Recent advances in utilization of biochar

Biomass thermochemical processes result in a common byproduct char. The char is also called biochar particularly when it is used as a soil amendment for soil health improvement. Effective utilization of biochar is critical for improving economic viability and environmental sustainability of biomass thermochemical technologies. Application of biochar for both agricultural and environmental benefits has been studied and reviewed extensively. However, there are limited reviews on other biochar applications, such as for catalysis and adsorption. This paper provides an overview of recent advances in several biochar utilizations including its use as catalyst, soil amendment, fuel cell, contaminant adsorbent, gas storage and activated carbon. Discussions on biochar production methods, properties and advanced characterization techniques are also provided. Biochar is a valuable resource, however, its effective utilization require further investigation of its structure and properties, and methods to modify those. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.