Biochar-based materials in environmental pollutant elimination, H2 production and CO2 capture applications

• Published in: Biochar (Online) Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 1 - 24
• Main Authors: Fang, Lin, Huang, Tao, Lu, Hua, Wu, Xi-Lin, Chen, Zhongshan, Yang, Hui, Wang, Suhua, Tang, Zhenwu, Li, Zhuang, Hu, Baowei, Wang, Xiangke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 20.07.2023; Springer
• Subjects: Agriculture; Biochar-based materials; Ceramics; CO2 capture; Composites; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Environmental pollutant elimination; Fossil Fuels (incl. Carbon Capture); Glass; H2 production; Interaction mechanism; Natural Materials; Renewable and Green Energy; Review; Soil Science & Conservation; Interaction mechanism; Environmental pollutant elimination; production; H; capture; Biochar-based materials; CO
• ISSN: 2524-7867; 2524-7867
• DOI: 10.1007/s42773-023-00237-7

Biochar and biochar-based materials have been studied extensively in multidisciplinary areas because of their outstanding physicochemical properties. In this review article, biochar and biochar-based materials in the removal of environmental pollutants, hydrogen generation and carbon dioxide capture were summarized and compared. The interaction mechanisms were discussed from the experimental results and characterization analysis. The high porous structures, active surface sites, (co)doping of single metals/nonmetals, and incorporation of metal oxides or other materials improved the high activity of biochar-based materials in their applications. However, there are still some challenges such as: (1) the fact that H 2 generation with high selectivity or the produced syngas to meet the real application requirement in industrial is the main challenge in H 2 production; (2) the fact that the selective capture of CO 2 with high stability, high adsorption capacity and recyclability at low-cost should be considered and focused on; (3) the sorption-(photo)degradation of the organic chemicals; and (4) the fact that the sorption-reduction-extraction/solidification of metals/radionuclides are efficient methods for the elimination of environmental pollutants. In the end, the perspectives, challenges and possible techniques for biochar-based materials’ real application in future were described. Graphical Abstract Highlights Biochar-based composites exhibited high degradation abilities for organic pollutants. Biochar-based materials showed high removal/immobilization efficiency of metals through sorption-reduction. Biochar and biochar-based materials could generate H 2 with high efficiency. Biochar-based materials can capture and separate CO 2 from complex systems with high selectivity.