Biochar technology in wastewater treatment: A critical review

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 252; p. 126539
• Main Authors: Xiang, Wei, Zhang, Xueyang, Chen, Jianjun, Zou, Weixin, He, Feng, Hu, Xin, Tsang, Daniel C.W., Ok, Yong Sik, Gao, Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2020
• Subjects: adsorbents; adsorption; batteries; biochar; carbon; Carbonaceous adsorbents; cost effectiveness; dyes; Engineered biochar; feedstocks; industrial wastewater; manufacturing; metals; Modification methods; moieties; municipal wastewater; nutrients; pollutants; Production technologies; soil remediation; stormwater; surface area; toxicity; Wastewater treatment; Engineered biochar; Carbonaceous adsorbents; Wastewater treatment; Modification methods; Production technologies
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126539

Biochar is a promising agent for wastewater treatment, soil remediation, and gas storage and separation. This review summarizes recent research development on biochar production and applications with a focus on the application of biochar technology in wastewater treatment. Different technologies for biochar production, with an emphasis on pre-treatment of feedstock and post treatment, are succinctly summarized. Biochar has been extensively used as an adsorbent to remove toxic metals, organic pollutants, and nutrients from wastewater. Compared to pristine biochar, engineered/designer biochar generally has larger surface area, stronger adsorption capacity, or more abundant surface functional groups (SFG), which represents a new type of carbon material with great application prospects in various wastewater treatments. As the first of its kind, this critical review emphasizes the promising prospects of biochar technology in the treatment of various wastewater including industrial wastewater (dye, battery manufacture, and dairy wastewater), municipal wastewater, agricultural wastewater, and stormwater. Future research on engineered/designer biochar production and its field-scale application is discussed. Based on the review, it can be concluded that biochar technology represents a new, cost effective, and environmentally-friendly solution for the treatment of wastewater. [Display omitted] •Biochar technologies in various wastewater treatment are elucidated.•Feedstock pre-treatment and post-treatment effect on biochar production is reviewed.•Biochar as an innovative adsorbent to remove aqueous contaminants is discussed.•Future perspectives of biochar technology in wastewater treatment are summarized.