Author response for "Biochar pre-conditioning reduces nanoplastic toxicity to plant growth-promoting bacteria"

A critical evaluation of nanoparticles and biochar in microplastics remediation in soil

Biochar as a Soil Amendment Alleviates Microplastic-induced Nitrogen Inhibition in Ryegrass: Threshold Effects Revealed by 15N Tracing

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Using 15N isotope tracing, researchers showed that biochar amendments at 0.5% and 2% concentrations can counteract PVC microplastic-induced inhibition of nitrogen cycling in soil-ryegrass systems, improving nitrogen utilization efficiency by up to 37.56% depending on contamination level. Biochar emerges as a practical soil remediation tool for agricultural lands where microplastic pollution is compromising crop productivity and soil health.

Biochar mitigates microplastic- and nanoplastic-induced soil degradation and plant stress: a global meta-analysis.

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This analysis combined results from 59 studies on soil and plants exposed to microplastics or nanoplastics. Adding biochar to soil was linked to healthier plant growth, less plant damage, and lower microplastic buildup in plants, though the effects varied depending on conditions and were weaker in more realistic, complex settings than in controlled experiments.

Biochar and microplastics interactively modulate morpho-physiology and growth of maize under soil drying-rewetting cycles

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A factorial microcosm experiment found that polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics interacted with biochar soil amendments to alter maize water-use efficiency, leaf physiology, and root architecture, with effects varying by biochar pyrolysis temperature, microplastic polymer type, and irrigation regime. The findings caution that microplastic contamination can undermine the intended benefits of biochar as a soil amendment, with implications for agricultural productivity in microplastic-polluted soils.

Optimizing Microplastic Removal using Biochar

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Researchers compared four filtration materials for removing polystyrene microplastics from water, finding that iron-modified biochar achieved 99.99% removal efficiency within six hours — far outperforming raw biochar (56%), coconut fiber (44%), and sand (29%) — with higher pyrolysis temperature and iron modification both significantly enhancing adsorption capacity.