Advances on tailored biochar for bioremediation of antibiotics, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants from aqueous and solid phases

Biochar-based composites for removing chlorinated organic pollutants: Applications, mechanisms, and perspectives

Chlorinated organic pollutants constitute a significant category of persistent organic pollutants due to their widespread presence in the environment, which is primarily attributed to the expansion of agricultural and industrial activities. These pollutants are characterized by their persistence, potent toxicity, and capability for long-range dispersion, emphasizing the importance of their eradication to mitigate environmental pollution. While conventional methods for removing chlorinated organic pollutants encompass advanced oxidation, catalytic oxidation, and bioremediation, the utilization of biochar has emerged as a prominent green and efficacious method in recent years. Here we review biochar's role in remediating typical chlorinated organics, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), triclosan (TCS), trichloroethene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and chlorobenzenes (CBs). We focus on the impact of biochar material properties on the adsorption mechanisms of chlorinated organics. This review highlights the use of biochar as a sustainable and eco-friendly method for removing chlorinated organic pollutants, especially when combined with biological or chemical strategies. Biochar facilitates electron transfer efficiency between microorganisms, promoting the growth of dechlorinating bacteria and mitigating the toxicity of chlorinated organics through adsorption. Furthermore, biochar can activate processes such as advanced oxidation or nano zero-valent iron, generating free radicals to decompose chlorinated organic compounds. We observe a broader application of biochar and bioprocesses for treating chlorinated organic pollutants in soil, reducing environmental impacts. Conversely, for water-based pollutants, integrating biochar with chemical methods proved more effective, leading to superior purification results. This review contributes to the theoretical and practical application of biochar for removing environmental chlorinated organic pollutants.

The boom era of emerging contaminants: A review of remediating agricultural soils by biochar

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are widely sourced persistent pollutants that pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. Their footprint spans global ecosystems, making their remediation highly challenging. In recent years, a significant amount of literature has focused on the use of biochar for remediation of heavy metals and organic pollutants in soil and water environments. However, the use of biochar for the remediation of ECs in agricultural soils has not received as much attention, and as a result, there are limited reviews available on this topic. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of the primary types, sources, and hazards of ECs in farmland, as well as the structure, functions, and preparation types of biochar. Furthermore, this paper emphasizes the importance and prospects of three remediation strategies for ECs in cropland: (i) employing activated, modified, and composite biochar for remediation, which exhibit superior pollutant removal compared to pure biochar; (ii) exploring the potential synergistic efficiency between biochar and compost, enhancing their effectiveness in soil improvement and pollution remediation; (iii) utilizing biochar as a shelter and nutrient source for microorganisms in biochar-mediated microbial remediation, positively impacting soil properties and microbial community structure. Given the increasing global prevalence of ECs, the remediation strategies provided in this paper aim to serve as a valuable reference for future remediation of ECs-contaminated agricultural lands.

Mechanisms of biochar assisted di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) biodegradation in tomato rhizosphere by metabolic and metagenomic analysis

The intensive accumulation of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) in agricultural soils has resulted in severe environmental pollution that endangers ecosystem and human health. Biochar is an eco-friendly material that can help in accelerating organic pollutant degradation; nevertheless, its roles in enhancing DEHP removal in rhizosphere remain unclear. This work investigated the impacts of biochar dosage (0%-2.0%) on DEHP degradation performance in tomato rhizosphere by comprehensively exploring the change in DEHP metabolites, bacterial communities and DEHP-degrading genes. Our results showed a significant increase of rhizosphere pH, organic matter and humus by biochar amendment, which achieved a satisfactorily higher DEHP removal efficiency, maximally 77.53% in treatments with 1.0% of biochar. Biochar addition also remarkably changed rhizosphere bacterial communities by enriching some potential DEHP degraders of Nocardioides, Sphingomonas, Bradyrhizobium and Rhodanobacter. The abundance of genes encoding key enzymes (hydrolase, esterase and cytochrome P450) and DEHP-degrading genes (pht3, pht4, pht5, benC-xylZ and benD-xylL) were increased after biochar amendment, leading to the change in DEHP degradation metabolism, primarily from benzoic acid pathway to protocatechuic acid pathway. Our findings evidenced that biochar amendment could accelerate DEHP degradation by altering rhizosphere soil physicochemical variables, bacterial community composition and metabolic genes, providing clues for the mechanisms of biochar-assisted DEHP degradation in organic contaminated farmland soils.

