Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Competitive adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of Cd, Ni, and Cu by biochar when coexisting with microplastics under single, binary, and ternary systems

Researchers studied how biochar absorbs heavy metals like cadmium, nickel, and copper when microplastics are also present in the soil. They found that microplastics competed with biochar for metal binding, reducing its effectiveness as a soil amendment. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils may undermine common remediation strategies that rely on biochar to immobilize toxic metals.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Adsorption, immobilization mechanisms and potential risks of Cd in soil-biochar-microplastics system

This study examined how varying concentrations (0-10%) of polyethylene microplastics affect biochar's capacity to adsorb and immobilize cadmium (Cd) in soil. Microplastics increased biochar's Cd adsorption by up to 33% but simultaneously elevated Cd leaching risk, highlighting a complex trade-off in using biochar for heavy metal remediation in microplastic-contaminated soils.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar alters chemical and microbial properties of microplastic-contaminated soil

Researchers found that biochar amendments improved chemical and microbial properties of microplastic-contaminated soil, with effects varying by biochar type and water conditions, suggesting biochar as a potential remediation tool for plastic-polluted agricultural soils.

2022 Environmental Research 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined Effects of Microplastics and Biochar on the Removal of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Phthalate Esters and Its Potential Microbial Ecological Mechanism

Researchers investigated the combined effects of microplastics and biochar on the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalate esters from contaminated soil, finding that the combination altered microbial community structure and contaminant fate differently than either amendment alone.

2021 Frontiers in Microbiology 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Combined effect of biochar and soil moisture on soil chemical properties and microbial community composition in microplastic‐contaminated agricultural soil

Biochar was applied to microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil under different moisture conditions, with results showing that biochar improved soil chemical properties and shifted microbial communities in ways that partially offset microplastic-induced degradation. The study suggests biochar as a practical soil amendment to mitigate microplastic impacts in farming systems.

2022 Soil Use and Management 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact mechanisms of polyethylene microplastic on Cd adsorption and passivation by KMnO4-modified biochar in different soils

Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics affect cadmium (Cd) adsorption and passivation by KMnO4-modified biochar across 50 soil combinations varying in soil type, Cd concentration, and microplastic content. Microplastics increased biochar's Cd adsorption capacity by 1.5-33.1% depending on concentration but also increased Cd leaching risk at higher microplastic loads.

2025 Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics in soil on the regulation of cadmium bioavailability by biochar

Researchers investigated how biochar amendments affect cadmium bioavailability in soils co-contaminated with microplastics, finding that the presence of microplastics altered cadmium mobility and complicated biochar's remediation effectiveness in ways that depend on the specific MP type present.

2025 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of Biochar and Microbes in Remediation of Microplastics in Soil

This review examines how biochar and soil microbes can be combined to remediate microplastic-contaminated soils, synthesizing evidence for biochar's adsorption capacity and microbial degradation pathways that reduce microplastic persistence and toxicity.

2025 Journal of Innovative Solutions for Eco-Environmental Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Co-application of organic fertilizer and biochar ameliorates the triple composite pollution of microplastics, antibiotic resistance genes, and heavy metals in soil

Agricultural soils are increasingly polluted by a troubling combination of heavy metals, microplastics, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria — and this five-year field study found that combining biochar with organic fertilizer significantly reduces all three types of contamination at once. The treatment worked by reshaping soil microbial communities in ways that suppressed antibiotic-resistant organisms while promoting microbes that break down plastics and immobilize metals. This approach offers a practical, field-tested strategy for cleaning up complex pollution in intensively farmed soils.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Optimizing Biochar for Heavy Metal Remediation: A Meta-Analysis of Modification Methods and Pyrolysis Conditions

This meta-analysis of 173 publications found that metal oxide-treated biochars produced at moderate temperatures (400-550 degrees C) from wood feedstocks are the most effective for adsorbing cadmium, lead, and copper from contaminated soil. These biochar optimization strategies are relevant to microplastic research because co-contamination of soils with heavy metals and microplastics is increasingly common.

2025 Environments 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Remediation of biochar-supported effective microorganisms and microplastics on multiple forms of heavy metals in eutrophic lake

This study analyzed multiple forms of heavy metals in eutrophic lake sediments treated with biochar-supported effective microorganisms and assessed the influence of co-occurring microplastics on remediation outcomes. Results showed that the combined treatment affected heavy metal speciation and microbial responses in the water-sediment system.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic inhibits the sorption of trichloroethylene on modified biochar

Laboratory experiments showed that polyethylene and polystyrene microplastics significantly reduced the ability of biochar to adsorb the toxic solvent trichloroethylene from soil and water, because the microplastics preferentially competed for the same binding sites on the biochar surface. This finding is important for remediation planning, as microplastic co-contamination could undermine biochar-based cleanup strategies at polluted sites.

