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Iron ore tailings (IOT) are industrial solid wastes that pose environmental threats. This study prepared IOT-biochar composite materials as multifunctional soil conditioners through an in-situ growth method. Biochar served as a carrier to improve the dispersity and reactivity of IOT in soil. The IOT-biochar composite (FeOT-BC) showed balanced impacts on soil properties, increasing pH, organic matter and available nutrients compared to IOT alone. This was due to the buffering effects of biochar. In pot experiments, FeOT-BC significantly promoted rice plant growth compared to IOT alone. The improvements were attributed to the improved soil fertility and increased microbial activities induced by biochar. The results suggest that integrating IOT with biochar can mitigate the negative effects of tailings and convert them into a value-added product. The biochar component can optimize the performance of IOT by moderating soil acidification, enhancing nutrient release from iron minerals, and stimulating microbial activities. The IOT-biochar composite materials integrate the functionalities of both components for optimized soil conditioning effects, providing a promising strategy for comprehensive tailings utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of antibiotics in wastewater has become a significant concern due to their potential environmental impact and contribution to antibiotic resistance. In this study, we investigated the degradation of tetracycline, a commonly used antibiotic, in wastewater using a system based on zero-valent nano iron assisted micro-nano bubbles (MB/nZVI). The synthesized nZVI-BC composite, consisting of nano zero-valent iron particles loaded onto phosphoric acid-activated biochar, served as an efficient adsorbent for tetracycline removal. Our findings revealed that the combination of MBs and nZVI significantly enhanced the degradation efficiency of tetracycline. The MB/nZVI system exhibited the highest removal rate of 82.81% after a 2 h reaction, surpassing the performance of MB alone, nZVI-BC alone, and conventional bubble (CB)/nZVI-BC systems. Furthermore, the MB/nZVI system showed superior degradation performance at a dosage of 25 g/L and an MB flow rate of 30 mL/min. The pH condition had no significant effect on tetracycline degradation in the MB/nZVI system. Our results demonstrate that the use of MB/nZVI has the potential to be a sustainable and efficient approach for the remediation of tetracycline-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart agro-practices over the years have revolutionized the agriculture sector and promoted the concept of sustainable agriculture. One such practice is use of agro-waste biochar in agricultural, environmental, and climatic operations. The viability of using a biochar-based nanocomposite as a support fertilizer for the gradual release of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus in various media is examined in this study. The banana peel biochar (BPBC) and its nanocomposite (BNF) were prepared using a simple yet comprehensive chemical process. Synthesized materials were evaluated using FT-IR and SEM/EDX. Physical attributes as well as fertilizer basic characteristics were determined and prepared nanocomposite demonstrated noticeably better water absorbance ratio (68%), equilibrium water content (78.97%), and swelling ratio (3.64 g g−1) than biochar, which is advantageous for preserving soil water levels. The salt index values (0.087mmhos/cc) of the created nanocomposite performed better when compared to the conventional fertilizers due to their safer application. Long-term availability of all doped minerals to the plants, during experimental cycle, was revealed by slow-release nutrient studies in water and soil, which is ideal for promoting germination and growth. The findings of this research revealed that prepared BNF showed improved germination parameters i.e., time for 50% germination (3.4, 3.3, 4.4 days), germination index (3.1, 3.5, 2.4), final germination percentage (91.7, 100, 83.3%), mean germination time (4.0, 3.9, 4.9 days), for cucumber, broccoli and okra, respectively. In addition to that the prepared BNF facilitated enhanced shoot and root length in all the three vegetables as compared to conventional fertilizers. The dose optimization studies depicted that best results of germination as well as plant growth parameters are facilitated by BNF (37.5 kg/ha) owing to enhancement in soil quality by supplying additional organic matter in addition to provision of nutrients on slow-release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the adsorption capacity of the biochar obtained from Pinus patula biomass micro-gasification was studied using malachite green (MG) as the probe pollutant. For this purpose, the biomass type (wood pellets and chips) was selected to produce two kinds of biochar (BC). Afterwards, the effects of the adsorbent dose (6, 9 and 12 g/L), the solution pH (4, 7 and 10) and the BC particle size distribution (150–300, 300–450 and 450–600 μ m) for the maximization of the MG retention by the selected BC were evaluated using a faced-centered central composite design, as response surface methodology. The results indicated that the BC derived from wood chips (BWC) exhibited a higher MG dye adsorption capacity than the BC obtained from the wood pellets (BWP) gasification under the same operating conditions after having reached the equilibrium. A second-order regression model was built for describing the MG adsorption behaviour by BWC under the