Effect of biochar activation by different methods on toxicity of soil contaminated by industrial activity

Fabrication of engineered biochar for remediation of toxic contaminants in soil matrices and soil valorization

Biochar has emerged as an efficacious green material for remediation of a wide spectrum of environmental pollutants. Biochar has excellent characteristics and can be used to reduce the bioavailability and leachability of emerging pollutants in soil through adsorption and other physico-chemical reactions. This paper systematically reviewed previous researches on application of biochar/engineered biochar for removal of soil contaminants, and underlying adsorption mechanism. Engineered biochar are derivatives of pristine biochar that are modified by various physico-chemical and biological procedures to improve their adsorption capacities for contaminants. This review will promote the possibility to expand the application of biochar for restoration of degraded lands in the industrial area or saline soil, and further increase the useable area. This review shows that application of biochar is a win-win strategy for recycling and utilization of waste biomass and environmental remediation. Application of biochar for remediation of contaminated soils may provide a new solution to the problem of soil pollution. However, these studies were performed mainly in a laboratory or a small scale, hence, further investigations are required to fill the research gaps and to check real-time applicability of engineered biochar on the industrial contaminated sites for its large-scale application.

Biochar-based materials as remediation strategy in petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil and water: Performances, mechanisms, and environmental impact

Petroleum contamination is considered as a major risk to the health of humans and environment. Biochars as low-cost and eco-friendly carbon materials, have been widely used for the removal of petroleum hydrocarbon in the environment. The purpose of this paper is to review the performance, mechanisms, and potential environmental toxicity of biochar, modified biochar and its integration use with other materials in petroleum contaminated soil and water. Specifically, the use of biochar in oil-contaminated water and soil as well as the factors that could influence the removal ability of biochar were systematically evaluated. In addition, the modification and integrated use of biochar for improving the removal efficiency were summarized from the aspects of sorption, biodegradation, chemical degradation, and reusability. Moreover, the functional impacts and associated ecotoxicity of pristine and modified biochars in various environments were demonstrated. Finally, some shortcoming of current approaches, and future research needs were provided for the future direction and challenges of modified biochar research. Overall, this paper gain insight into biochar application in petroleum remediation from the perspectives of performance enhancement and environmental sustainability.

Enhanced trichloroethylene biodegradation: The mechanism and influencing factors of combining microorganism and carbon‑iron materials

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is one of the most prevalent contaminants with long-term persistence and a strong carcinogenic risk. Biological dechlorination has gradually become the mainstream method due to its advantages of low treatment cost and high environmental friendliness. However, microorganisms are easily restricted by environmental factors, such as an insufficient energy supply and a slow biological dechlorination process. This study focused on the coupled degradation of TCE with the combination of microorganisms and assistant materials (biochar, nZVI, nZVI modified biochar, HPO₃ modified biochar), and set up microorganisms (alone) and materials (alone) as separate controls. Biochar provided nutrients, increased contact with pollutants, and promoted electron transfer to improve TCE degradation, although it did not change the pathway of degradation. The coupled treatment with anaerobic microorganisms (Micro) and 1 g/L unmodified biochar (BC) had the strongest degradation capacity. Compared with microorganisms alone, the addition of biochar resulted in the complete removal of TCE within 4 days. The influence of ambient temperature was mainly related to microbial activity, and 35 °C showed better degradation than 20 °C. Under 20 °C, 1 g/L of nZVI significantly promoted microbial dechlorination. As the dosage increased to 2 g/L and 4 g/L, nZVI showed a strong toxic effect. After 16 days, TCE was completely converted to ethylene by Micro-BC with C₃H₅O₃Na, while 4.40 μmol dichloroethane (DCE) and 1.48 μmol vinyl chloride (VC) remained in the treatment with Micro-BC alone. As an electron acceptor, NaNO₃ directly competed with TCE in the reduction process, which decreased the reduction efficiency of TCE. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanism of the chemical materials coupling microbial dechlorination process and an optimal treatment method for trichloroethylene degradation.

Succession of biochar addition for soil amendment and contaminants remediation during co-composting: A state of art review

This paper aimed to highlight the succession of biochar addition for soil amendment and contaminants remediation during composting process. Biochar incorporated into the compost mixture promotes composting performance and enhances contaminants reduction. Co-composting with biochar for soil biota has been demonstrated via modified soil biological community abundance and diversity. On the other hand, adverse alterations to soil properties were noted, which had a negative impact on the communication of microbe-to-plant interactions within the rhizosphere. As a result, these changes influenced the competition between soilborne pathogens and beneficial soil microorganisms. Co-composting with biochar promoted the heavy metals (HMs) remediation efficiency in contaminated soils by around 66-95%. Notably, applying biochar during composting could improve nutrient retention and mitigate leaching. The adsorption of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus compounds by biochar can be applied to manage environmental contamination and presents an excellent opportunity to enhance soil quality. Additionally, the various specific functional groups and large specific surface areas of biochar allow for excellent adsorption of persistent pollutants (e.g., pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) and emerging organic pollutants, such as microplastic, phthalate acid esters (PAEs) during co-composting. Finally, future perspectives, research gaps, and recommendations for further studies are highlighted, and potential opportunities are discussed.

