT@BC composites were evaluated for the adsorptive removal of NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- ions using batch adsorption and column leaching studies. In the soil columns, the BNT@BC 400 and 600 were mixed with the soil at two different application rates, viz. 1 and 2.5% (w/w). The leaching characteristics data were fitted using three different fixed-bed models to predict the maximum adsorption capacity of the amended soil columns and the dominant mechanism of adsorption. Results indicated that the BNT@BC 600 showed the maximum adsorption capacity of 33.77 and 64.23 mg g^-1 for the adsorption of NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- ions, respectively. The dominant adsorption mechanisms in the aqueous solution were the electrostatic attraction, complexation, ion exchange, and precipitation processes. In the soil columns, the sorption of NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- ions was governed by diffusive mass transfer and electrostatic interaction. Findings of the study indicated that incorporating the BNT@BC composite in the soil can significantly reduce the leaching of the NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- ions and increase the overall soil fertility.

Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus in wastewater by red mud-modified biochar and its potential application

A large amount of wastewater containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and fluorine produces in the production of phosphate fertilizer. In this study, to simultaneously recover nitrogen and phosphorus from phosphorus-containing wastewater and realize the resource utilization of red mud and rape straw, red mud-modified rape straw biochar (RM/RSBC) was prepared by facile one step, and the physicochemical properties were characterized by Zeta potential, SEM-EDS, BET specific surface area (SSA), FTIR, XRD, and XPS. The adsorption performance and mechanisms of ammonium and phosphate onto RM/RSBC were explored through static, fixed-bed column adsorption, and practical wastewater experiments. The results showed that pH = 3.0 and 8.0 were favorable for the removal of phosphate and ammonium, respectively. The main adsorption mechanisms of ammonium and phosphate were the interaction between ammonium and surface functional groups and surface precipitation, respectively. The removal efficiencies of ammonium and phosphate by fixed-bed column adsorption mainly depended on the addition amount of RM/RSBC, the concentration of ammonium and phosphate, and the flow rate. The results of the germination experiment showed that adding > 0.5 wt% of RM/RSBC loaded with ammonium and phosphate promoted the growth of mung beans. This study shows that RM/RSBC can not only recover ammonium and phosphate in wastewater, but also realize the resource utilization of red mud and rape straw.

Synthesis of carbon molecular sieves from agricultural residues: Status, challenges and prospects

Adsorption is the most promising technology used in the gas separation and purification process. The key success of this technology relies on the selection of an adsorbent. Activated carbon and zeolites are the most commonly used adsorbents in the separation of particular gas from gaseous mixtures. Activated carbon deriving from fossil and biomass-based resources has wide pore size distribution and thereby results in lower selectivity. Whereas, zeolites synthesized from natural minerals are expensive which increases the cost of the purification process. Taking this into concern, the quest for synthesizing low-cost and effective adsorbents has gained greater attention in recent years. Carbon Molecular Sieves (CMSs), are considered as an attractive alternative to replace the conventional adsorbents. Furthermore, CMSs exhibit higher selectivity and adsorption capacity, due to their narrow micropore size distribution (0.3-0.5 nm). CMSs are synthesized from any organic carbonaceous precursor with low inorganic content. Since most of the agricultural residues fall under this category, they can be used as a feedstock for CMSs production. The synthesis of CMSs involves three stages: carbonization, activation, and pore modification. In this review, physicochemical characteristics of various agricultural residues, the effects of carbonization process parameters, activation methods, and pore modification techniques adopted for producing CMSs are comprehensively discussed. The effect of deposition temperature, time, and flow rate of depositing agent on pore characteristics of CMSs is briefed. The prospects and challenges in CMSs production are also studied. The insights in this review provide guidelines for synthesizing CMSs from agro-residues.

From waste to fertilizer: Nutrient recovery from wastewater by pristine and engineered biochars

Biochar application for the recovery of nutrients from wastewater is a sustainable method based on a circular economy. Wastewater, food wastewater, and stormwater are valuable sources of nutrients (i.e., PO₄^3-, NO₃^-, and NH₄⁺). The unique properties of biochar, such as its large specific surface area, pH buffering capacity, and ion-exchange ability, make it a cost-effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent. Biochar engineering improves biochar properties and provide targeted adsorbents. The biochar-based fertilizers can be a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilization. The aim of the study was to compare the potential of pristine and engineered biochars to recover nutrients from wastewater and to determine the factors which may affect this process. Engineered biochar can be used as a selective adsorbent from multicomponent solutions. Adsorption on engineered biochar can be also regulated by additional mechanisms: surface precipitation and ligand/ion exchange. Metal modification (e.g. Mg, Fe) enhances PO₄^3- and NO₃^- adsorption capacity, and thus may provide the extra plant macro-/micronutrients. The desorption mechanism, which is the basis for nutrient release are strongly pH depended. The use of biochar-based fertilizer can have economic and agricultural benefits when using waste materials and reducing pyrolysis energy costs.

