Compositions and sorptive properties of crop residue-derived chars

Impact of Biochar on Physicochemical Properties of Haplic Luvisol Soil under Different Land Use: A Plot Experiment

There is limited information regarding the effect of biochar (BioC) on improving the fertility of degraded soils (fallow and grassland), particularly with respect to changes with time. The objective of the study was to evaluate, in a three-year field experiment, the influence of BioC on the physicochemical properties of Haplic Luvisol. BioC, obtained via wood waste pyrolysis at 650 °C, was applied to the soil of subplots under fallow and grassland at rates of 0, 1, 2, and 3 kg·m−2. Soil samples were collected eight times, from 2013 to 2015. Physicochemical characterization was performed for soil and BioC by analyzing density, pH, surface charge, as well as ash and organic carbon content. BioC’s influence on the physicochemical properties of degraded soils was determined by analyzing the changes in pH, specific surface area, radius, and volume of the micropore. The addition of BioC affected analyzed soils to varying degrees. In the case of the fallow, a positive effect on changes in these parameters was observed, particularly at the highest biochar dose and for the last year of the experiment. However, for the grassland, in most cases we observed the opposite trend—for example, pH and specific surface area values decreased with increasing biochar dose. We believe that it is necessary to examine how BioC affects sorption properties of organic matter of fallow and grassland soils, as well as the BioC’s influence on humic acids of these soils as a function on BioC dose and function of time.

Sunflower stalk-derived biochar enhanced thermal activation of persulfate for high efficient oxidation of p-nitrophenol

Sunflower stalk-derived biochars (BC) were prepared at various temperatures (i.e., 500, 650, and 1000 °C) and demonstrated as a highly efficient catalyst in persulfate (PS) activation for the oxidation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) at 60 °C. The apparent PNP oxidation rate constant in the BC500 (0.1543 L mol^-1 S^-1), BC650 (0.6062 L mol^-1 S^-1), or BC1000 (2.1379 L mol^-1 S^-1) containing PS system was about 2, 8 and 28 times higher than that in PS/PNP (0.0751 L mol^-1 S^-1) system, respectively. The effect of reaction temperature on PNP oxidation was also investigated. Furthermore, the radical quenching tests and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) were employed to investigate the sulfate and hydroxyl radicals for PNP oxidation. The Raman results suggested that the defective sites on biochars possess vital role for oxidation of PNP in PS system. The possible activation pathway of PS/BC was proposed that the defective sites on BC were involved for weakening the O-O bond in PS and subsequently cleaving O-O bond by heat to generate sulfate radical. The oxidation of PNP at low concentration (below 100 μg L^-1) was completely removed in urban wastewater by PS/BC system within 30 min. This work would provide new insights into PS activation by BC catalyst and afford a promising method for organic pollutant removal in high-temperature wastewater.

Effect of black carbon on sorption and desorption of phosphorus onto sediments

The sorption behavior of phosphorus onto sediment was investigated with the addition of BC derived from incomplete biomass combustion (PC). The sorption kinetic curves of phosphorus onto PC and sediment could be described by a two-compartment first order equation, and the sorption isotherms fit the Freundlich model well. With increasing amounts of PC added, the sorption capacity increased while the HI did not change much. The distribution of phosphorus forms showed that CaP (ACa-P plus DAP) constituted the highest fraction in the sediment samples. Throughout the sorption process, CaP and OP changed very little, but the Ex-P and FeP increased obviously, and the presence of PC made this increase more significantly. The high specific area and the presence of iron and aluminum, as well as the modification of the sediments surface properties, make the addition of PC be favorable for the sorption of phosphorus onto sediments.

Municipal solid waste-derived biochar for the removal of benzene from landfill leachate

The potential of biochar, produced from fibrous organic fractions of municipal solid waste (MSW), for remediation of benzene, one of the frequently found toxic volatile organic compounds in landfill leachate, was investigated in this study based on various environmental conditions such as varying pH, benzene concentration, temperature and time. At the same time, landfill leachate quality parameters were assessed at two different dump sites in Sri Lanka: Gohagoda and Kurunegala. MSW biochar (MSW-BC) was produced by slow temperature pyrolysis at 450 °C, and the physiochemical characteristics of the MSW-BC were characterized. All the leachate samples from the MSW dump sites exceeded the World Health Organization permissible level for benzene (5 µg/L) in water. Removal of benzene was increased with increasing pH, with the highest removal observed at ~pH 9. The maximum adsorption capacity of 576 µg/g was reported at room temperature (~25 °C). Both Freundlich and Langmuir models fitted best with the equilibrium isotherm data, suggesting the involvement of both physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms. Thermodynamic data indicated the feasibility of benzene adsorption and its high favorability at higher temperatures. The values of [Formula: see text] suggested physical interactions between sorbate and sorbent, whereas kinetic data implied a significant contribution of chemisorption. Results obtained from FTIR provided clear evidence of the involvement of functional groups in biochar for benzene adsorption. This study suggests that MSW biochar could be a possible remedy for benzene removal from landfill leachate and at the same time MSW can be a potential source to produce biochar which acts as a prospective material to remediate its pollutants while reducing the volume of waste.

Carbon dioxide as a carrier gas and biomass addition decrease the total and bioavailable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in biochar produced from sewage sludge

Organic-solvent extractable (C_tot) and freely dissolved (C_free) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (US EPA 16 PAHs) were determined in biochars produced from the mixture of sewage sludge and sewage sludge and willow (8:2 or 6:4, w/w). The pyrolysis was carried out at 500, 600, and 700 °C using two different carrier gases (N₂ or CO₂). Addition of willow and the change of carrier gas from N₂ to CO₂ reduced C_tot PAHs (from 7.0 to 52%) and C_free PAHs (15-29%) content. Co-application of willow and SSL and the use of CO₂ as a carrier gas also beneficially affected the PAHs profile. The biochars produced with willow addition and/or in a CO₂ atmosphere were characterized by a lower (from 9.0 to 62.8%) percentage of 3-6-ring PAHs (C_tot) than the biochars derived from sewage sludge alone in N₂ atmosphere. The contribution of individual C_free PAHs did not differ significantly between biochars. The presence of willow during pyrolysis influenced the direction of the changes in the C_tot PAH content depending on the pyrolysis temperature. For SSL alone, regardless of the carrier gas used, the content of C_tot PAHs was observed to decrease with increasing temperature, whereas in the presence of willow temperature did not affect significantly (P ≥ 0.05) the C_tot PAHs content. The change of carrier gas from N₂ to CO₂ increased the affinity of the biochars to PAHs as confirmed by the distribution coefficients log K_TOC.

Effect of oxidation-induced aging on the adsorption and co-adsorption of tetracycline and Cu2+ onto biochar

The bamboo biochars pyrolyzed at 400 °C and 600 °C (BC400 and BC600) were modified by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to obtain the oxidized biochars. Biochar stability and the effect of oxidation treatment on the adsorption and co-adsorption of tetracycline (TC) and Cu²⁺ onto biochars were investigated. The calculated carbon loss of biochars after oxidation treatment indicated that BC600 presented higher carbon stability than BC400 due to the condensed aromatic structure of biochar. Moreover, oxidation treatment introduced O-containing functional groups on biochar surface, but destructed the aromatic structures of oxidized biochars, which in turn affected the adsorption capacity of biochars for TC and Cu²⁺. Oxidation treatment obviously enhanced the adsorption of TC and Cu²⁺ onto BC400 owing to the increase of O-containing functional groups, but significantly decreased TC and Cu²⁺ adsorption onto BC600 because of the decreased π-π dispersive forces between biochar and adsorbate. The promotion effect of Cu²⁺ on TC adsorption onto BC400 changed into inhibition effect after chemical oxidation owing to the pore blockage. However, the promotion degree of Cu²⁺ for TC adsorption onto BC600 was enhanced through oxidation treatment due to electrostatic attraction and complexation. Meanwhile, oxidation treatment reduced the inhibition degrees of TC for Cu²⁺ adsorption onto biochars, which was attributed to the increased amount of electron-rich groups. The results are helpful for the application of biochars in the soils remediation.