An assessment of the efficacy of biochar and zero-valent iron nanoparticles in reducing lead toxicity in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Soil heavy metal contamination is increasing rapidly due to increased anthropogenic activities. Lead (Pb) is a well-known human carcinogen causing toxic effects on humans and the environment. Its accumulation in food crops is a serious hazard to food security. Developing environment-friendly and cost-efficient techniques is necessary for Pb immobilization in the soil. A pot experiment was executed to determine the role of biochar (BC), zero-valent iron nanoparticles (n-ZVI), and zero-valent iron nanoparticles biochar composite (n-ZVI-BC) in controlling the Pb mobility and bioaccumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The results showed that BC and n-ZVI significantly enhanced the wheat growth by increasing their photosynthetic and enzymatic activities. Among all the applied treatments, the maximum significant (p ≤ 0.05) improvement in wheat biomass was with the n-ZVI-BC application (T3). Compared to the control, the biomass of wheat roots, shoots & grains increased by 92.5, 58.8, and 49.1%, respectively. Moreover, the soil addition of T3 amendment minimized the Pb distribution in wheat roots, shoots, and grains by 33.8, 26.8, and 16.2%, respectively. The outcomes of this experiment showed that in comparison to control treatment plants, soil amendment with n-ZVI-BC (T3) increased the catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by 49.8 and 31.1%, respectively, ultimately declining electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content in wheat by 38.7, 33.3, and 38%respectively. In addition, applied amendments declined the Pb mobility in the soil by increasing the residual Pb fractions. Soil amendment with n-ZVI-BC also increased the soil catalase (CAT), urease (UR), and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities by 68, 59, and 74%, respectively. Our research results provided valuable insight for the remediation of Pb toxicity in wheat. Hence, we can infer from our findings that n-ZVI-BC can be considered a propitious, environment friendly and affordable technique for mitigating Pb toxicity in wheat crop and reclamation of Pb polluted soils.

Bamboo for producing charcoal and biochar for versatile applications

Bamboo, the fastest-growing plant, has several unique characteristics that make it appropriate for diverse applications. It is low-cost, high-tensile, lightweight, flexible, durable, and capable of proliferating even in ineffectual areas (e.g., incline). This review discusses the unique properties of bamboo for making charcoal and biochar for diverse applications. To produce bamboo charcoal and biochar, this study reports on the pyrolysis process for the thermal degradation of organic materials in an oxygen-depleted atmosphere under a specific temperature. This is an alternative method for turning waste biomass into products with additional value, such as biochar. Due to various advantages, bamboo charcoal is preferred over regular charcoal as it has four times the absorption rate and ten times more surface area reported. According to the reports, the charcoal yield ranges from 24.60 to 74.27%. Bamboo chopsticks were the most useful source for producing charcoal, with a high yield of 74.27% at 300 °C in nitrogen, but the thorny bamboo species have a tremendous amount of minimal charcoal, i.e., 24.60%. The reported biochar from bamboo yield ranges from 32 to 80%. The most extensive biochar production is produced by the bamboo D. giganteus, which yields 80% biochar at 300 °C. Dry bamboo stalks at 400 °C produced 32% biochar. One of the sections highlights biochar as a sustainable solution for plastic trash management produced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Another section is dedicated to the knowledge enhancement about the broad application spectrum of the charcoal and biochar. The last section highlights the conclusions, future perspectives, and recommendations on the charcoal and biochar derived from bamboo.

Graphical Abstract

Biochar application strategies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal from soils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known as a hazardous group of pollutants in the soil which causes many challenges to the environment. In this study, the potential of biochar (BC), as a carbonaceous material, is evaluated for the immobilization of PAHs in soils. For this purpose, various bonding mechanisms of BC and PAHs, and the strength of bonds are firstly described. Also, the effect of impressive criteria including BC physicochemical properties (such as surface area, porosity, particle size, polarity, aromaticity, functional group, etc., which are mostly the function of pyrolysis temperature), number of rings in PAHs, incubation time, and soil properties, on the extent and rate of PAHs immobilization by BC are explained. Then, the utilization of BC in collaboration with biological tools which simplifies further dissipation of PAHs in the soil is described considering detailed interactions among BC, microbes, and plants in the soil matrix. The co-effect of BC and biological remediation has been authenticated by previous studies. Moreover, recent technologies and challenges related to the application of BC in soil remediation are explained. The implementation of a combined BC-biological remediation method would provide excellent prospects for PAHs-contaminated soils.

Characterization of soil microbial community activity and structure for reducing available Cd by rice straw biochar and Bacillus cereus RC-1

The combination of biochar and specific bacteria has been widely applied to remediate Cadmium-contaminated soil. But little is known about how such composites affect the dynamic distribution of metal fractions. This process is accompanied by the alternations of soil properties and microbial community structures. Composite of rice straw biochar and Bacillus cereus RC-1 were applied to investigate its impacts on Cd alleviation and soil microbial diversity and structure. The bacterial/biochar composite treatment decreased the fraction of HOAc-extractable Cd by 38.82%, and increased residual Cd by 23.95% compared to the untreated control. Moreover, compared with the untreated control, the composite treatment significantly increased the soil pH by about 1.5 units, and the activities of catalase, urease and invertase enzymes were increased by 42.39%, 30.50% and 31.20%, respectively. Composite treatment increased soil bacterial and fungal alpha diversity, the relative abundance of Bacillus, Streptomyces, Arthrobacter, and Aspergillus species were also increased. Mantel test and correlation analysis indicated that the effects associated with fungal communities in influencing soil properties were lower than that those of bacterial communities by different treatment. Aggregated boosted tree (ABT) models analysis showed that soil chemical proprieties (as determined by SOM, CEC, AN, etc.,) contributed over 50% of the changes in bacterial and fungal communities by the composite treatment. The co-occurrence network results showed that all treatments enhanced the correlation between OUT groups and improved the possible relationships in the bacterial and fungal communities, especially the interrelationships between bacteria and fungi after the Cd fractions stabilized. These findings provide a new insight to optimal strategies for the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil.

New insight into the mechanism underlying the effect of biochar on phenanthrene degradation in contaminated soil revealed through DNA-SIP

Biochar has been widely used for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soil, but its mechanism of influencing PAH biodegradation remains unclear. Here, DNA-stable isotope probing coupled with high-throughput sequencing was employed to assess its influence on phenanthrene (PHE) degradation, the active PHE-degrading microbial community and PAH-degradation genes (PAH-RHD_α). Our results show that both Low-BC and High-BC (soils amended with 1 % and 4 % w/w biochar, respectively) treatments significantly decreased PHE biodegradation and bioavailable concentrations with a dose-dependent effect compared to Non-BC treatment (soils without biochar). This result could be attributed to the immobilisation of PHE and alteration of the composition and abundance of the PHE-degrading microbial consortium by biochar. Active PHE degraders were identified, and those in the Non-BC, Low-BC and High-BC microcosms differed taxonomically. Sphaerobacter, unclassified Diplorickettsiaceae, Pseudonocardia, and Planctomyces were firstly linked with PHE biodegradation. Most importantly, the abundances of PHE degraders and PAH-RHD_α genes in the ¹³C-enriched DNA fractions of biochar-amended soils were greatly attenuated, and were significantly positively correlated with PHE biodegradation. Our findings provide a novel perspective on PAH biodegradation mechanisms in biochar-treated soils, and expand the understanding of the biodiversity of microbes involved in PAH biodegradation in the natural environment.