Carbon-based adsorbents for the mitigation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon: a review of recent research

Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) poses significant dangers to the environment and human health. The advancement of technology for cleaning up PAH-contaminated environments is receiving more attention. Adsorption is the preferred and most favorable approach for cleaning up sediments polluted with PAH. Due to their affordability and environmental friendliness, carbonaceous adsorbents (CAs) have been regarded as promising for adsorbing PAH. However, adsorbent qualities, environmental features, and factors may all significantly impact how well CAs remove PAH. According to growing data, CAs, most of which come from laboratory tests, may be utilized to decontaminate PAH in aquatic setups. However, their full potential has not yet been established, especially concerning field applications. This review aims to concisely summarize recent developments in CA, PAH stabilization processes, and essential field application-controlling variables. This review analysis emphasizes activated carbon, biochar, Graphene, carbon nanotubes, and carbon-nanomaterials composite since these CAs are most often utilized as adsorbents for PAH in aquatic systems.

Mechanisms of adsorption and functionalization of biochar for pesticides: A review

Agricultural production relies heavily on pesticides. However, factors like inefficient application, pesticide resistance, and environmental conditions reduce their effective utilization in agriculture. Subsequently, pesticides transfer into the soil, adversely affecting its physicochemical properties, microbial populations, and enzyme activities. Different pesticides interacting can lead to combined toxicity, posing risks to non-target organisms, biodiversity, and organism-environment interactions. Pesticide exposure may cause both acute and chronic effects on human health. Biochar, with its high specific surface area and porosity, offers numerous adsorption sites. Its stability, eco-friendliness, and superior adsorption capabilities render it an excellent choice. As a versatile material, biochar finds use in agriculture, environmental management, industry, energy, and medicine. Added to soil, biochar helps absorb or degrade pesticides in contaminated areas, enhancing soil microbial activity. Current research primarily focuses on biochar produced via direct pyrolysis for pesticide adsorption. Studies on functionalized biochar for this purpose are relatively scarce. This review examines biochar's pesticide absorption properties, its characteristics, formation mechanisms, environmental impact, and delves into adsorption mechanisms, functionalization methods, and their prospects and limitations.

Performance of public drinking water purifiers in control of trihalomethanes, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes

Point-of-use water purifiers are widely applied as a terminal treatment device to produce drinking water with high quality. However, concerns are raised regarding low efficiency in eliminating emerging organic pollutants. To enhance our understanding of the reliability and potential risks of water purifiers, the removal of trihalomethanes, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in four public water purifiers was investigated. In the four public water purifiers in October and November, the removal efficiencies of trichloromethane (TCM) and bromodichloromethane (BDCM) were 15%-69% (averagely 37%) and 6%-44% (averagely 23%). The levels of TCM and BDCM were lowered by all water purifiers in October and November, but accelerated in effluent compared to the influent in one public water purifier in December. The removal efficiencies of twelve antibiotics greatly varied with species and time. Out of twelve sampling cases, the removal efficiencies of total antibiotics were 25%-75% in ten cases. In the other two cases, very low removal efficiency (6%) or higher levels of antibiotics present in effluent compared to the influent were observed. Two public water purifiers effectively remove ARGs from water, with log removal rates of 0.45 log-3.89 log. However, in the other two public water purifiers, the ARG abundance accidently increased in the effluents. Overall, public water purifiers were more effective in removing antibiotics and ARGs compared to household water purifiers, but less or equally effective in removing trihalomethanes. Both public and household water purifiers could be contaminated and release the accumulated micro-pollutants or biofilm-related pollutants into effluent. The production frequency and standing time of water within water purifiers can impact the internal contamination and purification efficacy.

Asynchronous application of modified biochar and exogenous fungus Scedosporium sp. ZYY for enhanced degradation of oil-contaminated intertidal mudflat sediment

Intertidal mudflats are susceptible to oil pollution due to their proximity to discharges from industries, accidental spills from marine shipping activities, oil drilling, pipeline seepages, and river outflows. The experimental study was divided into two periods. In the first period, microcosm trials were carried out to examine the effect of chemically modified biochar on biological hydrocarbon removal from sediments. The modified biochar's surface area increased from 2.544 to 25.378 m2/g, followed by a corresponding increase in the hydrogen-carbon and oxygen-carbon ratio, indicating improved stability and polarity. In the second period, the effect of exogenous fungus - Scedoporium sp. ZYY on the bacterial community structure was examined in relation to total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal. The maximum TPH removal efficiency of 82.4% was achieved in treatments with the modified biochar, followed by a corresponding increase in Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis activity. Furthermore, high-throughput 16S RNA gene sequencing employed to identify changes in the bacterial community of the original sediment and treatments before and after fungal inoculation revealed Proteobacteria as the dominant phylum. In addition, it was observed that Scedoporium sp. ZYY promoted the proliferation of specific TPH-degraders, particularly, Hyphomonas adhaerens which accounted for 77% of the total degrading populations in treatments where TPH removal was highest. Findings in this study provide valuable insights into the effect of modified biochar and the fundamental role of exogenous fungus towards the effective degradation of oil-contaminated intertidal mudflat sediments.

