Chapter 14 - Biochar technology: A promising approach to mitigate environmental pollutants

Abstract

Biochar as a stable carbon-rich material shows incredible potential to handle water contaminants. Devolatilization of biomass under hypoxic conditions produces biochar and has gained significant attention in soil remediation, carbon sequestration, and waste water remediation. Biochar derived from different biomasses have different characteristics. The removal of organic and inorganic contaminants from the environment requires biochar with different properties. High pyrolyzing temperature results in high surface area and hence higher adsorption capacity. Removal of organic waste such as dye/colors, especially industrial dyes, is tough to knock down through regular waste water treatment as they are stable to light and oxidizing agents. Inorganic contaminants such as heavy metal ions, such as copper, cadmium, lead, mercury, etc., are hazardous to even at minimum concentrations, as they are capable of accumulating in the organisms. Heavy metal ion removal through activated carbon is being used from a long time but yields extremely low result due to the less adsorption capacity of activated carbon per gram. Industrial waste water and ground water remediation is possible through biochar treatment. This chapter discusses the current problem of environmental contaminants, conventional methods for remediation, and different methods for biochar production and provides an overview of current applications and future prospects of biochar in the removal of contaminants from the environment.