Engineered biochar: A multifunctional material for energy and environment

Biochar is a stable carbon-rich product loaded with upgraded properties obtained by thermal cracking of biomasses in an oxygen-free atmosphere. The pristine biochar is further modified to produce engineered biochar via various physical, mechanical, and chemical methods. The hasty advancement in engineered biochar synthesis via different technologies and their application in the field of energy and environment is a topical issue that required an up-to-date review. Therefore, this review deals with comprehensive and recent mechanistic approaches of engineered biochar synthesis and its further application in the field of energy and the environment. Synthesis and activation of engineered biochar via various methods has been deliberated in brief. Furthermore, this review systematically covered the impacts of engineered biochar amendment in the composting process, anaerobic digestion (AD), soil microbial community encouragement, and their enzymatic activities. Finally, this review provided a glimpse of the knowledge gaps and challenges associated with application of engineered biochar in various fields, which needs urgent attention in future research.

Biochar-induced priming effects in soil via modifying the status of soil organic matter and microflora: A review

Biochar (BC) application has the potential to be integrated into a carbon-trading framework owing to its multiple environmental and economic benefits. Despite the increasing research attention over the past ten years, the mechanisms of BC-induced priming effects on soil organic carbon mineralization and their influencing factors have not been systematically considered. This review aims to document the recent progress in BC research by focusing on (1) how BC-induced priming effects change the soil environment, (2) the factors governing the mechanisms underlying BC amendment effects on soils, and (3) how BC amendments alter soil microbial communities and nutrient dynamics. Here, we carried out a detailed examination of the origins of different biochar, its pyrolysis conditions, and potential interactions with various factors that affect BC characteristics and mechanisms of C mineralization in primed soil. These findings clearly addressed the strong linkage between BC properties and abiotic factors that leads to change the soil microclimate, priming effects, and carbon stabilization. This review offers an overview of a fragmented body of evidence and the current state of understanding to support the application of BC in different soil environments with the aim of sustaining or improving the agricultural crop production.

Microwave assisted carbonization and activation of biochar for energy-environment nexus: A review

Conventional thermochemical conversion techniques for biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass is often non-selective and energy inefficient. Microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP) is cost and energy-efficient technology aimed for value-added bioproducts recovery from biomass with less environmental impacts. The present review emphasizes the performance of MAP in terms of product yield, characteristics and energy consumption and further it compares it with conventional pyrolysis. The significant role of biochar as catalyst in microwave pyrolysis for enhancing the product selectivity and quality, and the influence of microwave activation on product composition identified through sophisticated techniques has been highlighted. Besides, the application of MAP based biochar as soil conditioner and heavy metal immobilization has been illustrated. MAP accomplished at low temperature creates uniform thermal gradient than conventional mode, thereby producing engineered char with hotspots that could be used as catalysts for gasification, energy storage, etc. The stability, nutrient content, surface properties and adsorption capacity of biochar was enhanced by microwave activation, thus facilitating its use as soil conditioner. Many reviews until now on MAP mostly dealt with operational conditions and product yield with limited focus on comparative energy consumption with conventional mode, analytical techniques for product characterization and end application especially concerning agriculture. Thus, the present review adds on to the current state of art on microwave assisted pyrolysis covering all-round aspects of production followed by characterization and applications as soil amendment for increasing crop productivity in addition to the production of value-added chemicals, thus promoting process sustainability in energy and environment nexus.

CO2 capture by adsorption on biomass-derived activated char: A review

Carbon capture and storage has been recognized as the most promising method for CO₂ control. Among the many sorbents, char derived from pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass have demonstrated excellent CO₂ adsorption capability. This paper reviews the different parameters to produce a higher yield of biochar and hydrochar suitable for carbon sequestration. The mechanism of physisorption and chemisorption is briefly presented. The different kinetic models, diffusion models to describe adsorption mechanism, and adsorption isotherms for CO₂ uptake from biomass-derived hydrochar are reviewed. The different factors that affect the CO₂ uptake are the type of activation, surface area and porosity, the ratio of activation agent to char, activation temperature, adsorption pressure and temperature, additives, and other physicochemical properties. The optimal conditions for CO₂ uptake with chemical activation of KOH is a KOH/char ratio of 2-3, activation temperature of 700 °C, and an adsorption temperature below 50 °C.

Understanding the Surface Characteristics of Biochar and Its Catalytic Activity for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Guaiacol

Biochar (BCR) was obtained from the pyrolysis of a palm-oil-empty fruit bunch at 773 K for 2 h and used as a catalyst for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol (GUA) as a bio-oil model compound. Brunauer–Emmet–Teller surface area analysis, NH3 and CO2-temperature-programmed desorption, scanning electron microscope–dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, CHN analysis and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy suggested that macroporous and mesoporous structures were formed in BCR with a co-presence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic sites and acid–base behavior. A combination of infrared, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) was carried out to achieve a complete vibrational assignment of BCR. The CH–OH ratio in BCR is ~5, showing that the hydroxyl functional groups are a minority species. There was no evidence for any aromatic C–H stretch modes in the infrared, but they are clearly seen in the INS and are the majority species, with a ratio of sp3–CH:sp2–CH of 1:1.3. The hydrogen bound to sp2–C is largely present as isolated C–H bonds, rather than adjacent C–H bonds. The Raman spectrum shows the characteristic G band (ideal graphitic lattice) and three D bands (disordered graphitic lattice, amorphous carbon, and defective graphitic lattice) of sp2 carbons. Adsorbed water in BCR is present as disordered layers on the surface rather than trapped in voids in the material and could be removed easily by drying prior to catalysis. Catalytic testing demonstrated that BCR was able to catalyze the HDO of GUA, yielding phenol and cresols as the major products. Phenol was produced both from the direct demethoxylation of GUA, as well as through the demethylation pathway via the formation of catechol as the intermediate followed by deoxygenation.

