GENERAL INFORMATION
News & Notice
- GENERAL INFORMATION
- News & Notice
[Waste-dereived Biochar for Water Pollution Control and Sustainable Development]
- Authors: He, MJ (He, Mingjing); Xu, ZB (Xu, Zibo); Hou, DY (Hou, Deyi); Gao, B (Gao, Bin); Cao, XD (Cao, Xinde); Ok, YS (Ok, Yong Sik); Rinklebe, J (Rinklebe, Jorg); Bolan, NS (Bolan, Nanthi S.); Tsang, DCW (Tsang, Daniel C. W.)
- Source: NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
- Published: JUL 2022
- Abstract: Biochar, a carbon-rich material made from the partial combustion of biomass wastes, is an emerging material of interest as it can remediate pollutants and serve as a negative carbon emission technology. In this Review, we discuss the application of biochar in municipal wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater decontamination and stormwater management in the context of sustainable development. By customizing the biomass feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions, biochar can be engineered to have distinct surface physicochemical properties to make it more efficient at targeting priority contaminants in industrial wastewater treatment via adsorption, precipitation, surface redox reactions and catalytic degradation processes. Biochar enhances flocculation, dewatering, adsorption and oxidation processes during municipal wastewater treatment, which in turn aids sludge management, odour mitigation and nutrient recovery. The addition of biochar to sustainable drainage systems decreases potential stormwater impact by improving the structure, erosion resistance, water retention capacity and hydraulic conductivity of soils as well as removing pollutants. The feasibility of scaling up engineered biochar production with versatile, application-oriented functionalities must be investigated in collaboration with multidisciplinary stakeholders to maximize the environmental, societal and economic benefits. Biochar is a promising negative carbon emission technology with applications in wastewater pollution control. This Review assesses the performance of engineered biochar in various industrial, municipal and stormwater treatments, and discusses the partnerships required for biochar commercialization.
[Recent Advancements and Challenges in Emerging Applications of Biochar-based Catalysts]
- Authors: Yuan, XZ (Yuan, Xiangzhou); Cao, Y (Cao, Yang); Li, J (Li, Jie); Patel, AK (Patel, Anil Kumar); Dong, CD (Dong, Cheng-Di); Jin, X (Jin, Xin); Gu, C (Gu, Cheng); Yip, ACK (Yip, Alex C. K.); Tsang, DCW (Tsang, Daniel C. W.); Ok, YS (Ok, Yong Sik)
- Source: BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
- Published: OCT 2023
- Abstract: 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).