Comparing electron donating/accepting capacities (EDC/EAC) between crop residue-derived dissolved black carbon and standard humic substances

Although dissolved black carbon (DBC) is an important component of dissolved organic matter (DOM), little is known about the electron transfer properties of DBC and their correlation with the structural properties. This study determined the electron donating/accepting capacities (EDC/EAC) of six DBC collected from water extracts of black carbon derived by pyrolyzing crop residues (soybean, wheat, rice, sorghum, peanut, and corn) using an electrochemical approach, along with their chemical and spectroscopic properties. The EDC of the tested DBC ranged from 2.42 to 7.10 mmol_e-(gC)^-1and was generally much higher than the EDC (1.31-3.78 mmol_e-(gC)^-1) of the four standard dissolved humic substances (DHS). In contrast, with the exception of the sorghum DBC, the EAC of all DBC (0.40-0.81 mmol_e-(gC)^-1) was apparently lower than the EAC of DHS (0.87-1.68 mmol_e-(gC)^-1). For the whole pool of DBC and DHS, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.94, P < 0.05) existed between the EDC and the phenolic group content quantified by base titration, suggesting that phenolic groups were the major electron-donating groups. The EAC and EDC of the tested DOM pool were further correlated with the components identified from the fluorescence excitation emission matrices and parallel factor (EEM-PARAFAC) analysis. This is the first study to show that DBC has significantly different electron transfer properties from humic substances and thus likely behaviors differently in many geochemical and environmental aspects. Capsule: Dissolved black carbon (DBC) has significantly different electron-donating/accepting capacities (EDC/EAC) from humic substances.

Biochar-supported nZVI (nZVI/BC) for contaminant removal from soil and water: A critical review

The promising characteristics of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) have not been fully exploited owing to intrinsic limitations. Carbon-enriched biochar (BC) has been widely used to overcome the limitations of nZVI and improve its reaction with environmental pollutants. This work reviews the preparation of nZVI/BC nanocomposites; the effects of BC as a supporting matrix on the nZVI crystallite size, dispersion, and oxidation and electron transfer capacity; and its interaction mechanisms with contaminants. The literature review suggests that the properties and preparation conditions of BC (e.g., pore structure, functional groups, feedstock composition, and pyrogenic temperature) play important roles in the manipulation of nZVI properties. This review discusses the interactions of nZVI/BC composites with heavy metals, nitrates, and organic compounds in soil and water. Overall, BC contributes to the removal of contaminants because it can attenuate contaminants on the surface of nZVI/BC; it also enhances electron transfer from nZVI to target contaminants owing to its good electrical conductivity and improves the crystallite size and dispersion of nZVI. This review is intended to provide insights into methods of optimizing nZVI/BC synthesis and maximizing the efficiency of nZVI in environmental cleanup.

Effects of the Chemical Structure, Surface, and Micropore Properties of Activated and Oxidized Black Carbon on the Sorption and Desorption of Phenanthrene

The effects of the chemical structure, surface properties, and micropore of modified black carbon samples (BCs) on the sorption mechanism of hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) are discussed. Activated and oxidized BCs were produced from a shale kerogen at 250-500 °C by chemical activation regents (KOH and ZnCl₂) and then by oxidative regents (H₂O₂ and NaClO). The surface properties (water contact angel, Boehm titration, and cation exchange capacity, CEC), structural properties (advanced solid-state ¹³C NMR), micropore properties (CO₂ adsorption), mesopore properties (N₂ adsorption), and sorption and desorption properties of phenanthrene were obtained. The results showed that ZnCl₂-activated BCs had higher basic surface groups, CEC values, aromatic carbon contents, micropore volumes, and adsorption volumes but exhibited lower acidic surface groups than the KOH-activated BCs did. Micropore modeling and sorption irreversibility indicated that the micropore filling was the main sorption mechanism of phenanthrene. In addition, ZnCl₂ activated and NaClO oxidized BCs showed a nice regression equation between adsorption volumes and micropore volumes (CO₂- V₀) as follows: Q₀^' = 0.495 V₀ + 6.28( R² = 0.98, p < 0.001). Moreover, the contents of nonprotonated aromatic carbon, micropore volumes, and micropore sizes are the critical factors to micropore filling mechanism of phenanthrene on BCs. The size of fused aromatic rings was estimated from the recoupled ¹H-¹³C dipolar dephasing, and the BC structural models at temperatures ranging from 300 to 500 were proposed. This finding improves our understanding of the sorption mechanism of HOCs from the perspectives of chemical structure and micropore properties.

Effects of different biochar amendments on carbon loss and leachate characterization from an agricultural soil

Selection of an appropriate biochar as a soil amendment requires a thorough investigation of the effects on soil ecosystems and adjacent water systems via leaching. Different biochar characteristics influence retention or leaching of different soil and biochar components. A lab lysimeter study was conducted to investigate carbon (C) balance and leachate quality with biochar additions. Biochar made from wood pellets (WP) and sewage sludge (SS) produced at 400 °C (WP400 and SS400) and 700 °C (WP700 and SS700), respectively, were applied to silt loam soil at an application rate of 4%. Fluorescence excitation-emission spectrophotometry (EEMs) was utilized to understand the compositional changes in leachate dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Our results show that DOC contributed the largest portion of C leaching loss. The WP treatments increased DOC mass loss, but did not significantly change leachate DOC quality. SS400, in comparison, increased mass loss of DOC and SS700 decreased it probably due to its higher adsorptive capacity to DOC. Unlike WP treatments, SS treatments significantly changed leachate DOC quality. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced with SS400 and SS700 biochar additions, which is assumed to be related to SS biochar's high oxygen-containing surface functional groups. Reduction in total nitrogen (TN) leaching by WP700 and SS700 treatments might be related to the higher micropore surface area. Over all, our findings imply that changes in the different components of the leachate from biochar-amended soil are related to different biochar properties, such as labile matter content, total surface area, micropore volume and cation exchange capacity.

The Preliminary Study of Water-Retention Related Properties of Biochar Produced from Various Feedstock at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

Physicochemical properties of biochar, which are used as a soil amendment material in agricultural fields, are different depending on biomass feedstock and pyrolysis processes. In this study, we evaluated the influence of feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature on the water-retention related properties of biochar. Wood-chips [cedar (CE) and cypress (CY)]; moso bamboo (MB); rice husk (RH); sugarcane bagasse (SB); poultry manure (PM) and agricultural wastewater sludge (WS) were each pyrolysed at 400, 600 and 800 °C with a retention time of two hours. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs (SEM), hydrophobicity indices, pore-size distribution measured by mercury-intrusion porosimetry, water-retention curves (WRCs) and plant-available water capacities (AWCs) of the biochars were measured to evaluate their potentials as soil-amendment materials for improving soils’ water-retention. As the pyrolysis temperature was increased, the hydrophobicity index decreased. On the other hand, pyrolysis temperature did not affect the distribution of micrometre-range pores, which are useful for plant-available water, of biochars. The AWCs of the biochars formed from CE, CY and SB were greater than those produced from other feedstocks, at 600 and 800 °C. Therefore, we can suggest that the biochars derived from wood-chips (CE and CY) and SB have greater potential for enhancing soils’ water-retention.