2024 Water Science & Technology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar mitigates microplastic‐induced destabilization of soil organic carbon via molecular recalcitrance and microbial process regulation

Biochar amendments to soil were shown to offset the destabilizing effects that microplastics have on soil aggregate structure. The finding suggests that biochar could be a practical soil amendment to counteract microplastic-driven soil degradation in contaminated agricultural lands.

2025 Functional Ecology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics and biochar on soil cadmium availability and wheat plant performance

Researchers found that fresh microplastics increased soil cadmium availability and plant uptake in wheat, and when combined with biochar, microplastics further amplified cadmium mobilization by decreasing soil pH and increasing dissolved organic matter, complicating biochar-based soil remediation strategies.

2023 GCB Bioenergy 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Removal of Co-Occurring Microplastics and Metals in an Aqueous System by Pristine and Magnetised Larch Biochar

Researchers tested pristine and modified biochar for simultaneous removal of co-occurring microplastics and heavy metals from water, finding that biochar surface modifications improved adsorption of both contaminant classes, offering a promising dual-removal treatment strategy.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Biochar as a Green Sorbent for Remediation of Polluted Soils and Associated Toxicity Risks: A Critical Review

This review examines biochar, a charcoal-like material made from organic waste, as a tool for cleaning up soil contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants. While biochar can effectively trap contaminants, the production process itself can create toxic byproducts like PAHs that may harm soil life. The research is relevant to microplastic pollution because biochar is being explored as a potential method to bind and reduce microplastic contamination in agricultural soils.

2023 Separations 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and metal-free/metal-loaded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics improved biochar properties and reduced environmental risk of heavy metals

Sewage sludge was co-pyrolyzed with metal-laden and metal-free PVC microplastics, producing biochars with improved properties and reduced environmental risk from heavy metals compared to pyrolyzing sludge alone. The study demonstrates co-pyrolysis as a strategy to address both plastic and heavy metal pollution in sludge treatment processes.

2022 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar alleviated the toxic effects of PVC microplastic in a soil-plant system by upregulating soil enzyme activities and microbial abundance

Researchers tested whether adding biochar to soil could reduce the harmful effects of PVC microplastic contamination on plant growth and soil health. They found that biochar amendment increased plant biomass, restored soil enzyme activity, and boosted beneficial microbial populations that had been suppressed by the microplastics. The study suggests that biochar could serve as a practical tool for rehabilitating agricultural soils contaminated with plastic particles.

2023 Environmental Pollution 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Addressing the Microplastic Dilemma in Soil and Sediment with Focus on Biochar-Based Remediation Techniques: Review

This review examines how biochar, a carbon-rich material made from organic waste, can be used to remediate microplastic-contaminated soils and sediments. Researchers found that biochar can adsorb microplastics and reduce their mobility, while also improving overall soil health and microbial activity. The study highlights biochar-based approaches as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategy for addressing microplastic pollution in terrestrial environments.

2023 Soil Systems 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Biochar Influences Polyethylene Microplastic-Contaminated Soil Properties and Enzyme Activities

This study examined how biochar additions modify the properties of polyethylene microplastic-contaminated soil and affect plant growth, finding that biochar partially mitigated microplastic-induced soil degradation and improved plant performance. Biochar shows promise as a low-cost soil amendment to counteract microplastic impacts.

2024 Agronomy 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of biochar in the remediation of soil microplastic pollution: A review

Researchers reviewed the use of biochar as a tool for remediating microplastic-contaminated soil. The study found that biochar application shows promise for addressing soil microplastic pollution by altering soil properties in ways that can reduce microplastic mobility and mitigate their negative effects on soil structure, plant growth, and biogeochemical cycling.

2025 Soil Science Society of America Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the potential of biochar for the remediation of microbial communities and element cycling in microplastic-contaminated soil

Scientists found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like material made from plant waste) to soil contaminated with microplastics helped restore healthy microbial communities and nutrient cycling. The biochar reversed negative effects that microplastics had on soil chemistry, including nitrogen and phosphorus availability. This suggests biochar could be a practical tool for repairing farmland damaged by microplastic pollution.

2024 Chemosphere 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination of coastal hill soils: Perspective of Rohingya Refugee camps in Bangladesh

This study examined whether biochar amendments could mitigate the toxic effects of microplastics on soil bacteria and earthworms. Biochar partially alleviated microplastic-induced oxidative stress and improved soil microbial diversity under co-contamination conditions.

2022 Soil and Sediment Contamination An International Journal 9 citations
Article Tier 2

The Removal and Mitigation Effects of Biochar on Microplastics in Water and Soils: Application and Mechanism Analysis

This review examines how biochar can be used to both remove microplastics from water and mitigate their harmful effects in soils. Researchers found that woody biochar was the most effective type for adsorbing microplastics, while also helping to restore soil enzyme activities and microbial communities disrupted by plastic contamination. The study calls for further research into optimizing biochar applications and understanding the long-term environmental implications of biochar-microplastic interactions.

2024 Sustainability 18 citations