Nanoporous carbon materials as a sustainable alternative for the remediation of toxic impurities and environmental contaminants: A review

Due to rapidly deteriorating water resources, the world is looking forward to a sustainable alternative for the remediation of noxious pollutants such as heavy metals and organic and gaseous contaminants. To address this global issue of environmental pollution, nanoporous carbon materials (NPCMs) can be used as a one-stop solution. They are widely applied as adsorbents for many toxic impurities and environmental contaminants. The present review provides a detailed overview of the role of different synthesis factors on the porous characteristics of carbon materials, activating agents, reagent-precursor ratio and their potential application in the remediation. Findings revealed that synthetic parameters result in the formation of microporous NPCMs (S_BET: >4000 m³/g; V_Total (cm³/g) ≥ 2; V_Micro (cm³/g) ≥ 1), micromesoporous (S_BET: >2500 m³/g; V_Total (cm³/g) ≥ 1.5; V_Micro (cm³/g) ≥ 0.7) and mesoporous (S_BET: >2500 m³/g; V_Total (cm³/g) ≥ 1.5; V_Micro (cm³/g) ≥ 0.5) NPCMs. Moreover, it was observed that a narrow pore size distribution (0.5-2.0 nm) yields excellent results in the remediation of noxious contaminants. Further, chemical activating agents such as NaOH, KOH, ZnCl₂, and H₃PO₄ were compared. It was observed that activating agents KОН, H₃PO₄, and ZnCl₂ were generally used and played a significant role in the possible large-scale production and commercialization of NPCMs. Thus, it can be interpreted that with a well-planned strategy for the synthesis, NPCMs with a "tuned" porosity for a specific application, in particular, microporosity for the accumulation and adsorption of energetically important gases (CO₂, CH₄, H₂), micro-mesoporosity and mesoporosity for high adsorption capacity for towards metal ions and a large number of dyes, respectively.

Application of biochar as an innovative soil ameliorant in bioretention system for stormwater treatment: A review of performance and its influencing factors

As an emerging environment functional material, biochar has become a research hotspot in environmental fields because of its excellent ecological and environmental benefits. Recently, biochar has been used as an innovative soil ameliorant in bioretention systems (BRS) to effectively enhance pollutant removal efficiency for BRS. This paper summarizes and evaluates the performance and involved mechanisms of biochar amendment in BRS with respect to the removal of nutrients (TN (34-47.55%) and PO₄^3--P (47-99.8%)), heavy metals (25-100%), pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia coli (30-98%)), and organic contaminants (77.2-100%). For biochar adsorption, the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models are the most suitable kinetic and isothermal adsorption models, respectively. Furthermore, we analyzed and elucidated some factors that influence the pollutant removal performance of biochar-amended BRS, such as the types of biochar, the preparation process and physicochemical properties of biochar, the aging of biochar, the chemical modification of biochar, and the hydraulic loading, inflow concentration and drying-rewetting alternation of biochar-amended BRS. The high potential for recycling spent biochar in BRS as a soil ameliorant is proposed. Collectively, biochar can be used as an improved medium in BRS. This review provides a foundation for biochar selection in biochar-amended BRS. Future research and practical applications of biochar-amended BRS should focus on the long-term stability of treatment performances under field conditions, chemical modification with co-impregnated nanomaterials in biochar surface, and the durability, aging, and possible negative effects of biochar.

Preparation, adsorption performance and mechanism of MgO-loaded biochar in wastewater treatment: A review

Biochar is a low cost, porous and solid material with an extremely high carbon content, various types of functional groups, a large specific surface area and many other desirable characteristics. Thus, it is often used as an adsorbent or a loading matrix. Nano-magnesium oxide is a crystalline material with small particles and strong ion exchangeability. However, due to the high surface chemical energy, it easily forms agglomerates of particles. Therefore, to combine the advantages of biochar and magnesium, metal magnesium nanoparticles can be loaded onto the surface of biochar with different modification techniques, resulting in biochars with low cost and high adsorption performance to be used as an adsorption matrix (collectively referred to as Mg@BC). This review presents the effects of different Mg@BC preparation methods and synthesis conditions and summarizes the removal capabilities and adsorption mechanisms of Mg@BC for different types of pollutants in water. In addition, the review proposes the prospects for the development of Mg@BC to solve various problems in the future.

Effects of different modifiers on the sorption and structural properties of biochar derived from wheat stalk

Nitrobenzene is a widespread contaminant in water. Biochar (BC) is a promising material for removing organic pollutants, but the adsorption capacity of pristine BC is low. Chemical modification is often used to improve the adsorption performance, but information on the sorption of nitrobenzene by modified BC is rare. In this study, BCs pyrolyzed at 300, 500, and 700 °C were modified by hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and nitric acid (HNO3), respectively. The properties, nitrobenzene sorption behaviors, and sorption mechanisms of different BCs were analyzed. The results showed that chemical modification decreased the sorption of nitrobenzene on BCs pyrolyzed at 300 °C, possibly due to the loss of the partition phase and the increase in polarity after modification. Regarding BCs pyrolyzed at 500 and 700 °C, the NaOH and HCl modifications significantly increased the sorption capacity by 19% and 60%, 18%, and 41%, respectively, possibly due to the increase in surface area, available pores, and aromaticity, while HNO3 modification decreased the sorption capacity by 41% and 31%. Two reasons were probably responsible for the decrease: one was the decrease in surface area after HNO3 modification due to the destruction of pore walls and the continuity of holes; the other was the strong repulsion between the nitro groups formed on the surface of BC and the nitro groups of nitrobenzene that drove nitrobenzene molecules away from the surface. A principal component-based comprehensive evaluation of the BC properties, which were significantly correlated with the sorption isotherm parameters, was used to evaluate the nitrobenzene sorption performance of the modified BC. Overall, BC pyrolyzed at 700 °C modified with NaOH or HCl were proposed as effective sorption materials for the removal of nitrobenzene in environment, which also provided a chemical modified method of biochar derived from agricultural waste.