Heterogeneous biochars from agriculture residues and coal fly ash for the removal of heavy metals from coking wastewater

While we have started down the path towards a global transition to a green economy, as with most things we began with the "low-hanging fruit," such that increasingly difficult material and chemical conversions remain. Coking is one such example; it is unlikely that steel production will transition away from using coking coal anytime in the near future, such that coking wastewater remains a global environmental challenge. However, we can develop greener methods and materials to treat such waste. The present work demonstrates how wheat straw, an abundant agricultural residue, can be co-pyrolyzed and co-activated with coal fly ash to produce a high surface area biochar. Coal fly ash has previously been shown to promote devolatilization and deoxygenation of pyrolyzed biofuels. This work shows how coal fly ash increases microporosity as well as aromaticity of the surface functional groups, while decreasing carbonyl but preserving or only slightly decreasing ketones and carboxylic acids. CO2-activation of 5 and 10 wt% fly ash with wheat straw blends yields heterogeneous biochars with adsorption capacities upwards of 170 mgmetal gchar -1, with 5 wt% blends showing higher capacity and adsorption uptake rates than the 0 or 10 wt% blends. The adsorption of the four heavy metals ions (Ni2+, Co2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+) was chemical in nature, with cobalt preferentially adsorbing to the char surface. The overall adsorption rate is limited by an initial rapid uptake to fill available surface adsorption sites.

Characterization of ultraviolet-modified biochar from different feedstocks for enhanced removal of hexavalent chromium from water

Biochars produced from different feedstocks via pyrolytic carbonization and ultraviolet (UV) modification were used as alternative adsorbents for aqueous hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) remediation. Structural and morphological analysis showed that UV irradiation increased the surface area of biochar and added a large amount of oxygen-containing functional groups on the biochar's surface, resulting in about 2-5 times increase of Cr(VI) removing capacity (14.39-20.04 mg/g) compared to that of unmodified biochars (3.60-8.43 mg/g). The sorption ability among different feedstocks after modification was as follows: corn stack > sawdust > wheat straw. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm data agreed well with the pseudo-second-order model and Freundlich model, respectively. Experimental and modeling results suggested that the oxygen-containing functional groups and surface areas of biochars were notably increased after UV irradiation, which was mainly governed by surface complexation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that reduction occurred during Cr(VI) adsorption. In addition, UV irradiation significantly increased the concentration of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in biochars. The collected outcomes showed that UV-modified biochar was a good material for the removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous medium. The excellent adsorption capacity, environmental-friendly and low cost properties made the novel material an auspicious candidate for environmental remediation.

Effect of sulfur and sulfur-iron modified biochar on cadmium availability and transfer in the soil-rice system

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in paddy soils has aroused global concern. Sulfur modified biochar (BC) could combine the benefits of BC and S for Cd remediation. However, no information is available on the impact of sulfur modified biochar on Cd phytoavailability in paddy soils. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of sulfur modified biochar (S-BC) and sulfur and iron (Fe) modified biochar (S-Fe BC) on Cd mobility and Cd transfer in the soil-rice system. The application of S-BC and S-Fe BC effectively reduced pore water Cd in the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere pore water throughout the rice growth stages. S-BC and S-Fe BC addition increased the total chlorophyll content, as well as the root, shoot and grain biomasses of rice. Furthermore, S-BC and S-Fe BC amendments greatly increase the formation of Fe plaque on rice root surface, thus decreasing Cd accumulation in different rice tissues. In particular, S-Fe BC supplementation significantly reduced the Cd concentration in rice grains to 0.018 mg kg^-1 in Cd-contaminated soil, which was lower than the China National standard for food contamination limit (0.2 mg kg^-1 Cd). Sequential extraction results showed that S-BC and S-Fe BC can promote the transfer of exchangeable Cd to Fe-Mn oxide, organic and residual bound forms which reduce Cd in paddy soils. Thus, the amendment of S-Fe BC to Cd-contaminated paddy soil is an effective strategy to decrease Cd accumulation in rice grains and thereby protect public health.

Adsorptive behaviour of palm oil mill sludge biochar pyrolyzed at low temperature for copper and cadmium removal

In this work, the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the physicochemical properties of palm oil mill sludge biochar (POSB) and its adsorption properties towards cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) was investigated. Characterization experiments suggested that POSBs' surface functional groups play the major role in the adsorption process. POSB pyrolyzed at 400 °C showed the best characteristics for Cu and Cd removal. Adsorption study indicated that contact time and shaking speed enhances the adsorption capacity of POSB. It was affirmed that pH adjustment is not necessary for POSB to adsorb Cu and Cd. Mechanism studies fitted well with Langmuir and Pseudo-Second Order model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous, endothermic and correspond to chemical adsorption. The highest uptakes of Cu and Cd were recorded at 48.8 mg/g and 46.2 mg/g respectively. This work verifies that the temperature used for palm oil mill sludge (POS) pyrolysis and adsorption condition played the most prominent role in Cu and Cd removal from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption of ciprofloxacin and Cu2+ onto biochars in the presence of dissolved organic matter derived from animal manure

Biochar are widely used as adsorbents/amendments for immobilizing pollutants in contaminated soils. In this study, the effects of dissolved organic matter derived from chicken manure (CMDOM) on the adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Cu²⁺ onto biochars were investigated. The FTIR spectra indicated that π-π donor-acceptor interactions between the hydroxyl groups on the biochar surface and the fluorine group connected to the benzene ring of CIP molecule was the main adsorption mechanism for CIP. CMDOM molecules interacted with the aromatic components in biochars and thus modified the surface chemical properties of biochar. The effect of CMDOM on the adsorption of CIP onto biochars showed great dependence on the distribution of solid adsorbed CMDOM and CMDOM in aqueous solutions. The solid adsorbed CMDOM facilitated CIP adsorption owing to increase the content of -OH on biochar surface, which could provide more π-electron donors and thus strengthened π-π EDA interactions between CIP and biochars. The EDS spectra showed that the ion exchange with K⁺ was the main adsorption mechanism for Cu²⁺ onto biochars, and the presence of CMDOM enhanced complexation of Cu²⁺ with adsorbed CMDOM, thus increasing Cu²⁺ adsorption onto biochars. These results are useful for the application of biochars to immobilize antibiotic and heavy metals in contaminated farmland soils when animal manure fertilizers is presented in soil environment.

Preparation of pickling-reheating activated alfalfa biochar with high adsorption efficiency for p-nitrophenol: characterization, adsorption behavior, and mechanism

The adsorption properties of alfalfa biochar, which is produced via high-temperature pyrolysis for 3 h, were improved by activating it with acid pickling and reheating for 2 h (named AB). The alfalfa biochar prepared under various conditions, such as ultrapure water washing (named AWB3), acid pickling (named APB3) without reheating and cracking, and pyrolyzing of alfalfa for 5 h before ultrapure water washing (named AWB5) or acid pickling (named APB5), were used as controls. The adsorption capacity of biochars was detected by using p-nitrophenol (PNP) as a model pollutant. The corresponding results showed that the specific surface area (SSA) of AB (119.99 m² g^-1) was substantially higher than those of AWB3 (0.030 m² g^-1), APB3 (2.58 m² g^-1), AWB5 (0.46 m² g^-1), and APB5 (2.10 m² g^-1). The enhancement was primarily a result of the following factor: acid pickling and reheating could effectively remove mineral salts and tars, respectively, thereby opening the inner pores. The removal efficiency for PNP was enhanced from 4.43% (AWB3) and 10.68% (APB3) to 98.35% (AB); further, the adsorption equilibrium data of AB followed the type II Langmuir isotherm well, with a high linear-regression value (R² = 0.997), low chi-square statistic (χ² = 0.0009), and RMSE (0.0031). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) determination confirmed that hydrogen bonds and π-π EDA interactions participated in the adsorption process.