considered experimental domain. The model, which was validated, resulted to be statistically significant and suitable to represent the MG adsorption by the studied BC with a p-value of 0.00 and a correlation coefficient (R2) of 95.59%. Additionally, a three-dimensional response surface graph and a contour plot were utilized to analyze the interaction effects between the factors influencing the adsorption system and to discern the optimal operating conditions for the use of BWC. The maximal MG dye retention (99.70%) was found to be at an adsorbent dose, pH solution and a particle size distribution of 9.80 g/L, 10 and from 150 to 300 μ m, respectively. Therefore, the BWC tested can be utilized for the treatment of water polluted with dyes, contributing to the establishment of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming have become a stress condition due to the generation of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation with the industrial revolution. Climate change induces biotic and abiotic stress conditions which badly disturb the yield of crops with leading to the biochemical and physiological damages to plants. Therefore; this study investigated the capability of Morus alba L. wood biochar and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria PG1 (Pseudomonas sp.) and PG2 (Staphylococcus haemolyticus) to alleviate the drought condition in Brassica napus L. plant. In the current research work, the combined application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) and biochar triggered an enhancement in physicochemical properties of soil including %field capacity, water use efficiency, germination parameters including Timson germination index, final emergence percentage, mean germination time, final germination percentage, germination energy, mean emergence time, germination rate index and vegetative parameters including seed vigor indexes (SVI-I & SVI-II) and plant height stress index. Inoculation and co-inoculation of PGPRs and biochar positively promote the canola plant growth even under induce drought stress condition. A positive increase in B. napus biomass including leaf area, plant height and root growth and its dry and fresh mass at p < 0.05 level, which support the effectiveness of this approach. Results also showed that Staphylococcus haemolyticus individually and in combination with biochar even under stress condition promote canola plant growth more than Pseudomonas sp. We concluded that under stressors, co-application of PGPRs and biochar could be an operative approach for enhancing plant productivity and its development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, scientists have shown interest in utilizing biochar made from natural sources to enhance various photovoltaic technologies. In this study, Zinc-Bis-8-hydroxyquinoline (Zn-Hq2) was mixed with 10 % biochar obtained from red sea microalgae (Chlorophyta) using a microwave combustion process. This mixture was then used as a novel photoactive layer in a solar cell. The structural properties of Zn-Hq2@BC were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, HRTEM, and SEM. The analysis showed that Zn-Hq2@BC had evenly distributed nano-rods within the BC nanopores network, with widths ranging from 26.94 to 30.90 nm and lengths ranging from 136.43 to 192.38 nm. When measuring dark current density-voltage, it was found that Zn-Hq2@BC/n-Si showed better-rectifying characteristics compared to pristine Zn-Hq2/n-Si, with a higher rectification ratio. The results also showed that the current density and voltage at the maximum power point increased to 5.63 mA/cm2 and 0.45 V, respectively, due to the activation of the biochar. When exposed to light, the addition of approximately 10 % biochar resulted in a 15 % increase in fill factor and a 92 % increase in power conversion efficiency. This is because biochar helps introduce extra charge carriers into the material, thus improving charge transport and reducing recombination losses. These findings reveal the positive effects of microalgae-derived biochar and indicate potential applications of Zn-Hq2 in solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and efficient process for the removal of Ce(IV) from aqueous solutions was sought, and a new magnetic porous biochar (PBC/ZF) was synthesized by loading ZnFe 2 O 4 (ZF) onto porous biochar (PBC) using a one-step hydrothermal method. The SEM observation of the external features showed that the cubic spinel structured ZnFe 2 O 4 (ZF) particles were loaded onto the porous biochar (PBC) surface. This resulted in a composite with superb paramagnetic properties as well as higher adsorption properties. In addition, the microstructure was characterized by FTIR, which demonstrated that the target material was supplied with a large amount of carboxyl groups (-COOH) by citric acid during the synthesis process. The BET showed that the target material had a higher specific surface area than ZnFe 2 O 4 with PBC, confirming the successful preparation of the target material after activation of the biomass using ZnCl 2 immersion as well. The effect of different factors on the adsorption effect was investigated experimentally. The results showed that PBC/ZF had a good adsorption effect on Ce(IV) with a short adsorption equilibrium time and a maximum adsorption capacity of 228.9 mg/g at room temperature with lower acidity (pH = 2.5). The adsorption kinetics and isotherm analysis showed that the Ce(IV) adsorption process fitted well with the quasi-secondary kinetic model and Langmuir model. It indicates that the process is