Phosphate sequestration by lanthanum-layered rare earth hydroxides through multiple mechanisms while avoiding the attenuation effect from sediment particles in lake water

Lanthanum-based adsorbents have been used extensively to capture phosphate from wastewater. However, the attenuation effect that arises from the coexistence of sediment and humic acid is the major drawback in practical applications. The Lanthanum-layered rare earth hydroxides (LRHs)-Cl (La-LRH-Cl) was synthesized and achieved high elemental phosphorus (P) adsorption capacity (138.9 mg-P g^-1) along with a fast adsorption rate (k₂ = 0.0031 g mg^-1·min^-1) over a wide pH range while avoiding the attenuation effect that arises from the coexistence of sediment and humic acid in lake water. The La-LRH-Cl effectively captured phosphate through multiple interactions, such as the ion exchange of Cl^- and phosphate, the memory effect of LRH and the inner-sphere complexation of La-P. Moreover, physical models demonstrated that the adsorption of phosphate onto La-LRH-Cl was a monolayer endothermic process, during which PO₄^3- interacted by multi-docking via parallel orientation at 293 K and multi-ionic interactions through pure non-parallel orientation at 303 K. Hence, 1000 L of 11.08 mg-P L^-1 of the acquired lake water was decontaminated by 30 g of La-LRH-Cl to 0.09 mg-P L^-1 within 7 days. In addition, over ~12,125 BV of an industrial effluent containing 3.26 mg-P L^-1 was treated to below USEPA's discharge limit in fixed-bed tests. It was found that the memory effect of LRH was responsible for the stable performance and reusability. Therefore, more focus should be placed on the collective role of La and LRH layered structure as a means of preventing the attenuation effect in the real water matrix.

Organochlorine POPs sequestration strategy by carbonaceous amendments of contaminated soils: Toward a better understanding of the transfer reduction to laying hens

PCBs, PCDD/Fs, and Chlordecone (CLD) are POPs found in soils and transferred to animals through involuntary soil ingestion. In this frame, the amendment of contaminated soil with porous matrices, like Biochars (BCs) and Activated Carbons (ACs), is a promising technique for reducing this transfer. In this study, the efficiency of 3 biochars and 3 activated carbons was assessed by amending 2% (by weight) of these matrices on (i) CLD or (ii) PCBs and PCDD/Fs contaminated artificial soils. Porosity of the carbon-based materials and molecules physico-chemical characteristics were then linked to the obtained results. The concentrations of pollutants were then measured in the egg yolks of laying hens (n = 3), which were fed on a daily basis pellets containing 10% of soil for 20 days. Overall, no significant transfer reduction was observed with the biochar and the granular AC amendments for all the compounds. However, significant reductions were obtained with the two efficient activated carbons for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCB up to 79-82% (TEQ basis), whereas only a slight reduction of concentrations was obtained with these activated carbons for CLD and NDL-PCBs. Thus, (i) biochars were not proven efficient to reduce halogenated pollutants transfer to animals, (ii) powdered AC amendments resulted in reducing the bioavailability of soil POPs, and (iii) the effectiveness of such strategy depended on both characteristics of the matrix and of the pollutants.

Release characteristics of phosphate from ball-milled biochar and its potential effects on plant growth

Ball-milled biochar could potentially supply phosphorus, an essential element for plant growth. To realize resource reuse and phosphorus recovery, three feedstocks (rice straw, distillers grains, and Eupatorium adenophorum) were used to prepare ball-milled biochar to evaluate its release characteristics of phosphorus and potential effects on germination and growth. The results showed that the phosphate release performance of ball-milled distillers grains biochar (DM) at 300 and 600 °C was better than that of other biochars ball-milled for 12 h. The DM prepared at 600 °C and incubated for 12 (DM-12) or 24 h (DM-24) had the best phosphate release capacity. The solution with pH 3.0 was beneficial to the release of phosphate from DM-12. The pseudo-second-order model could better fit the phosphate release of DM-12. A germination and seedling growth experiment suggested that adding 2.5 wt% DM-12 was beneficial to the height of mung beans. This study shows that DM-12 can be used as a slow-release fertilizer for the growth of mung beans, which provides a new way for resource utilization of distillers grains and phosphorus-rich biochar.

Removal of phosphate from water by paper mill sludge biochar

Biochar modification by metals and metal oxides is considered a practical approach for enhancing the adsorption capacity of anionic compounds such as phosphate (P). This study obtained paper mill sludge (PMS) biochar (PMSB) via a one-step process by pyrolyzing PMS waste containing ferric salt to remove anionic P from water. The ferric salt in the sludge was transformed into ferric oxide and zero-valent-iron (Fe⁰) in N₂ atmosphere at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 300 to 800 °C. The maximum adsorption (Q_m) of the PMSBs for P ranged from 9.75 to 25.19 mg P/g. Adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process, which implies chemisorption. PMSB obtained at 800 °C (PMSB800) exhibited the best performance for P removal. Fe⁰ in PMSB800 plays a vital role in P removal via adsorption and coprecipitation, such as forming the ≡Fe-O-P ternary complex. Furthermore, the possible chemical precipitation of P by CaO decomposed from calcite (CaCO₃; an additive of paper production that remains in PMS) may also contribute to the removal of P by PMSB800. Moreover, PMSBs can be easily separated magnetically from water after application and adsorption. This study achieved a waste-to-wealth strategy by turning waste PMS into a metal/metal oxide-embedded biochar with excellent P removal capability and simple magnetic separation properties via a one-step pyrolysis process.

