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A decadal review of carbon-based sustainable materials: chemistry, mechanisms, and environmental applications
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This comprehensive review examines biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a promising tool for removing microplastics, heavy metals, and other pollutants from water through its high surface area and porous structure. Finding sustainable ways to capture microplastics before they reach ecosystems and bodies is an urgent global need, and biochar represents a low-cost, renewable option.
Water contamination is a pressing global issue involving pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and nutrients, which are significant threats to ecosystems. Conventional water treatment methods often fail to remove these pollutants effectively. Hence, there is a need for sustainable solutions. Biochar produced through various methods could be a potential solution for environmental problems because of its high surface area, porous structure, and diverse functional groups. Widespread research has been carried out on biochar; however, mostly dispersed information is available. Therefore, in a unified format, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the properties, characteristics, composition, chemistry, mechanisms, and applications of biochar. This study closely examines biochar production and variations in feedstock materials, pyrolysis conditions, adsorption mechanisms, and enhancing efficacy for environmental applications. The potential of biochar for pollutant removal and its interactions with organic, inorganic, and microplastic pollutants have also been explored. The changes in the structural and functional characteristics of biochar due to pollutant interactions have also been discussed. To improve the efficacy of biochar, various modification techniques, such as acid/base treatments, metal impregnation, and thermal treatments, have also been used. Despite its potential, this technology faces challenges such as property variability, high production costs, and potential environmental impacts. This review suggests that the potential of biochar for environmental remediation is influenced by various factors that can be optimized to improve its removal efficacy for targeted pollutants.
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