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The Production of Biochar and Its Impact on the Removal of Various Emerging Pollutants from Wastewater: A Review

Summary

Biochar is a charcoal-like material made from plant and animal waste through a heating process called pyrolysis. This material acts like a sponge that can trap harmful pollutants from contaminated water, including heavy metals, medicines, and pesticides. Scientists have developed various ways to improve biochar’s cleaning power, making it an affordable and environmentally friendly solution for purifying water.

Background

Water pollution from emerging pollutants including heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, antibiotics, and dyes represents a significant environmental challenge. Biochar, produced through pyrolysis of biomass residues, has emerged as a promising sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent material for wastewater treatment due to its abundant feedstock availability and favorable surface properties.

Objective

This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of biochar production, its characteristics, surface functional group properties, modification strategies, and its role in adsorption-based removal of various emerging pollutants from wastewater. The review emphasizes the mechanisms involved in pollutant removal and discusses future opportunities for developing efficient biochar-based treatment systems.

Results

The review demonstrates that biochar effectiveness depends on key characteristics including surface area, porosity, pore size distribution, functional groups, and cation-exchange capacity. Physical modifications (activation, steam treatment, ball milling) and chemical modifications (acid/alkali treatment, metal oxide loading) can enhance adsorption capacity up to 200-fold, with biological modifications providing cost-effective alternatives using microorganisms.

Conclusion

Biochar represents a viable, sustainable, and cost-effective solution for removing emerging pollutants from wastewater when appropriately modified. The integration of biochar into sustainable water management systems, combined with optimized modification strategies, presents a promising pathway toward achieving long-term environmental resilience and supporting multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Published in:Toxics,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 41441300
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