Functionalized Biochars for Enhanced Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions: Mechanism and Future Industrial Prospects

Development of efficient modified bioinspired material for the sorption of heavy metals is currently on the fore front of environmental heavy metals remediation research. Functionalized biochar for heavy metals removal is highly advantageous because of striking properties such as regenerability, simplicity, low–cost, high efficiency, and mechanical stability, chemical inertness to many organic solvent, surface polarity, functionality, chelation property and decreased hydrophobicity absent in naked biochar. This review surveyed the sources of heavy metals, the bioavailability and effects on man and biota, and previous work on the method of preparation of the biochar, its modification, and its characterization. The paper also presented critical analysis on the preparation of biochar, modification methods, surface chemistry, mechanisms of interaction, extraneous variables, and characterization methods. A comparative treatment of the preparation conditions, characterization methods, and surface functionalities was presented. The perceived disadvantages were listed, and the future prospects of the new research area for industrial scale applications were thoroughly presented. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-03-09 Full Text: PDF