a single molecular layer adsorption process. It was demonstrated that PBC/ZF also has high removal rate for high concentration Ce(IV) solution, and it is easy for solid-liquid separation under the action of applied magnetic field after adsorption. It provides a new treatment method and theoretical support for the adsorption treatment technology of Ce (IV) wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar was proposed as a novel carbon source for synthesizing Ti 3 SiC 2 powder with high purity by a simple pressureless sintering at 1673 K, and Ti 3 SiC 2 grains exhibited the typical nanolayered structure. The oxidation behavior of Ti 3 SiC 2 powder showed the parabolic law during isothermal oxidation from 1273 K to 1473 K. Dense and continuous oxidation layer consisting of mixed TiO 2 and SiO 2 was formed rapidly on the surface of Ti 3 SiC 2 particles as a diffusion barrier, which effectively retarded the inward diffusion of oxygen, conferring good oxidation resistance of the powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus, P deficiency by adsorption and fixation of applied P is a critical problem in the tropical soils coupled with wastage of agricultural land and potential nutrients from crop residues' decomposition necessitates conservancy and sustainable management. Maize stover biochar (mB) and sawmill waste biochar (sB) pyrolysed for 60-minute at 460 °C using Top-Lit Up Draft (TLUD) carbonizer were characterized by morphological, elemental and proximate properties analysed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), CHNS Elemental Analyser and appropriate methods, respectively. Phosphorus (P) adsorption potential of the biochars in charnockite-originated soils were evaluated using adsorption isotherms after adding biochars at 0, 5, 10 and 20% (w/w) with concentrations of 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 mg P/L. SEM showed macropores (>50 nm) embedded biochars, with higher elemental C and H in sB while mB contained higher N, S, O, available P and pH. P-adsorption decreased inconsistently with increasing biochar rates resulting in P-desorption. Low Langmuir adsorption maximum (Qm) were recorded (−0.0350 to 0.1250 mg kg−1) mostly with negative separation factors (R L) and the adsorption process were favourable for mB amended soils having Freundlich heterogeneity factor (n F) of 4.476–9.634 but not for sB amended soils (n F = 0.638–2.812). Biochar production conserved nutrient loss and potentially reduced soil P fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the circumstances of serious environmental challenges and energy crises, it is of utmost importance to produce fuels and chemicals from renewable biomass and organic wastes. Biochar as a bioproduct from thermochemical conversion of biomass has attracted exponential research interest in recent years due to the abundance of its precursor (biomass resources) and its adaptability in different chemical reaction systems. Undoubtedly, it is essential to attain an in-depth understanding of the physiochemical properties and functionalization of biochar catalysts to further improve their catalytic activity, selectivity and stability in the reactions. However, until now, only a few reports are accessible on the use of biochar as a catalytic support material and/or a standalone catalyst in thermochemical biomass conversion to produce high-quality biofuels. Thus, the key objective of this review article is to summarize and discuss the latest progress in biochar production, modification, activation and functionalization by understanding its physical chemistry, composition and application in catalytic processes. This review article provides insights into the thermochemical and hydrothermal production of biochar as well as the engineering and process optimization aspects for value-added biofuel production and decarbonization. [Display omitted] • Effects of biomass composition and process conditions on biochar are reviewed. • Systematic discussion on biochar functionality as bio-based catalyst support is made. • Insights into the modification of biochar targeting optimal performance are shown. • Comparative analysis of biochar-based catalytic pyrolysis, gasification and liquefaction. • The significance of activation of biochar for enhanced functionality is justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar materials have wide applications in soil improvement/remediation, water pollution control, gas storage, and heterogeneous catalysis, while usually suffering from low surface areas and harsh preparation conditions. In this study, a green, environmentally friendly, and low-cost biochar catalyst (PAP-MEPP-C) was prepared by thermochemical treatment of lignin-derived monomers at a low temperature (80 °C), and further developed for high-efficiency production of biodiesel from non-edible Jatropha oil (J O). The characterization results showed that the structure of the PAP-MEPP-C biochar catalyst was layered and 3D structure, and its acidity could be controlled by changing the monomeric composition. The reaction conditions of preparing biodiesel catalyzed by PAP-MEPP-C were optimized by the response surface method, and the obtained maximum biodiesel yield was 97.2%. The kinetics of the (trans)esterification reaction over the developed biochar catalyst PAP-MEPP-C was studied, and its superior catalytic performance to other tested acid catalysts could be supported by a relatively lower activation energy (36 kJ mol−1). In addition, the biochar catalyst was highly stable and could be recycled four times with more than 