Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Environmental level of lanthanum increased phytoextraction of co-occurring cadmium and polystyrene nanoplastics by Sedum alfredii

Researchers found that environmental concentrations of lanthanum — a rare earth element — triggered systemic endocytosis in the hyperaccumulator plant Sedum alfredii, enabling simultaneous root uptake of both cadmium and polystyrene nanoplastics by boosting antioxidant activity and photosynthesis, pointing toward a novel strategy for remediating mixed inorganic-organic contaminated soils.

2024 Bioresource Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced adsorption and co-adsorption of heavy metals using highly hydrophilicity amine-functionalized magnetic hydrochar supported MIL-53(Fe)-NH2: performance, kinetics and mechanism studies

Researchers developed a composite material made from invasive plant-derived carbon combined with a metal-organic framework to simultaneously remove multiple heavy metals from water. The approach addresses co-contamination of aquatic environments where heavy metals and microplastics often occur together.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Acid leaching of hydrothermally carbonized sewage sludge: phosphorus recovery and hydrochar characteristics

Researchers investigated acid leaching of hydrochar produced by hydrothermal carbonisation of sewage sludge to recover phosphorus, comparing formic, sulfuric, and acetic acids at varying concentrations and pH levels. Response surface modelling showed that a small fraction of sulfuric acid was sufficient to maintain low pH for phosphorus mobilisation, with carbonisation temperature, acid type, and contact time all influencing total phosphorus recovery and hydrochar fuel characteristics.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Urban mining: Phytoextraction of noble and rare earth elements from urban soils

This review examines phytomining as a technology for recovering platinum group elements and rare earth metals from roadside soils contaminated by vehicle exhaust, catalytic converter wear, and road infrastructure. The authors synthesize research on metal accumulation sources, quantities, and plant species suitable for phytoextraction, presenting phytomining as a novel approach to urban resource recovery.

2023 Archives of Environmental Protection 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Efficient removal of microplastics from aqueous solution by a novel magnetic biochar: performance, mechanism, and reusability

Researchers developed a magnetic biochar from rice husks that achieved 99.96% removal of microplastics from water, with the material showing excellent reusability and performance under various environmental conditions.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Retrieval of carbon and inorganic phosphorus during hydrothermal carbonization: ANN and RSM modeling

Researchers studied the recovery of carbon and inorganic phosphorus during hydrothermal carbonization of biomass feedstocks, optimizing conditions to maximize nutrient and carbon retention in the resulting hydrochar. Recovered hydrochar was proposed as a soil amendment combining carbon sequestration with phosphorus recycling.

2024 Heliyon 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Herbal plants- and rice straw-derived biochars reduced metal mobilization in fishpond sediments and improved their potential as fertilizers

Researchers applied biochars derived from herbal plants and rice straw to fishpond sediments contaminated with copper, chromium, and zinc, finding that herb-derived biochar (TMBC) most effectively reduced metal concentrations in pore water and leachate while improving macronutrient content, supporting sediment reuse as agricultural fertilizer.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Microwave pyrolyzed sewage sludge: influence on soil microbiology, nutrient status, and plant biomass

Researchers converted sewage sludge — a byproduct of wastewater treatment that contains heavy metals and pathogens — into a safer biochar by heating it with zeolite and sawdust in a microwave pyrolysis process, then applied it to soil. The resulting material improved soil nutrients and microbial activity and boosted lettuce growth, suggesting it could serve as a soil enhancer while reducing the environmental hazards of raw sewage sludge disposal.

2022 Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Characterization of Cattail-Derived Biochar and Its Application for Cadmium Removal

Researchers produced biochar from different parts of the cattail plant and tested its ability to remove heavy metals from water. Plant-derived biochars offer a sustainable and low-cost approach to water treatment, relevant to cleaning up environments where microplastics and co-occurring heavy metals are both present.

2021 Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Tolerance and accumulation characteristics of Brassica chinensis L. under the interactive treatments of lanthanum, cerium, and fluorine in soil

Researchers studied how combinations of rare earth elements (lanthanum and cerium) and fluorine from mining pollution affect the growth and metal uptake of Chinese cabbage, finding that fluorine reduced the plant's absorption of these metals by forming insoluble compounds — a useful insight for managing farmland contaminated near rare earth mining sites.

2025 BMC Plant Biology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Malachite Green Using Hydrochar from PALM Leaves

Researchers prepared hydrochar from palm leaves via hydrothermal carbonization and used it as an adsorbent for malachite green dye removal from water, finding that hydrogen peroxide activation improved adsorption capacity with optimal performance at specific pH conditions.

2023 Sustainability 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of microplastics and metals in biochar beds for stormwater treatment: Effects of prolonged drying and salinity on pollutant mobility

Researchers tested biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — as a filter for removing microplastics and heavy metals from stormwater runoff, finding it retained up to 99% of microplastics but that prolonged dry periods and high salinity increased the release of metals, highlighting real-world limitations of this promising treatment approach.