Removal Efficiency and Mechanism of Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Maize Straw Biochars Derived at Different Pyrolysis Temperatures

The removal efficiency and mechanism of Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution on semi-decomposed maize straw biochars pyrolyzed at 300 to 600 °C were investigated. The removal of Cr(VI) by the biochars decreased with pyrolysis temperature increasing from 300 to 600 °C, and the maximum removal capacity of Cr(VI) for maize straw biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C was 91 mg/g at pH 2.0. The percentage removal of Cr(VI) rapidly decreased with pH increasing from 2.0 to 8.0, with the maximum (>99.9%) at pH 2.0. The variation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) concentrations in the solution after reaction showed that Cr(VI) concentration decreased while Cr(III) increased and the equilibrium was reached after 48 h, while the redox potential after reaction decreased due to Cr(VI) reduction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) semi-quantitative analysis showed that Cr(III) accounted for 75.7% of the total Cr bound to maize straw biochar, which indicated reductive adsorption was responsible for Cr(VI) removal by the biochars. Cr(VI) was firstly adsorbed onto the positively charged biochar surface and reduced to Cr(III) by electrons provided by oxygen-containing functional groups (e.g., C=O), and subsequently part of the converted Cr(III) remained on the biochar surface and the rest released into solution. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data indicated the participation of C=O, Si–O, –CH2 and –CH3 groups in Cr(VI) removal by the biochars. This study showed that maize straw biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C for 2 h was one low-cost and efficient adsorbent for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution.

Pyrolysis of sewage sludge by electromagnetic induction: Biochar properties and application in adsorption removal of Pb(II), Cd(II) from aqueous solution

Pyrolysis of sewage sludge was studied by electromagnetic induction (EMI) heating method and in a laboratory-scale reaction installation. Basic properties and adsorption of heavy metals Pb and Cd on biochar from EMI pyrolysis of sewage sludge was investigated. Experimental results indicate that EMI pyrolysis temperature was determined by the relationship between working voltage of EMI device and induction media. Biochar yield rate ranged from 89.7% to 51.2% at temperature from 300 to 600 °C. Elements, surface characterizations and micromorphology, thermogravimetric properties as well as gas evolution changed with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Hydroxyl groups were decomposed during EMI pyrolysis process. Heavy metals in biochar was leached through TCLP and higher leachability was obtained in biochar pyrolyzed at 400 °C compared to other biochar products. A higher adsorption removal efficiency of Pb and Cd was obtained by EMI pyrolyzed biochar. Langmuir and pseudo-first-order models were used for description of adsorption isotherm and kinetics.

Preparation and Modification of Biochar Materials and their Application in Soil Remediation

As a new functional material, biochar was usually prepared from biomass and solid wastes such as agricultural and forestry waste, sludge, livestock, and poultry manure. The wide application of biochar is due to its abilities to remove pollutants, remediate contaminated soil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper, the influence of preparation methods, process parameters, and modification methods on the physicochemical properties of biochar were discussed, as well as the mechanisms of biochar in the remediation of soil pollution. The biochar applications in soil remediation in the past years were summarized, such as the removal of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and the improvement of soil quality. Finally, the potential risks of biochar application and the future research directions were analyzed.

Biochar as low-cost sorbent of volatile fuel organic compounds: potential application to water remediation

Pyrolysis of waste materials to produce biochar is an excellent and suitable alternative supporting a circular bio-based economy. One of the properties attributed to biochar is the capacity for sorbing organic contaminants, which is determined by its composition and physicochemical characteristics. In this study, the capacity of waste-derived biochar to retain volatile fuel organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and fuel oxygenates (FO)) from artificially contaminated water was assessed using batch-based sorption experiments. Additionally, the sorption isotherms were established. The results showed significant differences between BTEX and FO sorption on biochar, being the most hydrophobic and non-polar contaminants those showing the highest retention. Furthermore, the sorption process reflected a multilayer behaviour and a relatively high sorption capacity of the biochar materials. Langmuir and Freundlich models were adequate to describe the experimental results and to detect general differences in the sorption behaviour of volatile fuel organic compounds. It was also observed that the feedstock material and biochar pyrolysis conditions had a significant influence in the sorption process. The highest sorption capacity was found in biochars produced at high temperature (> 400 °C) and thus rich in aromatic C, such as eucalyptus and corn cob biochars. Overall, waste-derived biochar offers a viable alternative to be used in the remediation of volatile fuel organic compounds from water due to its high sorption capacity.

Sorption, degradation and bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in biochar-amended soils

To investigate the effects of biochar amendment on the environmental fate of oxyfluorfen in soils, we evaluated the sorption, degradation and bioavailability of oxyfluorfen in various amended soils. The results showed that different biochars, i.e., derived from peanuts (BCP), chestnuts (BCC), bamboo (BCB), maize straw (BCM), or rice hull (BCR), exhibited different sorption capacities for oxyfluorfen in following the order: BCR > BCB > BCM > BCC > BCP. The sorption constant (K_f value) of the three soils (loamy clay, sandy loam, and clay loam) ranged from 62 to 116 (μg/g)/(mg/L)ⁿ and increased by 2.0- to 3.2-fold after introduction of 2% BCR. Furthermore, oxyfluorfen degraded faster in BCR-amended soil than in unamended soil, i.e., degradation increased by 1.0- to 1.4-fold with addition of 2% BCR. Introduction of BCR also decreased the oxyfluorfen uptake by soybean plants by 18-63%, and the capacity of soybeans to absorb oxyfluorfen decreased over time. Amendment with 6 months-aged BCR soil increased the uptake of oxyfluorfen by soybean plants by 2.3-fold compared with freshly prepared BCR soil. After the aging process, the observed increase in oxyfluorfen bioavailability was attributed to the reduced adsorption capacity of aged biochar. Nevertheless, BCR was effective for sequestrating oxyfluorfen as demonstrated by the fact that the adsorption capacity of biochar-amended soil after six months of aging was still 1.5- to 2.5-fold greater compared with that of unamended soil. These results demonstrate that amendment with BCR can be an effective method to modify soil and thereby decrease oxyfluorfen contamination in food crops.

Effect of Pyrolysis Temperature on Biochar Microstructural Evolution, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Its Influence on Biochar/Polypropylene Composites

Environmental management through effective utilization of biowastes has been a topic of intensive research in recent years. This study examines the effect of pyrolysis temperature on the physical and morphological characteristic of biochar (BC) derived from lignocellulosic wastes. The biochar was prepared by pyrolysing date palm biomass at various temperatures, i.e., 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 °C. These pyrolysed biochars were then characterized for their carbon content, mineral compositions, chemical functionalities, and morphological structures, for understanding their physicochemical characteristics and microstructural evolution. It was revealed that the pyrolytic condition plays a key role in the formation of biochar microstructure. These biochar samples were then utilized without any further treatments/purifications for their practical application as reinforcement materials for polymer composites. They were blended with a polypropylene matrix by a melt mixing technique followed by injection molding process. The type of biochar was found to significantly affect the composites properties. Differences in microstructure, surface chemistry, and chemical compositions of BCs were observed to be determining factors affecting the compatibility and thermomechanical properties of resulted composites.