Applications and synergistic degradation mechanisms of nZVI-modified biochar for the remediation of organic polluted soil and water: A review

Increasing organic pollution in soil and water has garnered considerable attention in recent years. Nano zero-valent iron-modified biochar (nZVI/BC) has been proven to remediate the contaminated environment effectively due to its abundant active sites and unique reducing properties. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the application of nZVI/BC in organic polluted environmental remediation and its mechanisms. Firstly, the review introduced primary synthetic methods of nZVI/BC, including in-situ synthesis (carbothermal reduction and green synthesis) and post-modification (liquid-phase reduction and ball milling). Secondly, the application effects of nZVI/BC were discussed in remediating soil and water polluted by antibiotics, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and dyes. Thirdly, this review explored the mechanisms of the adsorption and chemical degradation of nZVI/BC, and synergistic degradation mechanisms of nZVI/BC-AOPs and nZVI/BC-Microbial interactions. Fourth, the factors that influence the removal of organic pollutants using nZVI/BC were summarized, encompassing synthesis conditions (raw materials, pyrolysis temperature and aging of nZVI/BC) and external factors (reagent dosage, pH, and coexisting substances). Finally, this review proposed future challenges for the application of nZVI/BC in environmental remediation. This review offers valuable insights for advancing technology in the degradation of organic pollutants using nZVI/BC and promoting its on-site application.

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

The pollution of soil and aquatic systems by inorganic and organic chemicals has become a global concern. Economical, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions are direly required to alleviate the deleterious effects of these chemicals to ensure human well-being and environmental sustainability. In recent decades, biochar has emerged as an efficient material encompassing huge potential to decontaminate a wide range of pollutants from soil and aquatic systems. However, the application of raw biochars for pollutant remediation is confronting a major challenge of not getting the desired decontamination results due to its specific properties. Thus, multiple functionalizing/modification techniques have been introduced to alter the physicochemical and molecular attributes of biochars to increase their efficacy in environmental remediation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in developing multiple functionalized/modified biochars via biological and other physiochemical techniques. Related mechanisms and further applications of multiple modified biochar in soil and water systems remediation have been discussed and summarized. Furthermore, existing research gaps and challenges are discussed, as well as further study needs are suggested. This work epitomizes the scientific prospects for a complete understanding of employing modified biochar as an efficient candidate for the decontamination of polluted soil and water systems for regenerative development.

Advances in oligosaccharides production from brown seaweeds: extraction, characterization, antimetabolic syndrome, and other potential applications

Brown seaweeds are a promising source of bioactive substances, particularly oligosaccharides. This group has recently gained considerable attention due to its diverse cell wall composition, structure, and wide-spectrum bioactivities. This review article provides a comprehensive update on advances in oligosaccharides (OSs) production from brown seaweeds and their potential health applications. It focuses on advances in feedstock pretreatment, extraction, characterization, and purification prior to OS use for potential health applications. Brown seaweed oligosaccharides (BSOSs) are extracted using various methods. Among these, enzymatic hydrolysis is the most preferred, with high specificity, mild reaction conditions, and low energy consumption. However, the enzyme selection and hydrolysis conditions need to be optimized for desirable yield and oligosaccharides composition. Characterization of oligosaccharides is essential to determine their structure and properties related to bioactivities and to predict their most suitable application. This is well covered in this review. Analytical techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are commonly applied to analyze oligosaccharides. BSOSs exhibit a range of biological properties, mainly antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic properties among others. Importantly, BSOSs have been linked to possible health advantages, including metabolic syndrome management. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, oligosaccharides have potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Future research should focus on improving industrial-scale oligosaccharide extraction and purification, as well as researching their potential utility in the treatment of various health disorders.[Figure: see text].

Straw-derived biochar for the removal of antibiotics from water: Adsorption and degradation mechanisms, recent advancements and challenges

Antibiotics, a kind of containments with the properties of widely distributed and difficult to degrade, has aroused extensive attention in the world. As a prevalent agricultural waste, straws can be utilized to prepare biochar (straw-derived biochar, SBC) to remove antibiotics from aquatic environment. To date, although a number of review papers have summarized and discussed research on biochar application in wastewater treatment and soil remediation, there are few reviews on SBC for antibiotic removal. Due to the limitations of poor adsorption and degradation performance of the pristine SBC, it is necessary to modify SBC to improve its applications for antibiotics removal. The maximum antibiotic removal capacity of modified SBC could reach 1346.55 mg/g. Moreover, the adsorption mechanisms between modified SBC and antibiotics mainly involve π-π interactions, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and charge dipole interactions. In addition, the modified SBC could completely degrade antibiotics within 6 min by activating oxidants, such as PS, PDS, H2O2, and O3. The mechanisms of antibiotic degradation by SBC activated oxidants mainly include free radicals (including SO4•-, •OH, and O2•-) and non-free radical pathway (such as, 1O2, electrons transfer, and surface-confined reaction). Although SBC and modified SBC have demonstrated excellent performance in removing antibiotics, they still face some challenges in practical applications, such as poor stability, high cost, and difficulties in recycling. Therefore, the further research directions and trends for the development of SBC and biochar-based materials should be taken into consideration.

