Engineered biochar for the effective sorption and remediation of emerging pollutants in the environment

Various compounds that are emerging contaminants pose a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to their potential to harm human health and the environment.Thus, there is an urgent requirement to use effective remediation methods and techniques to minimize the harmful impact of these contaminants on the environment. Biochar (BC) is a lightweight black residue that is made of carbon after the pyrolysis of biomass. BC is a product that is stable, rich in carbon, and exhibited improved properties. BC has come up with fascinating properties and results to remediate these pollutants from the soil effectively. Furthermore, it becomes possible to recover resources using BC because of the benefits such as (a) it offers in terms of cost, (b) the preservation of nutrients, and (c) the efficiency with which it absorbs pollutants. Consequently, it is necessary to have a knowledge of the interaction involving biochar and resource recovery to explore the applicability of BC in the cleaning up of the surroundings and the exploitation of wastewater. This review emphasize the physio-chemical and biological modification methods for the preparation of various types of engineered BC. Therefore, the present review aims: (i) provide an overview of emerging pollutants of human activities in soil (ii) synthesis and engineer BC for field application (iii) critically discuss and evaluate the factors affecting large-scale application techno-economic challenges. The review provided insight into the areas that need immediate attention in the upcoming investigation regarding the use of engineered biochar for wastewater treatment.

Automated summary

Various emerging contaminants pose a significant risk to the environment and human health, making it necessary to urgently find effective remediation methods. Biochar is a stable and carbon-rich residue that can effectively remediate pollutants from soil and potentially facilitate resource recovery. Therefore, understanding the interaction between biochar and resource recovery is crucial for its applicability in environmental cleanup and wastewater treatment.