Efficient reclaiming phosphate from aqueous solution using waste limestone modified sludge biochar: Mechanism and application as soil amendments

A novel limestone-modified biochar derived from sewage sludge was prepared to reclaim phosphorus (P) from aqueous solution, and the potential application of P-laden biochar as soil amendments was also investigated. The limestone-modified biochar demonstrated excellent performance on phosphate recovery from aqueous solution in a wide range of pH (2.0-11.0), with maximum adsorption capacity of the biochar (Limestone/sludge mass ratio of 3:1) up to 231.28 mg P/g, which was 10.7 times that of the original sludge biochar. The adsorption was well described by the pseudo second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. According to the adsorption thermodynamic parameters, the phosphate adsorption was spontaneous (ΔG⁰ < 0) and endothermic (ΔH⁰ > 0) so that increasing the temperature was beneficial to adsorption. Characterization analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS) proved that electrostatic attraction, surface complexation and brushite (CaHPO₄^.2H₂O) precipitation were the dominant mechanism. The P-laden biochar exhibited an excellent ability to be reused as a new slow-release P fertilizer for soil. Pot experiment results showed that the treatment of P-laden LB 3:1 (P content of 22.8%) addition (1 wt%) significantly promoted Indian Lettuce germination (increasing by 14.4%), plant height (increasing by 18.6%), and dry biomass (53.0%) compared with the control, though it underperformed compared to commercial fertilizer.

Biochar affects the fate of phosphorus in soil and water: A critical review

Biochar is a promising novel material for managing phosphorus (P), a nutrient often limiting for primary production but can also be a pollutant, in the environment. Reducing P input to the environment and finding cost-effective approaches to remediate P contamination are major challenges in P management. There is currently no review that systematically summarizes biochar effects on soil P availability and its P removal potential from water systems. In this paper, we comprehensively reviewed biochar effects on soil P availability and P removal from water systems and discussed the mechanisms involved. Biochar affects soil P cycling by altering P chemical forms, changing soil P sorption and desorption capacities, and influencing microbial population size, enzyme activities, mycorrhizal associations and microbial production of metal-chelating organic acids. The porous structure, high specific surface area, and metal oxide and surface functional groups make biochars effective materials for removing P from eutrophic water via ligand exchange, cation bridge, and P precipitation. Because soil and biochar properties are widely variable, the effect of biochar on the fate of P in soil and water systems is inconsistent among different studies. Knowledge gaps in the economic practicability of large-scale biochar application, the longevity of biochar benefits, and the potential ecological risks of biochar application should be addressed in future research.

Potential hazards of biochar: The negative environmental impacts of biochar applications

Biochar has been widely used as an environmentally friendly material for soil improvement and remediation, water pollution control, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and other purposes because of its characteristics such as a large surface area, porous structure, and abundant surface O-containing functional groups. However, some surface properties (i.e., (i) some surface properties (i.e., organic functional groups and inorganic components), (ii) changes in pH), and (iii) chemical reactions (e.g., aromatic C ring oxidation) that occur between biochar and the application environment may result in the release of harmful components. In this study, biochars with a potential risk to the environment were classified according to their harmful components, surface properties, structure, and particle size, and the potential negative environmental effects of these biochars and the mechanisms inducing these negative effects were reviewed. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the negative environmental impacts of biochar on soil, water, and atmospheric environments. It also summarizes various technical methods of environment-related risk detection and evaluation of biochar application, thereby providing a baseline reference and guiding significance for future biochar selection and toxicity detection, evaluation, and avoidance.

Review of organic and inorganic pollutants removal by biochar and biochar-based composites

Biochar (BC) has exhibited a great potential to remove water contaminants due to its wide availability of raw materials, high surface area, developed pore structure, and low cost. However, the application of BC for water remediation has many limitations. Driven by the intense desire of overcoming unfavorable factors, a growing number of researchers have carried out to produce BC-based composite materials, which not only improved the physicochemical properties of BC, but also obtained a new composite material which combined the advantages of BC and other materials. This article reviewed previous researches on BC and BC-based composite materials, and discussed in terms of the preparation methods, the physicochemical properties, the performance of contaminant removal, and underlying adsorption mechanisms. Then the recent research progress in the removal of inorganic and organic contaminants by BC and BC-based materials was also systematically reviewed. Although BC-based composite materials have shown high performance in inorganic or organic pollutants removal, the potential risks (such as stability and biological toxicity) still need to be noticed and further study. At the end of this review, future prospects for the synthesis and application of BC and BC-based materials were proposed. This review will help the new researchers systematically understand the research progress of BC and BC-based composite materials in environmental remediation.

A review on application of activated carbons for carbon dioxide capture: present performance, preparation, and surface modification for further improvement

The atmosphere security and regulation of climate change are being continuously highlighted as a pressing issue. The crisis of climate change owing to the anthropogenic carbon dioxide emission has led many governments at federal and provincial levels to promulgate policies to address this concern. Among them is regulating the carbon dioxide emission from major industrial sources such as power plants, petrochemical industries, cement plants, and other industries that depend on the combustion of fossil fuels for energy to operate. In view of this, various CO2 capture and sequestration technologies have been investigated and presented. From this review, adsorption of CO2 on porous solid materials has been gaining increasing attention due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of application, and comparably low energy demand. Despite the myriad of advanced materials such as zeolites, carbons-based, metal-organic frameworks, mesoporous silicas, and polymers being researched, research on activated carbons (ACs) continue to be in the mainstream. Therefore, this review is endeavored to elucidate the adsorption properties of CO2 on activated carbons derived from different sources. Selective adsorption based on pore size/shape and surface chemistry is investigated. Accordingly, the effect of surface modifications of the ACs with NH3, amines, and metal oxides on adsorption performance toward CO2 is evaluated. The adsorption performance of the activated carbons under humid conditions is also reviewed. Finally, activated carbon-based composite has been surveyed and recommended as a feasible strategy to improve AC adsorption properties toward CO2. The activated carbon surface in the graphical abstract is nitrogen rich modified using ammonia through thermal treatment. The values of CO2 emissions by sources are taken from (Yoro and Daramola 2020).