A critical review of the possible adverse effects of biochar in the soil environment

Biochar has received extensive attention because of its multi-functionality for agricultural and environmental applications. Despite its many benefits, there are concerns related to the long-term safety and implications of its application, mainly because the mechanisms affecting soil and organism health are poorly quantified and understood. This work reviews 259 sources and summarises existing knowledge on biochar's adverse effects on soil from a multiangle perspective, including the physicochemical changes in soil, reduced efficiency of agrochemicals, potentially toxic substances in biochar, and effects on soil biota. Suggestions are made for mitigation measures. Mixed findings are often reported; however, the results suggest that high doses of biochar in clay soils are likely to decrease available water content, and surface application of biochar to sandy soils likely increases erosion and particulate matter emissions. Furthermore, biochar may increase the likelihood of excessive soil salinity and decreased soil fertility because of an increase in the pH of alkaline soils causing nutrient precipitation. Regarding the impact of biochar on (agro)chemicals and the role of biochar-borne toxic substances, these factors cannot be neglected because of their apparent undesirable effects on target and non-target organisms, respectively. Concerning non-target biota, adverse effects on reproduction, growth, and DNA integrity of earthworms have been reported along with effects on soil microbiome such as a shift in the fungi-to-bacteria ratio. Given the diversity of effects that biochar may induce in soil, guidelines for future biochar use should adopt a structured and holistic approach that considers all positive and negative effects of biochar.

Modern Carbon-Based Materials for Adsorptive Removal of Organic and Inorganic Pollutants from Water and Wastewater

Currently, a serious threat for living organisms and human life in particular, is water contamination with persistent organic and inorganic pollutants. To date, several techniques have been adopted to remove/treat organics and toxic contaminants. Adsorption is one of the most effective and economical methods for this purpose. Generally, porous materials are considered as appropriate adsorbents for water purification. Conventional adsorbents such as activated carbons have a limited possibility of surface modification (texture and functionality), and their adsorption capacity is difficult to control. Therefore, despite the significant progress achieved in the development of the systems for water remediation, there is still a need for novel adsorptive materials with tunable functional characteristics. This review addresses the new trends in the development of new adsorbent materials. Herein, modern carbon-based materials, such as graphene, oxidized carbon, carbon nanotubes, biomass-derived carbonaceous matrices-biochars as well as their composites with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived highly-ordered carbons are considered as advanced adsorbents for removal of hazardous organics from drinking water, process water, and leachate. The review is focused on the preparation and modification of these next-generation carbon-based adsorbents and analysis of their adsorption performance including possible adsorption mechanisms. Simultaneously, some weak points of modern carbon-based adsorbents are analyzed as well as the routes to conquer them. For instance, for removal of large quantities of pollutants, the combination of adsorption and other methods, like sedimentation may be recommended. A number of efficient strategies for further enhancing the adsorption performance of the carbon-based adsorbents, in particular, integrating approaches and further rational functionalization, including composing these adsorbents (of two or even three types) can be recommended. The cost reduction and efficient regeneration must also be in the focus of future research endeavors. The targeted optimization of the discussed carbon-based adsorbents associated with detailed studies of the adsorption process, especially, for multicomponent adsorbate solution, will pave a bright avenue for efficient water remediation.

Interactive effects of biochar and mussel shell activated concoctions on immobilization of nickel and their amelioration on the growth of rapeseed in contaminated aged soil

Mussel shell (MS) and biochar (BC) are commonly used for the remediation of metal contaminated soil. However, less research has been focused to examine the efficacy of their combinations to reduce metal toxicity in crop plants. This study was therefore conducted to investigate the effects of BC, MS and their activated concoctions on the soil properties, enzyme activities and nickel (Ni) immobilization in aged Ni contaminated soil. Moreover, the growth, photosynthetic pigments and anti-oxidative machnery of Brassica napus plants has also been investigated in order to determine amendments efficiency in reducing soil Ni toxicity for plants. The results showed that the application of Ni adversely affected soil health and trigged stress responses by inducing oxidative stress in B. napus. However, the incorporation of amendments reduced the bioavailability of Ni, and the concoctions of BC and MS showed promising results in the immobilization of Ni. Among various combinations of BC and MS, treatment with BC + MS (3:1) significantly reduced Ni uptake, decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced antioxidant defense of B. napus plants. Results showed that amendment's combinations stimulated the transcriptional levels of ROS scavenging enzymes and suppressed the expression level of Ni transporters. The morphological and physical characterization techniques (i.e. SEM, BET, EDS, FTIR and X-ray diffraction analyses) showed that amendment's combinations had relatively higher Ni adsorption capacity, indicating that BC and MS concoctions are efficient immobilizing agents for minimizing Ni availability, preventing oxidative toxicity and promoting growth and biomass production in rapeseed plants under metal stress conditions.

Physiological and molecular responses of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) cultivars under a multicontaminated technosol amended with biochar

Soil pollution is a worldwide issue and has a strong impact on ecosystems. Metal(loid)s have toxic effects on plants and affect various plant life traits. That is why metal(loid) polluted soils need to be remediated. As a remediation solution, phytoremediation, which uses plants to reduce the toxicity and risk of polluted soils, has been proposed. Moreover, flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been suggested as a potential phytoremediation plant, due to its antioxidant systems, which can lower the production of reactive oxygen species and can also chelate metal(loid)s. However, the high metal(loid) toxicity associated with the low fertility of the polluted soils render vegetation difficult to establish. Therefore, amendments, such as biochar, need to be applied to improve soil conditions and immobilize metal(loid)s. Here, we analyzed the growth parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers (ROS production, membrane lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and 8-oxoGuanine formation) of five different flax cultivars when grown on a real contaminated soil condition, and in the presence of a biochar amendment. Significant correlations were observed between plant growth, tolerance to oxidative stress, and reprogramming of phytochemical accumulation. A clear genotype-dependent response to metal(loid) stress was observed. It was demonstrated that some phenylpropanoids such as benzoic acid, caffeic acid, lariciresinol, and kaempferol played a key role in the tolerance to the metal(loid)-induced oxidative stress. According to these results, it appeared that some flax genotypes, i.e., Angora and Baikal, could be well adapted for the phytoremediation of metal(loid) polluted soils as a consequence of their adaptation to oxidative stress.

