Journal
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
Volume 159, Issue 12, Pages 3269-3282Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.07.023
Keywords
Biochar; PAH; Heavy metals; Soil degradation; Pollution; Environmental clean-up
Categories
Funding
- BBSRC
- Universidad Autonoma de Madrid
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Biochars are biological residues combusted under low oxygen conditions, resulting in a porous, low density carbon rich material. Their large surface areas and cation exchange capacities, determined to a large extent by source materials and pyrolysis temperatures, enables enhanced sorption of both organic and inorganic contaminants to their surfaces, reducing pollutant mobility when amending contaminated soils. Liming effects or release of carbon into soil solution may increase arsenic mobility, whilst low capital but enhanced retention of plant nutrients can restrict revegetation on degraded soils amended only with biochars; the combination of composts, manures and other amendments with biochars could be their most effective deployment to soils requiring stabilisation by revegetation. Specific mechanisms of contaminant-biochar retention and release over time and the environmental impact of biochar amendments on soil organisms remain somewhat unclear but must be investigated to ensure that the management of environmental pollution coincides with ecological sustainability. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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