Effect of pyrolysis temperature on characteristics of biochars derived from different feedstocks: A case study on ammonium adsorption capacity

Physiochemical properties of biochars derived from different feedstock materials (rice straw, Phragmites communis, sawdust and egg shell) at different pyrolysis temperatures were analyzed, and adsorption capacities of ammonium (NH₄⁺) on the biochars were investigated. The results show a clear effect of pyrolysis temperature on physicochemical properties of the biochars, including specific surface area, pH, and zeta potential. Consequently, biochars derived from the studied feedstocks at the selected temperatures exhibited different capacities to absorb NH₄⁺. Highest NH₄⁺ adsorption capacities were associated with biochars of rice straw (4.2 mg/g) and sawdust (3.3 mg/g) produced at 500 °C; at 300 °C observed NH₄⁺ adsorption capacity was lower and highest figures were derived from the biochars of Phragmites communis (3.2 mg/g) and egg shell (2.2 mg/g). For all feedstocks, biochars produced at 700 °C showed the lowest NH₄⁺ adsorption capacity. Our results suggest that zeta potential and C/H ratio, rather than surface area, are the most important factors in determining NH₄⁺ sorption potential of biochars.

Experimental process parameters optimization and in-depth product characterizations for teak sawdust pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is an efficient thermochemical route to obtain biofuels in the form of bio-oil, biochar and pyrolytic gas from the processing of biomass. Pyrolysis experiments were performed with teak sawdust to determine the yield and main characteristics of solid, liquid and gaseous products. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range of 400-700 °C in 100 °C intervals, nitrogen flow rate of 150-250 mL/min, packed bed height in between 2 and 8 cm and particle size in between 0.18 and 0.60 mm. The maximum bio-oil and biochar yield were observed at 600 °C (48.8%) and 400 °C (37.42%), respectively. Physical properties (viscosity, density, carbon residue, pH and HHV) of bio-oil were determined and the chemical properties were investigated using FTIR and GC-MS. Further, biochar was characterized with proximate, ultimate, HHV, FTIR, SEM-EDX, BET surface area and XRD analysis. Non-condensable gases coming out during pyrolysis were analyzed using gas chromatography and amount of H₂, CH₄, CO and CO₂ were determined. According to characterization results, bio-oil can be used as biofuel after up gradation or as source of valuable chemicals, biochar can be utilized as solid fuel or seems to be suitable in waste stream purification as it has very high BET surface area. In addition, pyrolytic gases have significant amount of methane and hydrogen that provides good combustion properties.

Release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from biochar fine particles in simulated lung fluids: Implications for bioavailability and risks of airborne aromatics

Airborne carbonaceous fine particles, such as soot and biochar, represent a significant fraction of air particulate matter and have received widespread concern due to their health effects. Atmospheric carbonaceous particles can contain high concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and may pose significant health risks when carried into respiratory system from inhalation of particulates. In this study, the bioaccessibility of two PAH compounds, phenanthrene and pyrene, bound to biochar fine particles was assessed by examining their release in two simulated lung fluids: Gamble's solution and artificial lysosomal fluid (ALF). We observed that only 0.47 to 0.75% of biochar-bound PAHs were released in the simulated lung fluids, most likely due to the physical entrapment of PAH molecules in the micropore regimes of biochar, resulting in strong desorption hysteresis, even though apparent desorption equilibrium was reached within 30 min, well within the average clearance time of particulate matter in lung system. The inorganic and organic salts in the simulated lung fluids were found to inhibit the release of PAHs by exerting the pore blockage effect and salting-out effect. Moreover, the low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in the lung fluids further inhibited PAH release by increasing the micropore volume and surface area of biochar fine particles. When taking into account the inhibited release, the estimated carcinogenic risks of biochar-bound PAHs are typically low, even under extreme conditions wherein both biochar concentrations and PAH loadings on biochar are very high. An important implication is that contaminant bioavailability needs to be taken into account when assessing the risks of the contaminants bound to airborne carbonaceous materials.

Characterization and ecotoxicological investigation of biochar produced via slow pyrolysis: Effect of feedstock composition and pyrolysis conditions

This study systematically investigated the biochar toxicity from the in vitro tests involving the use of human liver and lung cell lines, as well as in vivo tests using Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly). Biochars used in this study were produced from vegetable waste, pine cone and their mixture (1:1 by weight) at two representative temperatures (200 and 500 °C). Two common toxicant groups in biochar, heavy metals (HM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contents, were detected for clarification of the relationship between their toxicity behaviors and biochar bulk characteristics. The results showed that (1) no HMs can be found in the biochar if HMs are absence in their feedstock (2) PAHs were formed during the pyrolysis no matter what type of biomss used, but the concentration is low that can be acceptable for soil legislative criteria (3) biochars had limited impact to the viability of flies, but inhibited the growth of the cells (4) the low leaching potential of HMs and PAHs (total 16 USEPA) in the studied biochars may not be the major reason which put the harm to the cell, more effort on the identification need to be done. This work can provide a new picture to the biochar researchers for better understanding of the two faces of biochar.

Bisphenol S Adsorption Behavior on Ferralsol and Biochar Modified Soil with Dissolved Organic Matter

Bisphenol S (BPs) has been found in a variety of common consumer products surrounding human living, despite the fact that it could damage the human digestive system and genital system. In China, straw-returning to the field is a common soil improvement technology used to increase the concentration of dissolved organic matter (DOM), which plays an important role in the natural environment as a microreactor of contaminants. Additionally, the biochar obtained by the straw is an effective soil conditioner. DOM is a key influencing factor when biochar is employed as the conditioner of BPs contaminated soil. However, the BPs adsorption behavior on the Ferralsol affected by DOM and biochar is also unclear. Hence, DOM was prepared and the effect of DOM on the BPs adsorption behavior on soil and biochar modified soil was investigated. DOM was characterized by Elemental analysis, Fourier transforming infrared spectra (FT-IR), and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix spectra (3D-EEM). The results of the adsorption experiments indicated that both biochar and DOM could improve the BPs adsorption capacity in Ferralsol, while DOM suppressed the BPs adsorption capacity of biochar modified soil, indicating that DOM and BPs could not be applied at the same time for BPs adsorption.

Adsorption mechanism of dichlorvos onto coconut fibre biochar: the significant dependence of H-bonding and the pore-filling mechanism

The adsorption mechanism of dichlorvos onto coconut fibre biochar (CFB) was investigated by the batch adsorption technique. Coconut fibre waste material was synthesised at 600 °C for 4 h under oxygen-limited conditions. The biochar was modified by HCl acid to enhance the specific surface area and porosity. The characteristics of the biochar were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area, and Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR). The results showed that the BET specific surface area of biochar was 402.4 m²/g. Experimental data presented a good fit to Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order model. Langmuir isotherm illustrated that monolayer adsorption of dichlorvos occurred on the surface of CFB, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 90.9 mg/g. The diffusion model confirmed that the liquid film diffusion was the rate-limiting step, and the major diffusion mechanism of dichlorvos onto biochar. The BET result after dichlorvos adsorption demonstrated that pore-filling occurred and occupied 58.27%. The pore-filling and chemical interactions, performed important roles in the adsorption of dichlorvos onto CFB. Chemical adsorption is comprised of two interactions, which are hydrophobic and H-bonding, but the prime is H-bonding. CFB is a very potential material for the removal of dichlorvos and environmental pollutants.