CO2 dual roles in food scraps-derived biochar activation to enhance lead adsorption capacity

Driven by China's waste classification system, the recycling of food scraps is a work of great importance. The carbonate (CO₃^2-) and phosphate (PO₄^3-) in food scraps indicate that its derived biochar can be a good candidate for Pb immobilization. In the current study, Pb²⁺ adsorption sites (CO₃^2- and PO₄^3-) of biochar were adjusted by carrier gas atmosphere and activation temperature. Results indicate that CO₂ has dual roles in activation of food scraps-derived biochar. CO₂ can not only inhibit the decomposition of CO₃^2- but also increase the content of PO₄^3- via consuming aromatic carbon combined with phosphorus at high temperature (>600 °C). Thus, the biochar prepared at 700 °C and CO₂ atmosphere has more adsorption sites, resulting in an outstanding Pb adsorption capacity (up to 555.6 mg/g) via coprecipitation mechanisms. As-prepared biochar sample also can be prepared to a hydrogel with a remarkable mechanic strength. But biochar hydrogel decreases Pb adsorption capacity to 104.2 mg/g due to the pore blocking effect. Life cycle assessment illustrates that the scene of food scraps activated by CO₂ has lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) and Primary Energy Demand (PED). Therefore, current research provides a high-efficiency method for treatment of food scraps.

Mitigation of petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated hazardous soils using organic amendments: A review

The term "Total petroleum hydrocarbons" (TPH) is used to describe a complex mixture of petroleum-based hydrocarbons primarily derived from crude oil. Those compounds are considered as persistent organic pollutants in the terrestrial environment. A wide array of organic amendments is increasingly used for the remediation of TPH-contaminated soils. Organic amendments not only supply a source of carbon and nutrients but also add exogenous beneficial microorganisms to enhance the TPH degradation rate, thereby improving the soil health. Two fundamental approaches can be contemplated within the context of remediation of TPH-contaminated soils using organic amendments: (i) enhanced TPH sorption to the exogenous organic matter (immobilization) as it reduces the bioavailability of the contaminants, and (ii) increasing the solubility of the contaminants by supplying desorbing agents (mobilization) for enhancing the subsequent biodegradation. Net immobilization and mobilization of TPH have both been observed following the application of organic amendments to contaminated soils. This review examines the mechanisms for the enhanced remediation of TPH-contaminated soils by organic amendments and discusses the influencing factors in relation to sequestration, bioavailability, and subsequent biodegradation of TPH in soils. The uncertainty of mechanisms for various organic amendments in TPH remediation processes remains a critical area of future research.

Hydrochar: A Review on Its Production Technologies and Applications

Recently, due to the escalating usage of non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum coke in electricity and power generation, and associated issues with pollution and global warming, more attention is being paid to finding alternative renewable fuel sources. Thermochemical and hydrothermal conversion processes have been used to produce biochar and hydrochar, respectively, from waste renewable biomass. Char produced from the thermochemical and hydrothermal decomposition of biomass is considered an environmentally friendly replacement for solid hydrocarbon materials such as coal and petroleum coke. Unlike thermochemically derived biochar, hydrochar has received little attention due to the lack of literature on its production technologies, physicochemical characterization, and applications. This review paper aims to fulfill these objectives and fill the knowledge gaps in the literature relating to hydrochar. Therefore, this review discusses the most recent studies on hydrochar characteristics, reaction mechanisms for char production technology such as hydrothermal carbonization, as well as hydrochar activation and functionalization. In addition, the applications of hydrochar, mainly in the fields of agriculture, pollutant adsorption, catalyst support, bioenergy, carbon sequestration, and electrochemistry are reviewed. With advancements in hydrothermal technologies and other environmentally friendly conversion technologies, hydrochar appears to be an appealing bioresource for a wide variety of energy, environmental, industrial, and commercial applications.

Enhanced ammonium removal on biochar from a new forestry waste by ultrasonic activation: Characteristics, mechanisms and evaluation

The adsorption treatment of ammonium-containing wastewater has attracted significant global attention. Most enhanced adsorption methods employ chemical modification, and there are few reports on physical activation. We present a physical activation to explore whether physical ultrasound may enhance the adsorption performance and comprehensive utilisation of a new forestry waste, Caragana korshinskii was used as a feedstock to prepare activated biochar (ACB) by controlling the pyrolysis temperatures and ultrasound parameters. The optimal parameters were determined via batch adsorption of NH₄⁺, and the adsorption characteristics were assessed by 8 kinds of models and influence experiments. Moreover, the physicochemical properties of ACB during the pyrolysis process were investigated, and the ultrasonic activation and adsorption mechanisms were discussed using multiple characterisation techniques. Additionally, the cost analysis, the safety of the ultrasonic process and disposal method also were evaluated. The results showed that the ultrasonic activation significantly enhanced the NH₄⁺ adsorption efficiency of biochar by approximately 5 times. ACB exhibited the best performance at 500 °C with an ultrasonic activation time of 480 min, frequency of 45 kHz, and power of 700 W. The ultrasonic activation reduced the biochar ash and induced pore formation, which increased the specific surface area through cavitation corrosion and micro-acoustic flow mechanism. The NH₄⁺ adsorption mechanisms comprised physicochemical processes, of which physical adsorption was dominant. The preparation cost of 1 kg ACB was about 0.42 US dollar, and no secondary pollution occurred in the activation process. The findings prove that ultrasonic technology is efficient and convenient for enhancing biochar adsorption performance, and thus is suitable for industrial applications and promotion.