Modification of Hardwood Derived Biochar to Improve Phosphorus Adsorption

The excessive application of phosphorus in agricultural lands leads to serious environmental issues. Efficient application is beneficial from an economic and environmental perspectives. Biochar can be used as a carrier for slow release of phosphate. However, its adsorption capacity is limited. In this work, biochar was prepared at different pyrolysis temperatures (350–550 °C). The biochar prepared at 550 °C had the highest adsorption capacity and was selected for modification by magnesium impregnation. Magnesium modification enhanced the adsorption capacity by 34% to a theoretical max adsorption capacity of 463.5 mg·g−1. The adsorbed phosphate can be desorbed. The desorption was bi-phasic with fast- and slow-release fractions. The distribution of the phosphate fractions was pH dependent with slow release being most prominent in neutral conditions. Mg modified biochar can be used to recover phosphate and then used as a carrier for slow release of phosphate. The bi-phasic desorption behaviour is useful as the fast release fraction can provide the immediate phosphate needed during plant establishment, while the slow-release fraction maintains steady supply over extended periods.

Removal of ammonia nitrogen and phosphorus by biochar prepared from sludge residue after rusty scrap iron and reduced iron powder enhanced fermentation

The rusty scrap iron (RSI) or a mixture of rusty scrap iron and reduced iron powder (RSI-RIP) can be used as an exogenous additive to enhance the anaerobic fermentation of sewage sludge. In order to make rational use of the fermentation residue, the sludge after intensified fermentation was pyrolyzed to produce biochar in this study, which was used in the adsorption of ammonia and phosphorus from the anaerobic fermentation broth. The experimental results demonstrated that the pore structure of the sludge biochar was greatly improved after enhanced fermentation with RSI and RIP. Meanwhile, there was an increase in the proportion of metallic elements such as Ca, Fe and Mg. On the other hand, the RSI-RIP co-enhanced fermented biochar (ES600) prepared at 600 °C showed a higher adsorption capacity, which was comparable to the commercially activated carbon. Neutral or weakly alkaline environments were preferred during the adsorption process. At a suitable pH condition, the maximum removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and total phosphorus (TP) on ES600 reached 91.3% and 98.6%, respectively. In addition, the saturated ES600 was regenerated by simple washing with ammonia-free water. After three cycles, the removal efficiency of NH₄⁺-N and TP remained at 71.3% and 83.2%, respectively. As a result, the biochar prepared from RSI-RIP enhanced fermented sludge can be used as a promising low-cost adsorbent.

Insight into activated carbon from different kinds of chemical activating agents: A review

Activated carbon (AC) is an important material in various fields owing to its low cost, well-developed porosity, and favorable chemical stability. Key factors for the optimal synthesis of AC are the carbon precursors, activation pathways, activating agents, and design of the procedure parameters. So far, no case studies have reviewed the activating agents used during the chemical activation process. Accordingly, the present review provides a summary of recent research, highlighting the development of activating agents during the process of AC. Detailed lists of pore-forming mechanisms by various activating agents, including alkaline, acidic, neutral, and self-activating agents, have been systematically summarized. Furthermore, the effects of activating agents on the experimental procedures have also been established. Finally, a comprehensive discussion about the influences of activating agents on the physical and chemical properties of the resultant AC is included. The objective of this study is to reveal and distinguish the individual roles of different activating agents during AC synthesis.

Evaluating biochar and its modifications for the removal of ammonium, nitrate, and phosphate in water

Removal of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from water through the use of various sorbents is often considered an economically viable way for supplementing conventional methods. Biochar has been widely studied for its potential adsorption capabilities for soluble N and P, but the performance of different types of biochars can vary widely. In this review, we summarized the adsorption capacities of biochars in removing N (NH₄-N and NO₃-N) and P (PO₄-P) based on the reported data, and discussed the possible mechanisms and influencing factors. In general, the NH₄-N adsorption capacity of unmodified biochars is relatively low, at levels of less than 20 mg/g. This adsorption is mainly via ion exchange and/or interactions with oxygen-containing functional groups on biochar surfaces. The affinity is even lower for NO₃-N, because of electrostatic repulsion by negatively charged biochar surfaces. Precipitation of PO₄-P by metals/metal oxides in biochar is the primary mechanism for PO₄-P removal. Biochars modified by metals have a significantly higher capacity to remove NH₄-N, NO₃-N, and PO₄-P than unmodified biochar, due to the change in surface charge and the increase in metal oxides on the biochar surface. Ambient conditions in the aqueous phase, including temperature, pH, and co-existing ions, can significantly alter the adsorption of N and P by biochars, indicating the importance of optimal processing parameters for N and P removal. However, the release of endogenous N and P from biochar to water can impede its performance, and the presence of competing ions in water poses practical challenges for the use of biochar for nutrient removal. This review demonstrates that progress is needed to improve the performance of biochars and overcome challenges before the widespread field application of biochar for N and P removal is realized.

Efficient removal of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) using sewage sludge-derived biochar: Adsorptive effect and mechanism

Sewerage sludge-derived biochars (SSDBCs) with high adsorption capacity and excellent recyclability were synthesized to remove tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in aqueous system. Scanning electron microscopy, elemental mapping via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the morphology, composition, and microstructures. The maximum adsorption capacity of SSDBCs was about 87.02 mg g^-1 at 303 K and pH 7.5. The Langmuir isotherm demonstrated that the adsorption was mainly homogeneous and chemical processes. The kinetics of TBBPA removal well fitted the second-order dynamic model. Thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption was exothermic. The effect of π-π dispersive force and hydrogen bonding was proven as the main adsorption mechanism. Multiple cycle runs experiment revealed the excellent stability of recycled SSDBCs. This work provided a promising method of sludge resourceful treatment using an efficient, economic, cyclic, and convenient material for typical organic contaminant in the environment.