90% biodiesel yield. [Display omitted] • A novel 3D layered biochar with tunable acidity was prepared by treatment at 80 °C. • Response surface method optimized the catalytic conditions of prepared biochar. • The yield of biodiesel from Jatropha oil over the biochar catalyst was up to 97.2%. • The biochar catalyst had good reusability with biodiesel yield of > 90% after 4 cycles. • The biochar catalyst is active for producing biodiesel from oils with high acid value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of tons of cotton textile waste are generated annually worldwide, and most of it enters the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream for landfill or incineration disposal, resulting in a significant waste of resources and environmental pollution. This article developed an innovative low-temperature pyrolysis process for producing artificial humic acid (HA) from waste cotton textiles. Subsequently, Al3+ was introduced for a secondary pyrolysis to prepare an Al-doped biochar (Al/BC) with superior adsorption properties. The experimental results show that the presence of Al3+ has an important influence on the pyrolysis process of cotton fabric and the formation and structure of Al/BC. This is the first time to synthesize low-cost adsorbent by pyrolysis and aluminum mixing process of waste cotton cloth and explains the mechanism. This increased in defects (I D / I G = 0.76 to I D / I G = 0.92), a larger specific surface area (6.47 m2/g to 566.94 m2/g), and an increase in oxygen-containing functional groups (from none to C-O-C, O C-O, etc.) when compared to the undoped Al3+ biochar. The optimum Al3+-doped biochar (Al/BC-15) prepared with HA as a precursor exhibited a superior adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) of up to 176.23 mg/g, surpassing the results reported for similar materials in the literature. The adsorption mechanism of Cr(VI) is primarily based on physical adsorption, with some chemical adsorption. At a lower pH, the Al/BC-15 surface exhibits a high positive charge (46 mV). The Al3+-O-Cr(VI) association group is formed through rapid electrostatic attraction between C-Al and Cr(VI). Due to the strong positive electronegativity of Al3+ and the negative electronegativity of C in the vicinity of Al, Cr(VI) is further reduced to Cr(III) by C-Al. Therefore, the method proposed in this paper for preparing Al-doped carbon materials from waste cotton fabric offers a new approach and potential application for the production of high-performance adsorbent materials from waste cotton fabric. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work synthesized polyethyleneimine and chitosan modified winter melon-derived biochar (PEI-CTS@WBC) using chemical crosslinking method for uranium(VI) removal. The factors influencing uranium(VI) adsorption by PEI-CTS@WBC, including pH, adsorbent dosage, time, temperature, and initial U(VI) concentration were explored. The material's performance was characterized, and the underlying mechanism of U(VI) removal was analyzed using various techniques. Compared with other reported adsorbents, the maximum adsorption capacity of PEI-CTS@WBC for U(VI) was 411.44 mg g−1, which was higher than most existing adsorbents. The dynamics studies showed that adsorption was more in line with the second-order kinetic model, indicating that chemical adsorption was the main process. The K d and S U value of U(VI) by PEI-CTS@WBC could reach 11194.44 mL g−1 and 76.47 % respectively, which exhibited a high selective adsorption characteristics for U(VI) in aqueous solutions. The XPS analysis demonstrated that the adsorption process was primarily due to the formation of stable complexes with N-H, N-C, C-O and O-H. This research showed that the introduction of polyethyleneimine and chitosan greatly improved the adsorption effect of WBC on U(VI). PEI-CTS@WBC had high selective adsorption characteristics and good reusability for U(VI) in aqueous solutions. PEI-CTS@WBC was an economical, efficient and stable composite material. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with U(VI). [Display omitted] • PEI-CTS@WBC had advantages of low cost, easy preparation and good stability. • The maximum adsorption capacity of PEI-CTS@WBC for U(VI) was 411.44 mg g−1. • PEI-CTS@WBC exhibited a high selective adsorption for U(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-depth understanding of the micro-ecological mechanisms underlying the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils by biochar amendment is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of biochar-microbe combination. Nevertheless, this remediation mechanism remains elusive. Consequently, we performed a pot experiment to investigate the effects of biochar on soil fungal communities in a cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) contaminated soil. The results demonstrated that the amendment of biochar derived from rice straw significantly reshaped soil fungal communities, leading to the enrichment of members of the genus Aspergillus , which was found to correlate significantly with the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. A representative of the targeted Aspergillus species (strain F8) was successfully isolated. The results of the pot experiments demonstrated that the inoculation with the isolate F8 can promote plant growth, immobilize soil Cd and Pb, and decrease tomato plant uptake of Cd and Pb. These results indicate that the enrichment of specific taxa induced by biochar amendment is associated with the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Therefore, this