Biochar for remediation of agrochemicals and synthetic organic dyes from environmental samples: A review

Application of agrochemicals in farming sector to control insects and pests; and use of synthetic organic dyes to color the products are increasing continuously due to the rapid growth of industries. During the application process many industries releases toxic agrochemicals and dyes in to the aquatic environment and on land without the proper treatment. Due to their toxicity the disposal of such chemicals is of utmost importance. Biochar offers the ability to remediate these substances from environmental matrices because of their high sorption ability of pollutants from water and soil. This review highlights the development and advancement of biochar-based treatment for abatement of agrochemicals and synthetic organic dyes, involving its technical aspects and the variables connected with removing these kinds of pollutants. Several optimization parameters like temperature, pH, chemical concentration, biochar properties, time, and co-existing ions have been elaborated. Literature survey shows that most of the researches on biochar application have been conducted in the batch mode. Hence there is an urgent need to apply this beneficial technique for the remediation of pollutants at the larger scale in the real water and soil samples. A comprehensive summary on sorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms with regards to pollutant removal is also presented. This review also covers the cost analysis of various techniques where biochar has been used as an adsorbent. Thus this review makes an easy roadmap for the further development in biochar and biochar based composites and expansion of these demanding areas of research in biochar and their applications.

Magneto-sensitive Carbon-inorganic Composites Based on Particleboard and Plywood Wastes

The conversion of metal-modified (Fe, Co) sawdust into magneto-sensitive porous composites using thermal carbonization process in an inert atmosphere was successfully achieved. The as-prepared samples were characterized using nitrogen adsorption, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and thermal analysis methods. The obtained results show that the structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained composites depend strongly on the metal precursor’s types. All samples exhibited a good magnetic property and can be easily separated from liquids by an external magnet.

An abundant porous biochar material derived from wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) with high adsorption performance for three organic dyes

In this study, an activated wakame biochar material (AWBM) was prepared by a one-step calcination and activation method, whose adsorption performances for methylene blue (MB), Rhodamine B (RB) and malachite green (MG) were also analyzed. The results showed AWBM was a mesoporous fluffy structure material with a higher specific surface (1156.25 m2/g), exhibiting superior adsorption capacities for MB (841.64 mg/g), RB (533.77 mg/g) and MG (4066.96 mg/g), respectively. In addition, FT-IR analysis showed that AWBM possessed abundant active groups (such as -OH, -CO and -CH), further enhancing the adsorption efficiencies. The Langmuir model could better fit the three dyes adsorption isotherms process using AWBM, and the Pseudo-second-order model could better describe the adsorption kinetic experimental data. The thermodynamic analysis showed that the three dyes adsorption using AWBM was spontaneous endothermic reaction. This study suggests AWBM has enormous potential in the application of removing organic dyes from wastewater.

Review of Biochar Properties and Remediation of Metal Pollution of Water and Soil

BACKGROUND

Mining, waste disposal, and agrochemical residues have contributed to pollution of water and soil with toxic metals in most low- and middle-income countries, raising concerns of ecological safety and public health. This has prompted many studies into the production and utilization of biochars to adsorb toxic metal contaminants from soil and water.

OBJECTIVE

The present study presents a review of biochar properties, the mechanisms of toxic metal adsorption onto biochar, and sorption of toxic metal contaminants in water and soil in small scale applications and laboratory experiments.

METHODS

A total of 305 articles were collected, and after screening for relevance, a final of 164 articles from both high- and low- and middle-income countries were used in this review paper.

DISCUSSION

Biochar for sorption has proven effective and its raw materials are readily available, cost effective, environmentally stable and a good form of waste management.

CONCLUSIONS

Different techniques of biochar production influence the properties of biochar and adsorption of toxic metals from water and soil.

COMPETING INTERESTS

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

A comprehensive review on physical activation of biochar for energy and environmental applications

Biochar is a solid by-product of thermochemical conversion of biomass to bio-oil and syngas. It has a carbonaceous skeleton, a small amount of heteroatom functional groups, mineral matter, and water. Biochar’s unique physicochemical structures lead to many valuable properties of important technological applications, including its sorption capacity. Indeed, biochar’s wide range of applications include carbon sequestration, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, waste management, renewable energy generation, soil amendment, and environmental remediation. Aside from these applications, new scientific insights and technological concepts have continued to emerge in the last decade. Consequently, a systematic update of current knowledge regarding the complex nature of biochar, the scientific and technological impacts, and operational costs of different activation strategies are highly desirable for transforming biochar applications into industrial scales. This communication presents a comprehensive review of physical activation/modification strategies and their effects on the physicochemical properties of biochar and its applications in environment-related fields. Physical activation applied to the activation of biochar is discussed under three different categories: I) gaseous modification by steam, carbon dioxide, air, or ozone; II) thermal modification by conventional heating and microwave irradiation; and III) recently developed modification methods using ultrasound waves, plasma, and electrochemical methods. The activation results are discussed in terms of different physicochemical properties of biochar, such as surface area; micropore, mesopore, and total pore volume; surface functionality; burn-off; ash content; organic compound content; polarity; and aromaticity index. Due to the rapid increase in the application of biochar as adsorbents, the synergistic and antagonistic effects of activation processes on the desired application are also covered.

Biochar effect associated with compost and iron to promote Pb and As soil stabilization and Salix viminalis L. growth

Soil pollution by metal(loid)s is one of the most significant problems in Europe. To remediate and potentially rehabilitate these contaminated sites, phytoremediation procedures are being put into place, often using amendments to help offset the extreme conditions of such soils. The aim of this study was to define the best amendment to use on the field. This was done by studying how the addition of three different amendments (biochar, compost and iron grit), alone or in combination, could affect: (i) soil physico-chemical properties, (ii) Salix viminalis growth, and (iii) metal(loid) stabilization. A 69 day-mesocosm study was thus set up using a former mine technosol, the three amendments applied alone or combined, and S. viminalis cuttings. The results showed that biochar and/or compost improved the soil fertility and the soil pore water characteristics, with reductions of acidity, metal(loid) mobility and toxicity, while iron grit amendment presented negative effects on such parameters. Such ameliorations allowed better plant growth and higher biomass production. In addition, stress indicators (leaf pigment content and root guaiacol peroxidase activity) showed a reduction in plant stress following biochar and/or compost application. Finally, among the different treatments, the use of compost or a biochar-compost combination showed better results in terms of improvement of soil conditions, increase in plant growth and reduced translocation of metal(loid)s towards upper parts, making these two treatments a valuable option for a field trial.