Synthesis of Cost-Effective Pomelo Peel Dimethoxydiphenylsilane-Derived Materials for Pyrene Adsorption: From Surface Properties to Adsorption Mechanisms

This study investigated the adsorption behaviors of pyrene (PYR) on a pomelo peel adsorbent (PPA), biochar (PPB), and H₃PO₄-modified (HPP), NaOH-activated (NPP), and dimethoxydiphenylsilane-treated (DPDMS-NPP) pomelo peel materials. SEM, FTIR, and elemental analyses of DPDMS-NPP's surface structure showed that the material was characterized by a well-developed porous structure, a large specific surface area (698.52 m² g^-1), and an abundance of phenyl functional groups. These properties enhance the PYR adsorption performance of DPDMS-NPP. Experimental results indicated that the adsorption capacity of DPDMS-NPP was significantly affected by the amount of material used and the initial concentration of PYR. Kinetic assessments suggested that PYR adsorption on PPA, NPP, and DPDMS-NPP could be accurately described by the pseudo second-order model. The adsorption process was controlled by several mechanisms, including electron donor-acceptor (EDA), electrostatic, and π-π interactions as well as film and intraparticle diffusion. The adsorption isotherm studies showed that PYR adsorption on DPDMS-NPP and PPA was well described by the Langmuir model and the maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of DPDMS-NPP was 531.9 μg g^-1. Overall, the results presented herein suggested that the use of DPDMS-NPP adsorbents constitutes an economic and environmentally friendly approach for the mitigation of PYR contamination risks.

Investigation into lanthanum-coated biochar obtained from urban dewatered sewage sludge for enhanced phosphate adsorption

Phosphate adsorption using metal-modified biochar has awakened much attention and triggered extensive research. In this study, the effect of lanthanum (La)-modified sludge using impregnation-co-precipitation was used for phosphate adsorption. Consequently, La-coated biochar at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 °C had the highest phosphate adsorption and the lowest heavy metal leaching potential. The treatment of virgin biochar with alkali before La loading was found to be beneficial for the increase of phosphate adsorption capacity. The adsorption kinetics was well depicted by the pseudo-second-order model, and indicating that intraparticle diffusion played a crucial role in the adsorption process. The good fitness between adsorption data and the Langmuir isotherm model showed a maximal adsorption capacity of 93.91 mg/g, where phosphate absorption was highly correlated to its concentration in the solution. The La-coated biochar showed high adsorption capacity when the solution pH varied from 3.0 to 6.0, and was insensitive to the coexisting chloride, nitrate, sulfate, bicarbonate and citrate. Moreover, the adsorption mechanism was further explored by using Zeta potential analysis, FTIR and XPS, indicating that the phosphate is adsorbed through electrostatic attraction in the form of the inner-sphere complexation. All the results suggested that the sludge-based biochar, as a support material for La, could serve as a promising adsorbent for phosphate in real applications.

Advances in design strategies for preparation of biochar based catalytic system for production of high value chemicals

The aim of this review is to provide the comprehensive and mechanistic information of biochar based catalytic systems for the production of fuels and fine chemicals with a concept of integrated biorefinery. The review presents an in-depth assessment of relationships between physico-chemical properties and catalytic performances of biochar based catalytic systems during the production of targeted compounds at the molecular/fundamental level. The catalytic performance of the biochar is associated with its unique physico-chemical properties (surface area/surface functionality/pores/mechanical strength/inorganic species) which provide a distinct catalytic route. The review also discusses the preparation methods and significance of the activation process for tuning of physico-chemical properties of biochar.

Optimizing the modification of wood waste biochar via metal oxides to remove and recover phosphate from human urine

The recovery of phosphate from human urine has been considered as one of the most attractive benefits of urine source separation because P is an essential but limited macronutrient. This study investigated the approach to modify wood waste biochar via metal oxides aiming to recover phosphate from human urine to produce a value-added biochar. Results showed the phosphate removal ability was enhanced for the modified biochar pre-treated in modification solutions of MgCl₂, AlCl₃, CaCl₂ and FeCl₃, respectively, while natural biochar released phosphate to urine. Among the tested biochar, Mg-biochar presented the best capacity for phosphate removal from the hydrolyzed urine, reaching 118 mg_P g^-1 at a MgCl₂ concentration of 2.3 M. However, higher MgCl₂ concentration would not further increase the adsorption capacity. Fitting of the adsorption kinetics and isotherms indicated that the phosphate removal process was probably controlled by multiple mechanisms. Both the experimental and fitting results confirmed that the content of Mg oxides was the key factor determining the adsorption rate and capacity of phosphate on Mg-biochar. pH ranges of 7-9 and the ammonium concentration higher than 108 mg_N L^-1 enhanced the phosphate adsorption capacity. As such, the Mg-biochar was more favored for the treatment of hydrolyzed urine rather than fresh urine with acidic pH and lower concentration of ammonium. Further calculations were carried out using the Langmuir model to evaluate the removal of phosphate and the product. Results indicate that it is an effective technique to use Mg-biochar for phosphate removal from hydrolyzed urine and it yields phosphate-enriched biochar products.