2026 Environmental Challenges
Article Tier 2

Microbial responses towards biochar application in potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soil: a critical review on effects and potential mechanisms

Researchers reviewed how biochar — a charcoal-like material made from organic waste — can protect soil microorganisms from toxic heavy metal contamination by reducing metal availability and improving soil conditions. The review found that biochar addition consistently shifted microbial communities toward healthier, more diverse compositions, offering a practical soil remediation strategy aligned with sustainability goals.

2023 Biochar 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Advances of rare earth-based catalysts for recycling CO 2 and plastic waste

This review examined the progress in using rare earth-based catalysts to chemically recycle plastics, converting waste polymers back into useful fuels or feedstocks. The findings point to catalytic recycling as a promising complement to mechanical recycling for reducing plastic waste.

2025 Chemical Society Reviews 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Bamboo for producing charcoal and biochar for versatile applications

Researchers reviewed the properties of bamboo-derived charcoal and biochar produced through pyrolysis, finding that bamboo charcoal offers four times the absorption rate of regular charcoal and highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution for plastic waste management and a wide range of environmental remediation applications.

2023 Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced removal of PVC nanoplastics from water using microwave-activated palm frond biochar

Researchers developed a low-cost sorbent from palm-frond agricultural waste by microwave activation and NaOH treatment, and further produced a magnetically retrievable composite for enhanced removal of PVC nanoplastics from water. The modified palm-frond biochar demonstrated substantially improved nanoplastic adsorption capacity compared to unmodified biochar, offering a sustainable remediation material derived from agricultural waste.

2025 International journal of aquatic biology
Article Tier 2

Chitosan‐assisted magnetic coconut shell biochar for polystyrene microplastic removal: Mechanism and reusability

Researchers created a recyclable magnetic biochar material from coconut shells, modified with chitosan, that removed up to 91% of polystyrene microplastics from water. The material maintained its effectiveness through five consecutive reuse cycles, and water treated with the biochar actually promoted better plant growth, demonstrating practical potential for environmental cleanup.

2025 Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent trends and economic significance of modified/functionalized biochars for remediation of environmental pollutants

Researchers reviewed recent advances in modified biochars — charcoal-like materials made from organic waste — as low-cost tools for removing chemical pollutants from contaminated soil and water. By altering biochar's physical and chemical properties through various treatment techniques, scientists have significantly improved its ability to bind and neutralize a wide range of harmful substances.

2024 Scientific Reports 137 citations
Article Tier 2

Physical-Chemical Characterization of Different Carbon-Based Sorbents for Environmental Applications

Researchers characterized and compared the physical-chemical properties of activated carbon and two biochars for environmental remediation applications, finding that the biochars offer comparable performance to activated carbon while providing a lower-cost circular economy alternative derived from waste pyrolysis.

2022 Materials 28 citations
Article Tier 2

A Recyclable Magnetic Biochar from Corn Cobs and Red Mud for Treating Complex Contaminants Containing Dyes and Heavy Metals

Researchers synthesized a recyclable magnetic multifunctional biochar (MMBC-400) from co-pyrolysis of corn cobs and red mud at 400°C and demonstrated its effectiveness for simultaneously removing malachite green dye and Pb2+ from complex wastewater, achieving high removal efficiency in both single and binary contaminant systems with magnetic recyclability.

2025
Article Tier 2

Upgrading biochar via co-pyrolyzation of agricultural biomass and polyethylene terephthalate wastes

PET plastic bottles were co-processed with rice straw at high temperatures to create biochar that can effectively absorb multiple types of pollutants from water. This study demonstrates a way to repurpose plastic waste while also creating a useful tool for environmental remediation.

2019 RSC Advances 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar : A Review of its History, Characteristics, Factors that Influence its Yield, Methods of Production, Application in Wastewater Treatment and Recent Development

This review examines biochar's history, physicochemical properties, production methods, and applications in wastewater treatment, highlighting its high porosity and diverse functional groups that enable effective adsorption of contaminants including heavy metals and organic pollutants.

2021 Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry 48 citations
Article Tier 2

A toolbox for improved recycling of critical metals and materials in low-carbon technologies

This study highlights a collection of recycling processes designed to recover critical metals from clean energy technologies like batteries and renewable energy devices. Researchers present a practical toolkit of techniques for extracting valuable metals from end-of-life equipment. The findings suggest that improved recycling of these materials is essential for sustaining the transition to low-carbon energy systems.

2024 RSC Sustainability 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Biobased Strategies for E-Waste Metal Recovery: A Critical Overview of Recent Advances

This review examines biobased approaches to recovering metals from electronic waste as sustainable alternatives to traditional energy-intensive methods like pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Researchers evaluated strategies using inactive biomass, live biomass, and biogenic compounds, discussing their advantages, limitations, and potential for by-product valorization. The study suggests that bioprocessing methods offer lower environmental impact and the ability to handle complex e-waste streams, though further optimization of recovery efficiency and processing times is needed.

2025 Environments 8 citations