Review of biochar for the management of contaminated soil: Preparation, application and prospect

As a multi-beneficial amendment, biochar is reasonable and reliable to be employed as an amendment to implement soil remediation. An overview on the manufacture, applications for contaminated soil restoration and revegetation, as well as recommended aspects for future work has been accomplished. One of the objectives of this work presented herein was to determine the effect of feedstock and preparation conditions such as pyrolysis temperature, retention time, gas flow rate, additives on the biochar characteristics and application potentials. Besides, relevant modification or activation technologies have been discussed for the improvement of the biochar functions. The application of biochar could adjust the soil structure (surface area, pore size and distribution etc.), improve the soil physicochemical properties (pH, cation exchange capacity, water retention capacity etc.) and enhance the uptake of soil nutrients for plant growth; In addition, it also can be used to adsorb various contaminants (heavy metals, organic matters), modify the habit and function of microorganism and mitigate climate problem by changing the bioavailability of elements (C, N, K etc.) in soil. These results also provided the possibility to expend the application of biochar to modify the degraded soils in the saline-alkali soil and industrial regions, further increase the usable area of cultivated land. The future research directions could be suggested as long-term field trials, the evaluation of environmental risk and the optimization of biochar production. Moreover, the relevant mechanisms should be adequately considered for maximizing the all-around efficiency of biochar amendments.

Influence of biochars on the accessibility of organochlorine pesticides and microbial community in contaminated soils

Biochar can be used as a promising potential substance to reduce the availability of toxic elements and compounds in contaminated soils but its effects on the accessibility of pesticides and microbiological interactions still remain unclear. Here, 65 day incubation experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of biochars on the accessibility of 21 different organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and also to evaluate their influence on soil microbial community. The tested soil was collected from an agricultural field, containing loamy sand texture, and historically contaminated with high concentrations of OCPs. The soil was amended with four different kinds of biochars: sewage sludge biochar (SSBC), peanut shells biochar (PNBC), rice straw biochar (RSBC), and soybean straw biochar (SBBC). The results indicated that biochar-amendments had strong effects upon OCP accessibility over time and can act as super sorbent. Despite greater persistence of OCPs in soil, the application of selected biochars significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the accessibility of ∑OCPs in the amended soil in the order of SSBC (8-69%), PNBC (11-75%), RSBC (6-67%), and SBBC (14-86%), as compared to the control soil during 0-65 d incubation period. Moreover, the findings from total phospholipid acid (PLFA) and Illumina next-generation sequencing revealed that the incorporation of biochar have altered the soil microbial community structure over time. Higher abundances of Proteobacteria, firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, and Actinobacteria were found in biochar amendments. However, the relative abundances of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased, following biochar addition. The findings of these experiments suggest that biochar addition to soil at the rate of 3% (w/w) could be advantageous for decreasing accessibility of OCPs, enhancing the soil microbial communities, and their subsequent risk to environment and food chain contamination.

Effect of Fe-functionalized biochar on toxicity of a technosol contaminated by Pb and As: sorption and phytotoxicity tests

Biochar, produced by the pyrolysis of biomass under low oxygen conditions, has gathered attention in the last few years due to its capability to reduce metal(loid)s bioavailability and mobility in soils, as well as its beneficial effects on soil fertility. Indeed, biochar amendment to polluted soil induced usually an increase of pH, water holding capacity, and nutrient contents, associated with a decrease of metal(loid)s concentrations in soil pore water, through sorption. However, biochar has been shown efficient in sorbing cation pollutants, like Pb, but present a low sorption capacity towards anions like As. This contrasted behavior poses a problem, as most polluted soils are multi-contaminated, with both cation and anion pollutants. One of the solutions to overcome such problem is to functionalize biochar, by modifying its surface. However, most studies actually focused on functionalization effect on metal(loid)s sorption towards batch experiments, and only a few dealt with modified biochar incorporation to the soil. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to assess the sorption capacity of hardwood biochars, harboring different particle sizes, towards Pb and As; (ii) to evaluate the effect of a Fe-functionalization on Pb and As sorption; and (iii) to validate the results, in a phytotoxicity test using Phaseolus vulgaris as bioindicator plant. The batch experiments showed that all four biochars were able to efficiently sorb Pb, the fine biochars showing higher sorption values than the coarse biochars. As sorption was very low. Fe-coating increased As sorption value, while having no effect on Pb sorption. However, when incorporated in the soil, Fe-coated biochar did not improve soil physico-chemical properties compared to the pristine biochar; especially, it did not reduce As soil pore water concentrations. Finally, bean plant did not show differences in terms of biomass production between the two biochars incorporated into polluted soil, demonstrating that Fe-functionalization did not improve biochar capacity to decrease soil toxicity.

Effect of Bacillus subtilis and NTA-APG on pyrene dissipation in phytoremediation of nickel co-contaminated wetlands by Scirpus triqueter

A complex mix of organic pollutants and heavy metal made the remediation of contaminated wetlands more difficult. Few research focus on the remediation for pyrene enhanced by chemical reagents and pyrene degrading bacteria in the nickel co-contaminated soil. In this paper, the effect of chemical reagents (nitrilotriacetic acid and alkyl polyglucoside) and Bacillus subtilis on pyrene dissipation in phytoremediation of nickel co-contaminated soil by Scirpus triqueter was investigated. Similar seedlings of Scirpus triqueter were moved to uncontaminated soil and pyrene-nickel co-contaminated soil. The pots (14.8 cm diameter and 8.8 cm height) were set up in greenhouse and treated in different ways. After 60 days, plant biomass, radial oxygen loss (ROL), soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and pyrene concentration in soil were determined. Results showed that ROL rate and DHA in different groups was positively correlated with pyrene dissipation from soil. In the process of remediation, chemical reagents might have an indirect slight effect on pyrene dissipation (pyrene dissipation increased 21%) by affecting DHA firstly and redistributing pyrene fractions in the presence of pyrene degrading bacteria. Pyrene degrading bacteria were likely to affect pyrene dissipation by impacting ROL rate and DHA and played a more vital role in contributing to pyrene dissipation (pyrene dissipation increased 45%) from wetland. This study demonstrated that phytoremediation for pyrene in nickel co-contaminated soil by Scirpus triqueter can be enhanced by the application of NTA-APG and pyrene degrading bacteria and they could be reasonably restore the ecological environment of PAH-contaminated wetlands.