Enhanced copper (II) bioremediation from wastewater using nano magnetite (Fe3O4) modified biochar of Ascophyllum nodosum

Despite the remarkable Cu(II) sorption biochar potential, it is challenging to desorb them for repeated biochar usage. The present study aims to develop engineered biochar by polarizing Ascophyllum nodosum (seaweed) biomass and magnetizing it with Fe3O4 nanoparticles coating. SEM, EDX, XRD, BET, and FT-IR helped to characterize engineered biochar. Unlike conventional, magnetite biochar exhibited a significant Cu(II) removal potential from an aqueous solution at pH 5. The native and magnetic biochar removal efficiency was 75.2 % (36.99 mgg-1) and 90.27% (45.13 mgg-1), respectively. No significant change in temperature effect was observed. Adsorption study showed that magnetic biochar followed the Langmuir isotherm model with Qmax 53.19 mgg-1. Adsorption kinetics study indicates that magnetic biochar chemisorption dominates over physisorption. Thus, this study shows that seaweed-derived modified biochar could be the best alternative bioresource for removing heavy metals from wastewater. It can be reused to reduce the overall treatment cost of the process.

Recent advancements and challenges in emerging applications of biochar-based catalysts

The sustainable utilization of biochar produced from biomass waste could substantially promote the development of carbon neutrality and a circular economy. Due to their cost-effectiveness, multiple functionalities, tailorable porous structure, and thermal stability, biochar-based catalysts play a vital role in sustainable biorefineries and environmental protection, contributing to a positive, planet-level impact. This review provides an overview of emerging synthesis routes for multifunctional biochar-based catalysts. It discusses recent advances in biorefinery and pollutant degradation in air, soil, and water, providing deeper and more comprehensive information of the catalysts, such as physicochemical properties and surface chemistry. The catalytic performance and deactivation mechanisms under different catalytic systems were critically reviewed, providing new insights into developing efficient and practical biochar-based catalysts for large-scale use in various applications. Machine learning (ML)-based predictions and inverse design have addressed the innovation of biochar-based catalysts with high-performance applications, as ML efficiently predicts the properties and performance of biochar, interprets the underlying mechanisms and complicated relationships, and guides biochar synthesis. Finally, environmental benefit and economic feasibility assessments are proposed for science-based guidelines for industries and policymakers. With concerted effort, upgrading biomass waste into high-performance catalysts for biorefinery and environmental protection could reduce environmental pollution, increase energy safety, and achieve sustainable biomass management, all of which are beneficial for attaining several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).

Exploring the bioremediation capability of petroleum-contaminated soils for enhanced environmental sustainability and minimization of ecotoxicological concerns

The bioremediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) has emerged as a promising approach, with its effectiveness contingent upon various types of PHCs, i.e., crude oil, diesel, gasoline, and other petroleum products. Strategies like genetically modified microorganisms, nanotechnology, and bioaugmentation hold potential for enhancing remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. The effectiveness of bioremediation relies on factors such as metabolite toxicity, microbial competition, and environmental conditions. Aerobic degradation involves enzymatic oxidative reactions, while bacterial anaerobic degradation employs reductive reactions with alternative electron acceptors. Algae employ monooxygenase and dioxygenase enzymes, breaking down PAHs through biodegradation and bioaccumulation, yielding hydroxylated and dihydroxylated intermediates. Fungi contribute via mycoremediation, using co-metabolism and monooxygenase enzymes to produce CO2 and oxidized products. Ligninolytic fungi transform PAHs into water-soluble compounds, while non-ligninolytic fungi oxidize PAHs into arene oxides and phenols. Certain fungi produce biosurfactants enhancing degradation of less soluble, high molecular-weight PAHs. Successful bioremediation offers sustainable solutions to mitigate petroleum spills and environmental impacts. Monitoring and assessing strategy effectiveness are vital for optimizing biodegradation in petroleum-contaminated soils. This review presents insights and challenges in bioremediation, focusing on arable land safety and ecotoxicological concerns.