Adsorption of different forms of phosphorus on modified corn bracts

Excessive phosphorus discharged into the environment could result in the eutrophication, leading to water pollution. Hence, the efficient method for phosphorus removal is urgently in need. In this paper, an agricultural by-product, corn bract, modified by Zr was proposed to remove different forms of phosphorus. A comparison study about the adsorption performance of organic phosphorus (OP) and inorganic phosphorus (IP) was investigated. The results indicated that both the OP and IP reached the maximum adsorption amounts when the initial pH was 2. Compared with IP adsorption, the adsorbent showed higher adsorption rate but lower adsorption capacity for OP. The complexation and the electrostatic attraction were possibly the main adsorption mechanisms. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The agricultural waste, corn bract, was proposed to remove phosphorus. The adsorption performances of OP and IP were compared. The adsorbent showed higher adsorption rate but lower adsorption capacity for OP.

Phosphorus and Nitrogen Adsorption Capacities of Biochars Derived from Feedstocks at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

This study investigates the P and NO3− adsorption capacities of different biochars made from plant waste including rice straw (RSB), Phragmites communis (PCB), sawdust (SDB), and egg shell (ESB) exposed to a range of pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500 and 700 °C). Results indicate that the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the physiochemical properties of biochar varied with feedstock material. Biochars derived from plant waste had limited adsorption or even released P and NO3−, but adsorption of P capacity could be improved by adjusting pyrolysis temperature. The maximum adsorption of P on RSB700, PCB300, and SDB300, produced at pyrolysis temperature of 700, 300 and 300 °C, was 5.41, 7.75 and 3.86 mg g−1, respectively. ESB can absorb both P and NO3−, and its adsorption capacity increased with an increase in pyrolysis temperature. The maximum NO3− and P adsorption for ESB700 was 1.43 and 6.08 mg g−1, respectively. The less negative charge and higher surface area of ESB enabled higher NO3− and P adsorption capacity. The P adsorption process on RSB, PCB, SDB and ESB, and the NO3− adsorption process on ESB were endothermic reactions. However, the NO3− adsorption process on RSB, PCB and SDB was exothermic. The study demonstrates that the use of egg shell biochar may be an effective way to remove, through adsorption, P and NO3− from wastewater.

Preparation and Modification of Biochar Materials and their Application in Soil Remediation

As a new functional material, biochar was usually prepared from biomass and solid wastes such as agricultural and forestry waste, sludge, livestock, and poultry manure. The wide application of biochar is due to its abilities to remove pollutants, remediate contaminated soil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, the influence of preparation methods, process parameters, and modification methods on the physicochemical properties of biochar were discussed, as well as the mechanisms of biochar in the remediation of soil pollution. The biochar applications in soil remediation in the past years were summarized, such as the removal of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and the improvement of soil quality. Finally, the potential risks of biochar application and the future research directions were analyzed.

Phosphorous Retention and Release by Sludge-Derived Hydrochar for Potential Use as a Soil Amendment

To solve both the problems of P deficiency in arable soil and excessive waste sludge disposal, we evaluated hydrothermal carbonization of sludge with the aim of recycling sludge P resources for soil amendment. In contrast with pyrochars obtained through pyrolysis, hydrochars generated from hydrothermal carbonization often feature variable properties and therefore require detailed characterization. In this study, sludge-derived hydrochars were evaluated to determine their P content and fractionation, release and availability of P, and P adsorption and desorption behavior. We also assessed changes in P availability after soil was amended with the hydrochars. Our results showed that the chars were rich in total P (up to 25,175 mg kg), but most of the free fractions were transformed to bound fractions, thereby reducing the available P concentrations. However, available P content was >417 mg kg, which was far higher than soil demand. The hydrochars shifted from releasing to adsorbing P adsorbent when the environmental P concentration increased above 20 mg L. The hydrochars showed a high phosphate adsorption capacity (up to 23,815 mg kg) and the adsorbed P could be readily released. The addition of 1% P-laden hydrochar significantly enhanced the soil available P content by 8.93 mg kg. These findings have important implications for further development of hydrochar-based P carriers as a slow-releasing fertilizer.

Film based on magnesium impregnated biochar/cellulose acetate for phosphorus adsorption from aqueous solution

New hybrid film formed by biopolymer cellulose acetate and biochar for P adsorption in aqueous solution.

Evaluation of nitrate and phosphate adsorption on Al-modified biochar: Influence of Al content

Biochars with different Al contents (i.e., 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were prepared to evaluate their adsorption capacities for nitrate (NO₃^-) and phosphate (PO₄^3-) from eutrophic water. Several techniques, including N₂ adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, were applied to characterize the physical-chemical properties of the biochars. We found that the NO₃^- and PO₄^3- adsorptions significantly improved on the Al-modified biochars because of their multifunctional and surface charge properties. In single-solute adsorption, 15 Al/BC and 20 Al/BC exhibited optimal NO₃^- and PO₄^3- adsorption capacities, respectively. In bi-solute coadsorption, the PO₄^3- adsorption on the biochar was less affected with the coexistence of NO₃^-, whereas the coexistence of PO₄^3- had a significant impact on the NO₃^- adsorption. The optimal solution pH for NO₃^- adsorption was 6, and pH < 6 was advantageous to PO₄^3- adsorption. In the kinetic study, the pseudo-second-order model could describe the NO₃^- and PO₄^3- adsorptions on biochar well, indicating that chemical adsorption was the main adsorption mechanism. The Langmuir-Freundlich model agreed well with the NO₃^- and PO₄^3- adsorptions on the biochars, and the maximum adsorption capacities for NO₃^- and PO₄^3- reached 89.58 mg/g and 57.49 mg/g, respectively. Therefore, the Al-modified biochar was a good choice for the remediation of eutrophic water.