Characteristics of wood-derived biochars produced at different temperatures before and after deashing: Their different potential advantages in environmental applications

Ash in biochar has great influence on the characteristics of biochars. This study systematically compared the differences in physico-chemical properties between pristine biochars (PBCs) and deashed biochars (DBCs) produced at different temperatures (300-900 °C), and specifically analyzed their different advantages in environmental applications. In terms of all the PBCs and DBCs, PBC of 900 °C and the corresponding DBC have the highest degree of graphitization that is recalcitrant in environment, they are benefit for carbon sequestration. PBC of 300 °C and the corresponding DBC have the highest content of O-containing functional groups and aliphaticity that is labile in environment, they are potential carbon source for the growth of soil organisms. PBCs of 300-400 °C have the greatest releasable PO₄^3- content (0.418-0.441 mg/g), and PBCs of 700-900 °C have highest pH (9.28-9.59) and mineral elements content (11.58-12.64 mg/g), they are potential provision of P, and acid soil amendments with potential provision of mineral elements, respectively. DBCs of 300-400 °C possess less competitive cations including Ca, Mg, Al, Fe, and Zn (1.49-2.01 mg/g) and highest content of O-containing functional groups, they are good sorbents for heavy metals, meanwhile these DBCs have the lowest pH (4.49-4.70) that are potential amendments for alkaline soil. Moreover, DBCs of 900 °C have the highest surface area (SA) (351 m²/g), the most developed porosity, and the highest releasable NH₄⁺ content (0.052 mg/g), they are good sorbents for hydrophobic organic pollutants and potential provision of N. This study gives an effective guidance for selecting the suitable biochars-design (deashing or non-deashing) according to their applications in environment.

Biochar amendment improves crop production in problem soils: A review

Problem soils are referred to as those with poor physical, chemical, and biological properties that inhibit or prevent plant growth. These poor properties may be a result of soil formation processes but are largely due to inappropriate farming practices or anthropogenic pollution. The world has lost a third of its arable land due to erosion and pollution in the past 40 years. Thus, there is an urgent need for improving and remediating problem soils. As a novel multifunctional carbon material, biochar has been widely used as a soil amendment for improving soil quality. Previous reviews have summarized the characteristics of biochar, the interactions with various soil contaminants, and the effects on soil quality, soil productivity, and carbon sequestration. Relatively limited attention has been focused on the effects of biochar amendment on plant growth in problem soils. As a result, a comprehensive review of literature in the Web of Science was conducted with a focus on the effects of biochar amendment on plant growth in problems soils. The review is intended to present an overview about problem soils, biochars as functional materials for soil amendment, how amended biochars interact with soils, soil microbes, and plant roots in remediation of problem soil and improve plant growth. Additionally, existing knowledge gaps and future directions are discussed. Information gathered from this review suggests that biochar amendment is a viable way of improving the quality of problem soils and enhancing crop production. It is anticipated that further research on biochar amendment will increase our understanding on the interactions of biochar with components of problem soils, speed up our effort on soil remediation, and improve crop production in problem soils.

Mercury adsorption to aged biochar and its management in China

Biochar is frequently applied for the reduction of mercury (Hg) migration in soil; however, most of the studies only focused on the adsorption capacity evaluation of fresh biochar. We investigated the Hg adsorption capacities of biochar prepared from wheat straw, corn straw, and sunflower seed shells. Biochar aging was simulated via natural aging, high-temperature aging, and freeze-thaw aging. The adsorption capacities of all the aged biochar were increased, and wheat straw biochar and seed shells biochar treated with high-temperature aging (wBC-Ha500 and sBC-Ha600) and corn straw biochar treated with freeze-thaw aging (cBC-Fta500) showed an observable improvement on the equilibrium adsorption amounts. The kinetics of the fresh biochar samples fitted the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while the kinetics of the aged biochar samples fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Biochar adsorption capacity increased with higher initial concentrations and increasing temperatures. Elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), surface area (SA), zeta potential, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the aging mechanism consisted of hydroxylation and carboxylation caused by the functional groups on the biochar surface. According to the different climatic zones in China, wheat straw biochar and seed shell biochar are suitable for the tropical zone and the subtropical zone, while corn straw biochar is more suitable for the cold and the mid-temperate zones.

New use for spent coffee ground as an adsorbent for tetracycline removal in water

Spent coffee grounds (SCG-1 and SCG-2) were used to study the adsorption of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics and the effects of adsorption time, initial pH, amount of adsorbent and ionic strength were detected. The TC adsorption isotherm on SCG-1 was compared with SCG-2. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of TC (50 mg/L) of SCG-1 and SCG-2 were 83.1% and 97.2%, respectively, shake for 2 h. The probability of adsorption is high and balances in about 20 min. The estimate of parameters got for TC from the Langmuir isotherm saturated adsorption quantity and adsorption balance constant were 64.89 mg/g, 0.0557 L/mg, respectively for SCG-1 and 123.46 mg/g, 0.4735 L/mg, respectively for SCG-2. The adsorption mechanism might be a π-π interaction that occurs in the interface by hydrogen bonding and the between the TC molecular and the SCGs. At last, we found that SCG has a high adsorption size for TC.

Impact of biochar amendment in agricultural soils on the sorption, desorption, and degradation of pesticides: A review

Extensive and inefficient use of pesticides over the last several decades resulted in serious soil and water contamination by imposing severe toxic effects on living organisms. Soil remediation using environment-friendly amendments to counteract the presence of pesticides in soil seems to be one suitable approach to solve this problem. Biochar has emerged as a promising material for adsorbing and thus decreasing the bioavailability of pesticides in polluted soils, due to its high porosity, surface area, pH, abundant functional groups, and highly aromatic structure, mainly depending on the feedstock and pyrolysis temperature. However, biochar effects and mechanisms on the sorption and desorption of pesticides in the soil are poorly understood. Either high or low pyrolysis temperature has both positive and negative effects on sorption of pesticides in soil, one by larger surface area and the other by a large number of functional groups. Therefore, a clear understanding of these effects and mechanisms are necessary to engineer biochar production with desirable properties. This review critically evaluates the role of biochar in sorption, desorption, and degradation of pesticides in the soil, along with dominant properties of biochar including porosity and surface area, pH, surface functional groups, carbon content and aromatic structure, and mineralogical composition. Moreover, an insight into future research directions has been provided by evaluating the bioavailability of pesticide residues in the soil, effect of other contaminants on pesticide removal by biochar in soils, effect of pesticide properties on its behavior in biochar-amended soils, combined effect of biochar and soil microorganisms on pesticide degradation, and large-scale application of biochar in agricultural soils for multifunction.

Particle size dependence of the physicochemical properties of biochar

The inadequate definition of different particle sizes of biochar impedes the establishment of guidelines concerning the selection of suitable particle sizes. In this study, various properties of a series of ten biochar samples of varying particle size (5-5000 μm) from the same origin have been investigated and compared. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis based on all of the parameters were executed to evaluate the dissimilarity of different particle sizes of biochar, and to classify the size ranges determining the relevant properties. The results showed that the series of ten biochar samples with different particle sizes could be separated into four groups, indicating that there were significant characteristic differences between different particle sizes of biochar. The greater the difference in particle size, the more disparate the properties. Moreover, 75-150 μm has been identified as a turning point along the continuous particle size range. A deviation in the properties of biochar particles smaller than 5 μm confirmed that different preparation methods would lead to highly significant differences between different particle sizes of biochar, even if the pristine materials were the same. The need for definition of the characteristics of biochar required for a specific environmental application should be emphasized.