Influence of adsorption sites of biochar on its adsorption performance for sulfamethoxazole

In this study, the effects of various types of key adsorption sites on biochar were investigated on its adsorption capacity for sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The biochar obtained by carbonization of corncob at 800 °C (named CC800) was applied to the adsorption of SMX in aqueous environment. The adsorption of SMX by CC800 exhibited a "Three-stage downward adsorption ladder" characteristic in the whole pH range, which was attributed to the different mechanisms corresponding to different adsorption sites of CC800. The organic solvent method and heat treatment method restored the adsorption sites of CC800 after saturated adsorption. And the results revealed that the pore structure and aromatic structure under acidic conditions, and surface functional groups and pore structure under alkaline conditions were confirmed to be key SMX adsorption sites. The adsorption energies of each adsorption mechanism were calculated by density functional theory (DFT), and their order was (-)CAHB (-COO^-) > π⁺-π EDA interaction > (-)CAHB (-O^-) > pore filling mechanism > π-π EDA interaction. Based on the above studies, the adsorption performance of biochar to SMX can be improved by targeted modification of its micropore structure, surface functional groups, and aromatic structures.

More effective application of biochar-based immobilization technology in the environment: Understanding the role of biochar

In recent years, biochar-based immobilization technology (BIT) has been widely used to treat different environmental issues because of its cost-effectiveness and high removal performance. However, the complexity of the real environment is always ignored, which hinders the transfer of the BIT from lab-scale to commercial applications. Therefore, in this review, the analysis is performed separately on the internal side of the BIT (microbial fixation and growth) and on the external side of the BIT (function) to achieve effective BIT performance. Importantly, the internal two stages of BIT have been discussed concisely. Further, the usage of BIT in different areas is summarized precisely. Notably, the key impacts were systemically analyzed during BIT applications including environmental conditions and biochar types. Finally, the suggestions and perspectives are elucidated to solve current issues regarding BIT.

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

Soil contamination with organic contaminants and various heavy metals has become a global environmental concern. Biochar application for the remediation of polluted soils may render a novel solution to soil contamination issues. However, the complexity of the decontaminating mechanisms and the real environment significantly influences the preparation and large-scale application of biochar for soil ramification. This review paper highlights the utilization of biochar in immobilizing and eliminating the heavy metals and organic pollutants from contaminated soils and factors affecting the remediation efficacy of biochar. Furthermore, the risks related to biochar application in unpolluted agricultural soils are also debated. Biochar production conditions (pyrolysis temperature, feedstock type, and residence time) and the application rate greatly influence the biochar performance in remediating the contaminated soils. Biochars prepared at high temperatures (800 °C) contained more porosity and specific surface area, thus offering more adsorption potential. The redox and electrostatic adsorption contributed more to the adsorption of oxyanions, whereas ion exchange, complexation, and precipitation were mainly involved in the adsorption of cations. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced during biochar pyrolysis induce negative impacts on soil alga, microbes, and plants. A careful selection of unpolluted feedstock and its compatibility with carbonization technology having suitable operating conditions is essential to avoid these impurities. It would help to prepare a specific biochar with desired features to target a particular pollutant at a specific site. This review provided explicit knowledge for developing a cost-effective, environment-friendly specific biochar, which could be used to decontaminate targeted polluted soils at a large scale. Furthermore, future study directions are also described to ensure a sustainable and safe application of biochar as a soil improver for the reclamation of polluted soils.

Algal biochar mediated detoxification of plant biomass hydrolysate: Mechanism study and valorization into polyhydroxyalkanoates

In this study, fourteen types of biochar produced using seven biomasses at temperatures 300 °C and 600 °C were screened for phenolics (furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)) removal. Eucheuma spinosum biochar (EB-BC 600) showed higher adsorption capacity to furfural (258.94 ± 3.2 mg/g) and HMF (222.81 ± 2.3 mg/g). Adsorption kinetics and isotherm experiments interpreted that EB-BC 600 biochar followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm model for both furfural and HMF adsorption. Different hydrolysates were detoxified using EB-BC 600 biochar and used as feedstock for engineered Escherichia coli. An increased polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production with detoxified barley biomass hydrolysate (DBBH: 1.71 ± 0.07 g PHA/L), detoxified miscanthus biomass hydrolysate (DMBH: 0.87 ± 0.03 g PHA/L) and detoxified pine biomass hydrolysate (DPBH: 1.28 ± 0.03 g PHA/L) was recorded, which was 2.8, 6.4 and 3.4 folds high as compared to undetoxified hydrolysates. This study reports the mechanism involved in furfural and HMF removal using biochar and valorization of hydrolysate into PHA.