An efficient phosphorus scavenging from aqueous solution using magnesiothermally modified bio-calcite

Bio-calcite (BC) derived from waste hen eggshell was subjected to thermal treatments (calcined bio-calcite (CBC)). The BC and CBC were further modified via magnesiothermal treatments to produce modified bio-calcite (MBC) and modified calcined bio-calcite (MCBC), respectively, and evaluated as a novel green sorbent for P removal from aqueous solutions in the batch experiments. Modified BC exhibited improved structural and chemical properties, such as porosity, surface area, thermal stability, mineralogy and functional groups, than pristine material. Langmuir and Freundlich models well described the P sorption onto both thermally and magnesiothermally sorbents, respectively, suggesting mono- and multi-layer sorption. Langmuir predicted highest P sorption capacities were in the order of: MCBC (43.33 mg g^-1) > MBC (35.63 mg g-¹) > CBC (34.38 mg g^-1) > BC (30.68 mg g^-1). The MBC and MCBC removed 100% P up to 50 mg P L^-1, which reduced to 35.43 and 39.96%, respectively, when P concentration was increased up to 1000 mg L^-1. Dynamics of P sorption was well explained by the pseudo-second-order rate equation, with the highest sorption rate of 4.32 mg g^-1 min^-1 for the MCBC. Hydroxylapatite [Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂] and brushite [CaH(PO₄)·2H₂O] were detected after P sorption onto the modified sorbents by X-ray diffraction analysis, suggesting chemisorption as the operating sorption mechanism.

Plenty of room for carbon on the ground: Potential applications of biochar for stormwater treatment

Low impact development (LID) systems are increasingly used to manage stormwater, but they have limited capacity to treat stormwater-a resource to supplement existing water supply in water-stressed urban areas. To enhance their pollutant removal capacity, infiltration-based LID systems can be augmented with natural or engineered geomedia that meet the following criteria: they should be economical, readily available, and have capacity to remove a wide range of stormwater pollutants in conditions expected during intermittent infiltration of stormwater. Biochar, a carbonaceous porous co-product of waste biomass pyrolysis/gasification, meets all these criteria. Biochar can adsorb pollutants, improve water-retention capacity of soil, retain and slowly release nutrients for plant uptake, and help sustain microbiota in soil and plants atop; all these attributes could help improve removal of contaminants in stormwater treatment systems. This article discusses contaminant removal mechanisms by biochar, summarizes specific biochar properties that enhance targeted contaminants removal from stormwater, and identifies challenges and opportunities to retrofit biochar in LID to optimize stormwater treatment.

Effect of heating temperature and time on the phosphate adsorption capacity of thermally modified copper tailings

In the present study, copper tailings were treated at different temperatures (50-650 °C) and for various times (0.5-6 hours) and their phosphate adsorption capacity was investigated. The results showed that heating temperature significantly affected adsorption capacity. The highest capacity was observed in treatments at 310-350 °C. Heating time did not influence phosphate adsorption ability of copper tailings. Scanning electron microscopy, Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to characterize untreated copper tailings (raw CT) and copper tailings heated at 340 °C (CT340). The results showed that CT340 had a rougher surface, more and smaller pores, a larger surface area and higher FTIR transmittance than raw CT. These changes in texture might explain the increased phosphate adsorption of thermally modified copper tailings. Mathematical modeling showed that the Langmuir nonlinear model was the best fit to the current data. The maximum adsorption capacities of raw CT and CT340 were predicted as 2.08 mg/g and 14.25 mg/g at 298 K, pH 6.0, respectively.

Engineered/designer biochar for the removal of phosphate in water and wastewater

During the past decade, biochar has attracted immense scientific interest for agricultural and environmental applications. A broad range of biochars with advantageous properties (e.g., high surface area, flexible architecture, and high porosity) has been developed for pollution abatement. Nevertheless, biochar suffers from certain drawbacks (e.g., limited sorption capacity for anions and poor mechanical properties) that limit their practical applicability. This review focuses on recent advancements in biochar technology, especially with respect to its technical aspects, the variables associated with removing phosphates from water, and the challenges for such abatement. The attention paid to the specific remediation of phosphate from water using biochar is limited (n=1114 - Scopus) compared to the application of biochar to other common water pollutants (n=3998 - Scopus). The subject warrants immediate rigorous research because of the undesirable effects of excess phosphate in water bodies. This review will thus facilitate the construction of a roadmap for further developments and the expansion of this challenging area of research.

Phosphorus recovery and reuse by pyrolysis: Applications for agriculture and environment

Phosphorus ore extraction for soil fertilization supports the demand of modern agriculture, but extractable resource limitations, due to scarcity, impose a P reuse and recycling research agenda. Here we propose to integrate biochar production (pyrogenic carbon) with municipal and agricultural waste management systems, to recover and reuse phosphorous that would otherwise be lost from the ecological food web. A meta-analysis and available data on total P in biochar indicated that P-enriched feedstocks include animal manure, human excreta, and plant-biomass collected from P-polluted sites. Phosphorus in biochar could participate in P equilibriums in soils and is expected to supply P. The release, sorption and desorption of P by biochar will codetermine the potential of P replenishment by biochar and P loss from biochar-amended soils. Abiotic and biotic factors are expected to affect sorption/desorption of P between biochar and soil aggregates, and P acquisition by plants. Chemical extraction, using acid or alkaline solutions, is considered as a means for P retrieval from high P biochar, especially for biochar with high heavy metal contents. To bridge the gap between academia and practice, this paper proposes future development for phosphorus acclamation by pyrolysis: 1) identification of high-P bio-waste for pyrolysis; 2) retrieval of P by using biochar as soil amendment or by chemical leaching; 3) biochar modification by inorganic nutrients, P solubilizing microorganisms and other organic matter; and 4) compatible pyrolysis equipment fit to the current waste management context, such as households, and waste water treatment plants.