Identifying the reducing capacity of biomass derived hydrochar with different post-treatment methods

In this study, hydrochar was prepared from wheat straw (WS) and Spartina alterniflora (SA) biomass by hydrothermal carbonization, and further treated with HCl and NaOH washing, HNO₃ oxidization and low temperature thermal heating. The reducing capacity (RC) of sample was quantified by I₂ titration to explore how these modification methods affected the redox properties of hydrochar. The results indicated HNO₃ and thermal oxidization increased the RC of hydrochar by 2-5 folds while NaOH washing had the negative effect on samples' RC. By analyzing the excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence of alkaline extraction solution of sample, humic acid like substances generated from various methods were identified as one of the major sources for electron donating. HNO₃ oxidization could significantly increase the RC in hydrochar, which was likely resulting from the generation of alkali-soluble small molecule organic compounds. However, excessive oxidation by nitric acid with prolonged duration led to the gradual decrease in hydrochar's RC. Heating treatment caused a significant increase in the content of redox-active oxygen-containing functional groups and persistent free radicals (PFRs) in hydrochar. Even though both could donate electrons in the redox reaction with I₂, the former was considered a greater contributor for the RC of hydrochar. From this study, the origin of RC of hydrochar can be identified as: oxygen-containing functionality, humic-like matter and PFRs. By employing different modification methods, the RC of hydrochar could be tuned by regulating the above sources. This study provided fundamental knowledges and simple routes to manipulate the redox properties of hydrochar for different environmental applications.

Nanopore-filling effect of phenanthrene sorption on modified black carbon

Black carbon was produced by slow pyrolysis under an oxygen-limited condition at 500 °C, and was modified by some chemical methods (oxidation, hydrolysis, activation, and surface recombination). The modified samples were characterized by using elemental analysis, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) surface analysis, Boehm titration, cation exchange capacity(CEC)analysis, CO₂ adsorption analysis, and then used to investigate the sorption behavior of phenanthrene. The results showed that the activation of ZnCl₂ gave a maximum nanopore volume of 96.5 μL/g and a specific surface area of 241 m²/g, while the oxidation of NaClO gave a minimum nanopore volume of 63.3 μL/g and a specific surface area of 158 m²/g. The FTIR, XPS, and Boehm titration analysis showed that the new oxygen-containing functional groups were introduced during the oxidation treatments of H₂O₂ and NaClO. The sorption of phenanthrene on all samples was typically nonlinear, and the nonlinear factor (n) was negatively correlated with V_o, especially with V_o at 0-1.1 nm. The sorption parameter (log K_OC) was positively correlated with nanopore volume (V_o) and specific surface area (SSA). Moreover, the model analysis showed that the nanopore filling was the main sorption mechanism, and molecular sieve effect was observed in the sorption of phenanthrene.

Sorption of chlorinated hydrocarbons to biochars in aqueous environment: Effects of the amorphous carbon structure of biochars and the molecular properties of adsorbates

Currently, the role of amorphous carbon structure (ACS) in sorption of chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHs) to biochars remains little known. Therefore, three CHs (1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) with different molecular properties were selected as model adsorbates to investigate the effect of ACS on sorption of CHs to biochars produced at seven different pyrolysis temperatures (300-900 °C). There were two main mechanisms for ACS controlling the sorption of CHs. First, the polar sites on ACS are hydrophilic, CHs with greater polarity could strongly compete with the water molecule for the hydrophilic sites. Second, ACS of low temperature (300-400 °C) produced biochars possessing the natural organic matter (NOM)-like structure occupied some hydrophobic sites on condensed graphitic structure (CGS) of biochars. CHs with great hydrophobicity possibly seized the hydrophobic sorption sites on CGS from the NOM-like structure. Therefore, ACS of biochar was more benefit for sorption of strong polar CHs (1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane: π^∗ = 0.95; LogK_ow = 2.39) or strong hydrophobic CHs (1,3,5-trichlorobenzene: π^∗ = 0.70; LogK_ow = 4.19) than CHs (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane: π^∗ = 0.68; LogK_ow = 3.72) with relatively low polarity and hydrophobicity. The result reflects that the interaction between NOM and natural black carbon/biochars in soil and water environment possibly plays the similar role in controlling the environmental behavior of various polar or hydrophobic organic pollutants. Moreover, with increasing concentration of adsorbate (C_e), the first mechanism enhanced, while the second mechanism weakened. This study gives a deep insight into the roles of ACS of biochars in controlling the fate and availability of CHs with different molecular properties in environment.

Surface properties of activated sludge-derived biochar determine the facilitating effects on Geobacter co-cultures

Biochar has been reported to facilitate direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in co-cultures between Geobacter metallireducens and Geobacter sulfurreducens, a model defined co-culture system. In this study, the biochar derived from the activated sludge with different pyrolysis temperature was added to the co-cultures, the ethanol metabolism rates (Re) and succinate production rates (Rs) of co-culture with biochar-800 were 1.05- and 1.42-fold higher than that without addition. The results suggested that the conductivity of the biochar did not correlate with the facilitating effect of the biochar on the co-culture metabolism. Furthermore, the surface functional group and surface charge of biochar may also influence the facilitating effect on the interspecies electron transfer between the two Geobacter cells. Based on these results, it supported that the electron transfer depending on the charging and discharging process of the surface functional groups might play a major role in facilitating the direct electron transfer process by the biochar derived from activated sludge here. This study could shed light on the better understanding of the bacteria-biochar electron transfer system and the potential utilization of the biochar in the environmental wastewater treatments.

Peanut-Shell Biochar and Biogas Slurry Improve Soil Properties in the North China Plain: A Four-Year Field Study

Biochar and biogas slurry have been proved to improve the quality of some soil types, but the long-term effects on fluvo-aquic soil are not fully understood. This study aimed to compare the continuity effects of peanut-shell biochar and biogas slurry on the physicochemical properties, microbial population size, and enzyme activities of fluvo-aquic soil. We conducted a four-year field experiment of winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain. Along with equal nitrogen inputs, three treatments were applied—conventional fertilizers, peanut-shell biochar, and hoggery biogas slurry—after which various soil quality indicators were compared. Compared with those of control, both biochar and biogas slurry increased the soil total nitrogen and organic matter content, and improved soil aggregation, microbial biomass, and actinomycetes. Biogas slurry decreased soil pH and improved urease and protease activities. With biochar and biogas slurry treatments, wheat yield increased by 8.46% and 23.47%, and maize yield by 18% and 15.46%, respectively. Biogas slurry increased the content of crude protein and starch in the grains. Both biogas slurry and peanut-shell biochar improved fluvo-aquic soil nutrient content, water-stable macroaggregates, and microbial population, which might be related to their high nutrient content, large specific surface area, adsorption capacity, and functional groups. Biogas slurry generally exhibited stronger effects than biochar probably because of its richness in nutrients and bioactive substances.