Application of biochar to sewage sludge reduces toxicity and improve organisms growth in sewage sludge-amended soil in long term field experiment

The aim of the present study was to determine changes in the physicochemical properties and toxicity of soil amended with sewage sludge (10t_dw/ha) or sewage sludge (10t_dw/ha) with biochar addition (2.5, 5 or 10% of sewage sludge). The study was carried out as a field experiment over a period of 18months. Samples for analysis were taken at the beginning of the experiment as well as after 6, 12 and 18months. The study investigated toxicity of the unamended soil, sewage sludge-amended soil and sewage sludge-amended soil with biochar addition towards Folsomia candida (collembolan test) and Lepidium sativum (Phytotoxkit F). Moreover, toxicity of aqueous extracts obtained from the tested soils towards Vibrio fischeri (Microtox®) and Lepidium sativum (elongation test) was determined. The study showed that addition of biochar to the sewage sludge and soil reduced leaching of nutrients (mainly phosphorus and potassium) from the amended soil. Biochar significantly reduced sewage sludge toxicity, exhibiting a stimulating effect on the tested organisms. The stimulating effect of biochar addition to the sewage sludge persisted throughout the entire experiment. Apart from the remediatory character of biochar, this is also evidence of its fertilizing character. In the tests with L. sativum (leachates and solid phase) and V. fischeri (leachates), increasing the rate of biochar in the sewage sludge increased root growth stimulation (L. sativum) and bacteria luminescence (V. fischeri). However, increasing biochar rate decreased F. candida reproduction stimulation, which could have been an effect of reduced nutrient bioavailability due to the biochar.

Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition assay for ecotoxicity assessment: A review

Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition bioassay (VFBIA) has been widely applied for the monitoring of toxicity on account of multiple advantages encompassing shorter test duration, sensitive, cost-effective and ease of operation. Moreover, this bioassay found to be equally applicable to all types of matrices (organic & inorganic compounds, metals, wastewater, river water, sewage sludge, landfill leachate, herbicides, treated wastewater etc.) for toxicity monitoring. This review highlights the apparent significance of Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition assay for ecotoxicological screening and evaluation of diverse chemical substances toxicity profile. The biochemical and genetic basis of the bioluminescence assay and its regulatory mechanism have been concisely discussed. The basic test protocol with ongoing improvements, widespread applications, typical advantages and probable limitations of the assay have been overviewed. The sensitivity of VFBIA and toxicity bioassays has also been compared.

Degradation of Orange G by Fenton-like reaction with Fe-impregnated biochar catalyst

This study was conducted to evaluate the catalytic activity of Fe-impregnated sugarcane biochar (FSB) for removing azo dye Orange G (OG) from solution under various Fenton-like oxidation conditions. The optimum molar Fe concentration for impregnation to achieve maximum catalytic activity of FSB in Fenton-like reaction with acceptable effluent Fe release was 0.25 M (163.4 Fe mg/g in FSB). High removal efficiency of 99.7% was achieved within 2 h of reaction at optimum conditions of 0.075 g/L H₂O₂, 0.5 g/L FSB for 0.1 g/L OG at initial pH 5.5 under 25 °C. For every 10 °C increase, the time for maximum OG degradation efficiency decreased by 0.5 h. The OG removal by FSB exhibited a slow induction reaction followed by fast OG decomposition. FSB can be used successively for at least 4 runs with >89.3% OG removal. The FSB was more economical, efficient, and recyclable than other conventional Fenton oxidation catalysts.

Recent developments on algal biochar production and characterization

Algal biomass is known as a promising sustainable feedstock for the production of biofuels and other valuable products. However, since last decade, massive amount of interests have turned to converting algal biomass into biochar. Due to their high nutrient content and ion-exchange capacity, algal biochars can be used as soil amendment for agriculture purposes or adsorbents in wastewater treatment for the removal of organic or inorganic pollutants. This review describes the conventional (e.g., slow and microwave-assisted pyrolysis) and newly developed (e.g., hydrothermal carbonization and torrefaction) methods used for the synthesis of algae-based biochars. The characterization of algal biochar and a comparison between algal biochar with biochar produced from other feedstocks are also presented. This review aims to provide updated information on the development of algal biochar in terms of the production methods and the characterization of its physical and chemical properties to justify and to expand their potential applications.

Effects and mechanisms of biochar-microbe interactions in soil improvement and pollution remediation: A review

Biochars have attracted tremendous attention due to their effects on soil improvement; they enhance carbon storage, soil fertility and quality, and contaminant (organic and heavy metal) immobilization and transformation. These effects could be achieved by modifying soil microbial habitats and (or) directly influencing microbial metabolisms, which together induce changes in microbial activity and microbial community structures. This review links microbial responses, including microbial activity, community structures and soil enzyme activities, with changes in soil properties caused by biochars. In particular, we summarized possible mechanisms that are involved in the effects that biochar-microbe interactions have on soil carbon sequestration and pollution remediation. Special attention has been paid to biochar effects on the formation and protection of soil aggregates, biochar adsorption of contaminants, biochar-mediated transformation of soil contaminants by microorganisms, and biochar-facilitated electron transfer between microbial cells and contaminants and soil organic matter. Certain reactive organic compounds and heavy metals in biochar may induce toxicity to soil microorganisms. Adsorption and hydrolysis of signaling molecules by biochar interrupts microbial interspecific communications, potentially altering soil microbial community structures. Further research is urged to verify the proposed mechanisms involved in biochar-microbiota interactions for soil remediation and improvement.

Application of biochar-based catalysts in biomass upgrading: a review

The application of biochars as versatile catalysts and/or catalyst supports for biomass upgrading is systematically overviewed.