Highly efficient photodegradation of magnetic GO-Fe3O4@SiO2@CdS for phenanthrene and pyrene: Mechanism insight and application assessment

A novel magnetic core-shell Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CdS embedded graphene oxide (GO) composite was prepared for the visible-light-driven photodegradation of high ring number polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The potential application of GO-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CdS was evaluated through the photodegradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in deionized water, tap water, and lake water, respectively. It was found that GO-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CdS could remove 86.4 % of phenanthrene and 93.4 % of pyrene, suggesting its potential for the degradation of high-ring number PAHs. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that pyrene has more active sites attacked by free radicals. The photoelectrochemical measurement and quenching experiments indicate that GO can transfer photoelectrons efficiently, resulting in the crucial radicals (O₂^-, OH and ¹O₂). More importantly, the photocatalytic activity kept almost constant during five cycles, confirming the significant anti-photocorrosion of GO-Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@CdS. This work provides some new insights into the removal of PAHs with high-ring numbers in the natural water environment.

Effects of biochar on the degradation of organophosphate esters in sewage sludge aerobic composting

In this study, the impact of biochar on the degradation of organophosphate esters (OPEs) during the aerobic composting of sewage sludge was investigated. Three treatments were conducted with different percentages of biochar in the compost, including 5 %, 10 %, and 20 %. The treatment with 10 % of biochar showed the longest thermophilic phase compared to that of 5 % and 20 % of biochar, which greatly promoted the decomposition of organic matter. In addition, the degradation rate of the hard-to-degrade chlorinated-OPEs was significantly increased by 10 % biochar, reaching to 57.2 %. Correspondingly, approximately 43.6 % of the total concentration of OPEs (Σ₆OPEs) was eliminated in the presence of 10 % of biochar, which was higher than the treatments with 5 % and 20 % of biochar. Biochar significantly influenced the microbial community structure of compost, but the previously reported organophosphorus-degrading bacteria did not play a major role in the degradation of OPEs. The redox ability of the increased oxygen-containing functional groups such as quinone on the surface of biochar and the biochar-mediated electron transfer ability may play an essential role in the degradation of OPEs during the composting process.

Advancement in algal bioremediation for organic, inorganic, and emerging pollutants

Rapidly changing bioremediation prospects are key drive to develop sustainable options that can offer extra benefits rather than only environmental remediation. Algal remediating is gaining utmost attention due to its mesmerising sustainable features, removing odour and toxicity, co-remediating numerous common and emerging inorganic and organic pollutants from gaseous and aqueous environments, and yielding biomass for a range of valuable products refining. Moreover, it also improves carbon footprint via carbon-capturing offers a better option than any other non-algal process for several high CO₂-emitting industries. Bio-uptake, bioadsorption, photodegradation, and biodegradation are the main mechanisms to remediate a range of common and emerging pollutants by various algae species. Bioadsorption was a dominant remediation mechanism among others implicating surface properties of pollutants and algal cell walls. Photodegradable pollutants were photodegraded by microalgae by adsorbing photons on the surface and intracellularly via stepwise photodissociation and breakdown. Biodegradation involves the transportation of selective pollutants intracellularly, and enzymes help to convert them into simpler non-toxic forms. Robust models are from the green microalgae group and are dominated by Chlorella species. This article compiles the advancements in microalgae-assisted pollutants remediation and value-addition under sustainable biorefinery prospects. Moreover, filling the knowledge gaps, and recommendations for developing an effective platform for emerging pollutants remediation and realization of commercial-scale algal bioremediation.

Biochar composite derived from cellulase hydrolysis apple branch for quinolone antibiotics enhanced removal: Precursor pyrolysis performance, functional group introduction and adsorption mechanisms

In this study, magnetic biochar (MAB) and humic acid (HA)-coated magnetic biochar produced from apple branches without and after cellulase hydrolysis (HMAB and CHMAB, respectively) were prepared and tested as adsorbents of enrofloxacin (ENR) and moxifloxacin (MFX) in aqueous solution. Compared with MAB and HMAB, novel adsorbent CHMAB possessed a superior mesoporous structure, greater graphitization degree and abundant functional groups. When antibiotic solutions ranged from 2 to 20 mg L^-1, the theoretical maximum adsorption capacities of CHMAB for ENR and MFX were 48.3 and 61.5 mg g^-1 at 35 °C with adsorbent dosage of 0.4 g L^-1, respectively, while those of MAB and HMAB were 39.6 and 54.4 mg g^-1, and 44.7 and 59.0 mg g^-1, respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model presented a better fitting to the spontaneous and endothermic adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity of ENR and MFX onto CHMAB was achieved at initial pH values of 5 and 8, respectively. Additionally, the adsorption capacity of ENR and MFX decreased with increasing concentrations of K⁺ and Ca²⁺ (0.02-0.1 mol L^-1). Synergism between the pore-filling effect, π-π electron-donor-acceptor interactions, regular and negative charge-assisted H-bonding, surface complexation, electrostatic interactions and hydrophobic interactions may dominate the adsorption process. This study demonstrated that a novel magnetic biochar composite prepared through pyrolysis of agricultural waste lignocellulose hydrolyzed by cellulase in combination with HA coating was a promising adsorbent for eliminating quinolone antibiotics from aqueous media.