Characterization and 2D structural model of corn straw and poplar leaf biochars

The integrated experimental methods were used to analyze the physicochemical properties and structural characteristics and to build the 2D structural model of two kinds of biochars. Corn straw and poplar leaf biochars were gained by pyrolysing the raw materials slowly in a furnace at 300, 500, and 700 °C under oxygen-deficient conditions. Scanning electron microscope was applied to observe the surface morphology of the biochars. High temperatures destroyed the pore structures of the biochars, forming a particle mixture of varying sizes. The ash content, yield, pH, and surface area were also observed to describe the biochars' properties. The yield decreases as the pyrolysis temperature increases. The biochars are neutral to alkaline. The biggest surface area is 251.11 m²/g for 700 °C corn straw biochar. Elemental analysis, infrared microspectroscopy, solid-state C-13 NMR spectroscopy, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) were also used to study the structural characteristics and build the 2D structural models of biochars. The C content in the corn straw and poplar leaf biochars increases with the increase of the pyrolysis temperature. A higher pyrolysis temperature makes the aryl carbon increase, and C=O, OH, and aliphatic hydrocarbon content decrease in the IR spectra. Solid-state C-13 NMR spectra show that a higher pyrolysis temperature makes the alkyl carbon and alkoxy carbon decrease and the aryl carbon increase. The results of IR microspectra and solid-state C-13 NMR spectra reveal that some noticeable differences exist in these two kinds of biochars and in the same type of biochar but under different pyrolysis temperatures. The conceptual elemental compositions of 500 °C corn straw and poplar leaf biochars are C₆₁H₃₃NO₁₃ and C₅₉H₄₁N₃O₁₂, respectively. Significant differences exist in the SEM images, physicochemical properties, and structural characteristics of corn straw and poplar leaf biochars.

Investigation of Atrazine Sorption to Biochar With Titration Calorimetry and Flow-Through Analysis: Implications for Design of Pollution-Control Structures

Atrazine is one of the most common broad-leaf herbicides used in the world. However, due to extensive use for many years, atrazine often appears in surface and groundwater. Atrazine transport is inhibited by degradation or sorption to soil components, especially organic matter. Biochar is a charcoal-like material produced from pyrolysis of biomass. Due to the amount and type of functional groups found on biochar, this product has shown potential for sorption of atrazine from solution. There is an interest in developing best management practices utilizing biochar to filter atrazine from non-point drainage with pollution-control structures such as blind inlets. The objective of this study was to explore the kinetics and thermodynamics of atrazine sorption to biochar using two different approaches: flow-through sorption cells and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Twenty-five milligrams of an oak (Quercus spp.)-derived biochar was suspended in water and titrated 25 times (0.01 mL per titration) with atrazine at three different concentrations, and by a single titration (0.25 mL), with heat of reaction directly measured with ITC. A benchtop atrazine sorption study that simulated the titration experiment was also conducted. A continuous flow-through system was used to quantify the impact of contact time on atrazine sorption to biochar. Atrazine sorption to biochar displayed both exothermic and endothermic signals within each titration, although the net reaction was exothermic and proportional to the degree of sorption. Net enthalpy was -4,231 ± 130 kJ mole^-1 atrazine sorbed. The existence of both exotherms and endotherms within a single titration, plus observation of an initial fast reaction phase from 0 to 300 s followed by a slower phase, suggested multiple sorption mechanisms to biochar. Results of flow-through tests supported kinetics observations, with the 300 s contact time removing much more atrazine compared to 45 s, while 600 s improved little compared to 300 s. Based on flow-through results, annual atrazine removal goal of 50%, and typical Midwestern U.S. tile drainage conditions, a pollution-control structure implementing this biochar sample would require 32 and 4 Mg for a design utilizing a contact time of 45 and 300 s, respectively. Future work is necessary for estimating degradation of atrazine sorbed to biochar.

Remediation of arsenic-contaminated paddy soil by iron-modified biochar

Arsenic contamination in paddy soils has aroused global concern due to its threats to food security and human health. Biochar modified with different iron materials was prepared for arsenic (As) immobilization in contaminated soils. Soil incubation experiments were carried to investigate the effects of biochar modified with Fe-oxyhydroxy sulfate (Biochar-FeOS), FeCl₃ (Biochar-FeCl₃), and zero-valent iron (Biochar-Fe) on the pH, NaHCO₃-extractable As concentrations, and the As fractions in soils. The scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that iron was successfully loaded onto the surface or embedded into the pores of the biochar. Addition of Biochar-FeOS, Biochar-FeCl₃, and Biochar-Fe had no significant effects on the soil pH but significantly decreased the contents of NaHCO₃-extractable As in soils by 13.95-30.35%, 10.97-28.39%, and 17.98-35.18%, respectively. Biochar-FeOS, Biochar-FeCl₃, and Biochar-Fe treatments decreased the concentrations of non-specifically sorbed and specifically sorbed As fractions in soils, and increased the amorphous and poorly crystalline, hydrated Fe, Al oxide-bound, and residual As fractions. Compared with the other iron-modified biochars, Biochar-FeOS showed the most effective immobilization and has the potential for the remediation of As-contaminated paddy soils.

Sorption mechanisms of chlorinated hydrocarbons on biochar produced from different feedstocks: Conclusions from single- and bi-solute experiments

Biochar is increasingly deemed a potential sorbent for contaminants in soil and water remediation. We tested three biochars from different feedstocks (cattle manure, grain husk, and wood chips) produced at relatively low pyrolysis temperature (450 °C), for their sorption behavior towards trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) in single- and bi-solute systems. In single-solute experiments, all biochars show stronger sorption for TCE (about 50% based on solubility-normalized Freundlich coefficients). The lower sorption of PCE is attributed to steric effects, e.g. size exclusion in small micropores and specific interactions. Plant-derived, carbon-rich biochars with high specific surface area and microporosity predominantly sorb via pore-filling, as also observed in activated carbon. Biochar produced from manure, with higher ash content and polarity, and smaller total pore volume (PV_tot), shows significant contribution of partitioning. These findings also apply to bi-solute systems. TCE and PCE show different competition behavior depending on biochar properties. Plant-based biochars are pore-filling-dominated and show strong competition. However, competition behavior in microporous biochars depends on the concentration range. Manure biochar with high polarity and low PV_tot shows significant partitioning and therefore less competition. Compared to the plant-based chars competition in manure biochar is not concentration-dependent. These results indicate that biochars with a large fraction of non-carbonized phase facilitate non-competitive sorption and might be a valuable sorbent in mixed contaminant systems.

A Flow Adsorption Microcalorimetry-Logistic Modeling Approach for Assessing Heterogeneity of Brønsted-Type Surfaces: Application to Pyrogenic Organic Materials

Biogeochemical functioning of oxides and pyrogenic organic matter ( pyOM) are greatly influenced by surface and deprotonation characteristics. We present an energetics-based, logistic modeling approach for quantifying surface homogeneity (ϕ_surf) and surface acidity ( pK _a, surf) for Brønsted-type surfaces. The ϕ _surf, pK _a, surf and associated deprotonation behavior of pyOM were quantified across feedstock (honey mesquite, HM; pine, PI; cord grass, CG) and heat-treatment-temperatures (HTT; 200-650 °C). At HTT200, lower ϕ_surf [HM (0.86) > PI (0.61) > CG (0.42)] and higher pK _a, surf [CG (4.4) > PI (4.2) > HM (4.1)] for CG indicated higher heterogeneity and lower acidity for Brønsted-type surface moieties on grass versus wood pyOM. Surface acidity of CG increased at HTT550/650 °C with no effect on ϕ_surf; while the surface heterogeneity of both wood pyOMs increased, the acidity of HM increased and that of PI decreased. Despite different HTT-induced ϕ_surf and pK _a, surf trajectories, the deprotonation range for all pyOM was pH = [Formula: see text]. Therefore, higher heterogeneity pyOMs deprotonate more readily at lower pH, over a wider range and (for similar pK _a,surf and cation exchange capacity) are better cation/metal binding surfaces at pH< pK _a,surf. The approach also facilitates the evaluation of surface and deprotonation characteristics for mixtures and more complex surfaces.