Valorization of fruit waste-based biochar for arsenic removal in soils

Fruit waste disposal is a serious global problem with only 20% of such waste being routinely treated prior to discharge. Two of the most polluting fruit wastes are orange peel and walnut shell and new methods are urgently required to valorize such waste. In the present study, they where valorized via conversion into biochars at 500 °C (OPB500 for orange peel-based biochar produced at 500 °C and WaSB500 for walnut shell-based biochar produced at 500 °C), and evaluated for arsenic adsorption. A pore-rich surface morphology was observed with a low H/C ratio indicating high stability. Spectroscopic studies revealed the presence of minerals and surface functional groups (amide, carbonyl, carboxyl, and hydroxyl) suggesting high potential for arsenic immobilization. Adsorption studies revealed an arsenic removal efficiency of 88.8 ± 0.04% for WaSB500 exposed to initial arsenic concentration of 8 ppm for 5% biochar dose at 25 °C and 30 min contact time. In comparison, OPB500 showed slightly lower removal efficiency of 80.7 ± 0.1% (10 ppm initial concentration, 5% dose, 25 °C, 90 min contact time). Peak shifts in XRD and FTIR spectra together with isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies suggested arsenic sequestration was achieved via a combination of chemisorption, physisorption, ion exchange, and diffusion. The present investigation suggests valorization of fruit waste into thermo-stable biochars for sustainable arsenic remediation in dynamic soil/water systems and establishes biochar's importance for waste biomass minimization and metal (loid) removal from fertile soils.

Effect of leaching time on phytotoxicity of dissolved organic matter derived from black carbon based on spectroscopy

Black carbon (BC) exports huge amounts of its derived DOM from terrestrial ecosystems annually through a variety of ways (i.e., erosion or runoff migration). The pyrolytic feedstock type and temperature resulted in DOM derived from highly condensed aromatic and non-aromatic BC. However, the behaviors of low aromatic BC-derived DOM at diverse leaching time are poorly understood. In this work, low aromatic BCs were prepared by pyrolysis corn straws at 250 °C, 350 °C and 450 °C. Extraction experiments for four leaching time (6 h, 10 h, 15 h and 21 h) were set up to simulate BC-derived DOM generative process in nature. The phytotoxicity of BC-derived DOM was evaluated via germination index (GI). Spectral characteristics were discussed to analyze the phytotoxicity variations of fluorescence components composition at different time, including the excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor, two-dimensional correlation spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results suggested that low aromatic BC-derived DOM might contain aromatic phenolic compounds. A longer time contributed to accumulate the complex, hard-to-use organic matters, leading to lower GI. These results would supplement the dynamic spectral characteristics of low aromatic BC-derived DOM and its environmental risks during the leaching process.

Antibiotic bioremediation by new generation biochar: Recent updates

The evolving multidrug resistance in microbes with increasing antibiotic pollution is becoming a severe global crisis. Recent developments on antibiotic remediations by biochar are promising. Advancements in biochar engineering enhanced biochar remediation efficiency to another level through developing new interactions and bonding abilities with antibiotic pollutants. Especially chemical/metal-composite modification significantly increased catalysis of biochar. The review's main focus is to underline biochar efficiency for the abatement of emerging antibiotic pollutants. Moreover, to relate feedstock, production conditions, and engineering techniques with biochar properties. Also, modification strategies are reviewed to obtain biochar or their composites before examining improved remediation potential ranging from 20 to 552 mg g^-1 for various antibiotics. Biochar offers different interactions depending on the surface functionalities e.g., π-π stacking, electrostatic, H-bonding, etc. Biochar and related composites have also been reviewed for remarkable properties e.g., photocatalysis, adsorption, and oxidation processes. Furthermore, future research directions and opportunities for biochar research are discussed.

Organic wastes bioremediation and its changing prospects

Increasing inappropriate anthropogenic activities and industrialization have resulted in severe environmental pollution worldwide. Their effective treatment is vital for general health concerns. Depending on the characteristics of pollutants, the severity of pollution may differ. For sustainable treatment of polluted environments, bioremediation is accepted as the most efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly method hence largely preferred. However, every bioremediation technique has its own unique advantages and limitations due to its defined applications criteria. In bioremediation, microorganisms play a decisive role in detoxification by degrading, mineralizing and accumulating various forms of harmful and biodegradable pollutants from the surroundings and transforming them into less lethal forms. Bioremediation is performed ex-situ or in-situ, based on location of polluted site as well as characteristics, type and strength of the pollutants. Furthermore, the most popular methodologies for bioremediation include bioaugmentation, biostimulation, bioattenuation among others which depend on the prevailing environmental factors into the microbial system. Implementing them appropriately and effectively under ex-situ or in-situ method is extremely important not only for obtaining efficient treatment but also for the best economic, environmental, and social impacts. Therefore, this review aims to analyze various bioremediation methods for organic pollutants remediation from soil/sediments and wastewater, their strength, limitation, and insights for the selection of appropriate bioremediation techniques based on nature, types, degree, and location of the pollution. The novelty aspect of the article is to give updates on several key supporting technologies which have recently emerged and exhibited great potential to enhance the present bioremediation efficiency such as nanobubble, engineered biochar, mixotrophic microalgae, nanotechnology etc. Moreover, amalgamation of these technologies with existing bioremediation facilities are significantly changing the scenario and scope of environmental remediation towards sustainable bioremediation.

Efficient remediation of antibiotic pollutants from the environment by innovative biochar: current updates and prospects

The increased antibiotic consumption and their improper management led to serious antibiotic pollution and its exposure to the environment develops multidrug resistance in microbes against antibiotics. The entry rate of antibiotics to the environment is much higher than its exclusion; therefore, efficient removal is a high priority to reduce the harmful impact of antibiotics on human health and the environment. Recent developments in cost-effective and efficient biochar preparation are noticeable for their effective removal. Moreover, biochar engineering advancements enhanced biochar remediation performance several folds more than in its pristine forms. Biochar engineering provides several new interactions and bonding abilities with antibiotic pollutants to increase remediation efficiency. Especially heteroatoms-doping significantly increased catalysis of biochar. The main focus of this review is to underline the crucial role of biochar in the abatement of emerging antibiotic pollutants. A detailed analysis of both native and engineered biochar is provided in this article for antibiotic remediation. There has also been discussion of how biochar properties relate to feedstock, production conditions and manufacturing technologies, and engineering techniques. It is possible to produce biochar with different surface functionalities by varying the feedstock or by modifying the pristine biochar with different chemicals and preparing composites. Subsequently, the interaction of biochar with antibiotic pollutants was compared and reviewed. Depending on the surface functionalities of biochar, they offer different types of interactions e.g., π-π stacking, electrostatic, and H-bonding to adsorb on the biochar surface. This review demonstrates how biochar and related composites have optimized for maximum removal performance by regulating key parameters. Furthermore, future research directions and opportunities for biochar research are discussed.

Soil Properties of a Tef-Acacia decurrens-Charcoal Production Rotation System in Northwestern Ethiopia

A tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system, a unique indigenous climate-smart agricultural technology of northwest Ethiopia, is increasingly seen as a promising strategy for improving soil properties. This study investigated the effect of the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system on soil properties. In total, 112 soil samples (7 treatments × 4 depths × 4 replicates) were collected and analyzed inside and outside randomly selected charcoal production spots in the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system and from an adjacent tef monocropping system. The soil properties examined generally exhibited significant variation between the tef monocropping system and the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system, and between soil depths, as well as with respect to charcoal production spots in the system. The system resulted in a significant increase in SOC, TN, available phosphorus, available sodium, available nitrate and ammonium in general, and in total contents of K, P and Mn in the 0–20 cm depth. Charcoal production in the system significantly increased the total content of P, Al, and Fe, as well as the available nitrate and sulfate in the charcoal production spot. The variation in soil proprieties between the land use types and with respect to charcoal production spots in the TACP system were possibly due to the effect of the Acacia decurrens trees, and fire and fine charcoal residues from charcoal production, indicating the capacity of the tef-Acacia decurrens-charcoal production rotation system to improve soil properties.

Chitosan-based nanocomposites for removal of Cr(VI) and synthetic food colorants from wastewater

Current study aims to synthesize chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA), poly(ethyleneimine), and Fe₃O₄ impregnated beads for co-removal of Cr(VI) and toxic azo-dyes from wastewater. The mesoporous PEI@AC@Fe₃O₄ exhibits magnetism and enhanced physisorption by higher specific-porosity (2.1 nm) from Cr(VI) radii (0.044 nm). Moreover, surface functional groups (-OH, -NH, -NH₂, -COOH etc.), especially amines enhance ionic bonding due to positive zeta potential. Hence, it is unique for anionic dyes removal under a wide pH range. It showed maximum adsorption capacity 98, 85.5, 85.8, and 91%, or 199.8, 148, 167, 176.5 mg g^-1 respectively for Cr(VI), tartrazine, sunset yellow, and erythrosine. Surface adsorption of Cr(VI) and its transition into Cr(III) was confirmed by EDX. Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-first-order kinetics best fit the adsorption of Cr(VI) and azo-dyes confirming their monolayer physisorption on adsorbent surface. Synthesized adsorbent examined in wastewater purification prototype for efficient removal of different simulated wastewaters confirms its potential for real-world applications.