study provides new evidence to support the indirect mechanism of biochar in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil by reshaping the soil microbiome. [Display omitted] • Biochar amendment caused enrichment of Aspergillus species. • The Aspergillus strain could remediate the heavy metal contaminated soils. • Biochar remediates contaminated soil by stimulating beneficial fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous removal of toxic elements and pharmaceutical compounds at environmentally relevant concentrations in aqueous solution is challenging. Modification of biochar using environmental materials has attracted significant attention in wastewater treatment, while pristine biochar has several limitations in the simultaneous removal of Lead (Pb2+), Copper (Cu2+), and metoprolol. We investigated the efficacy of biochar composites using waste cabbage leaves-derived biochar with kaolinite, and anthocyanin for simultaneous removal of Pb2+, Cu2+, and metoprolol from water. Using ball milling, the surface area and functional groups of adsorbents were improved via breaking the biochar grains into ultrafine particles. Ball-milled biochar derived from waste cabbage leaves significantly increased Pb2+, Cu2+, and metoprolol adsorption by 105, 71, and 213%, respectively. Results of Brunauer Emmett Teller surface area, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies showed that surface area of non-milled biochar improved nearly ten-fold following ball-milling, while several oxygen containing acidic functional groups also increased. The adsorbents resulted in high removal efficiency for Pb2+ (162.9 mg/g) and Cu2+ (48.5 mg/g) in ball milled-kaolinite composite biochar (BMKB) and 76.3 mg/g (metoprolol), respectively in ball milled-anthocyanin composite biochar (BMAB). The simultaneous sorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, and metoprolol in an aqueous solution to BMAB and BMKB, showed that the adsorption capacity followed the order of Pb2+ >Cu2+ > metoprolol in both types of ball-milled biochars. BMKB achieved a high adsorption capacity for Pb2+ and Cu2+ (59 mg/g and 50 mg/g), respectively, while BMAB exhibited an adsorption capacity 22.3 mg/g for metoprolol. It was postulated that sorption of Pb2+, Cu2+ and metoprolol involved multiple adsorption mechanisms namely surface complexation, π-π interaction, H−bond, pore filling, and ion bridging. The findings of this study revealed that ball milling is a potential technology in producing a highlyefficient adsorbent to remediate multi-contaminants in aqueous solution. [Display omitted] • Ultrafine composite kaolinite and anthocyanin biochar was derived from cabbage leaves. • Ball-milling increased the surface area nearly ten-fold higher than in non-milled biochars. • Ball milling improved oxygenated functional groups on the composite surface. • Adsorption capacity in ternary system followed the order of Pb2+ > Cu2+ > metoprolol. • Adsorption of Pb2+, Cu2+ and metoprolol involved multiple adsorption mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar production offers various benefits related to climate change mitigation, circular economy, waste management, renewable energy, and reduced dependency on fossil carbon. Despite these advantages, the biochar market in the Nordic region is still developing. This study explores the current state and future potential of the Nordic biochar market, identifying existing and potential market segments, the role of biochar and its co-products, and factors affecting market growth. The study involved an online survey conducted in 2021, targeting key Nordic biochar stakeholders, including business actors, academic researchers, and other relevant groups (N = 72, representing 64 organizations). The findings reveal that the Nordic biochar market is in its nascent stages, with producers often considering biochar production as a side business. The market faces challenges such as inadequate legal and policy support, limited public awareness, lack of established norms, and uncertainties regarding profitability, technological efficiency, and market potential. However, the industry holds substantial growth potential due to its environmental and climate benefits, provided that current barriers are overcome. Key applications of biochar include carbon removal, water filtration, soil remediation, landscaping, and composting. Additionally, co-products such as energy-dense gases and bio-oil have the potential to enhance the economic viability of biochar production. To facilitate market development, integrating established scientific knowledge into industry standards and policies is crucial. The study underscores the importance of biochar networks and associations in advocating for industry development and highlights the need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders to overcome existing barriers. Additionally, focused research on the varied applications of biochar is needed, with an emphasis on thoroughly evaluating its environmental, economic, and social impacts. • 49% of respondents are interested in establishing new biochar production facilities. • 60% of current producers describe biochar production as a side business. • The biochar market is driven by applications contributing to carbon removal. • Heat was the key co-product; bio-oil and distillates were considered controversial. • Barriers include inadequate policies, market uncertainties and supply-demand issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization has contributed significantly to the advancement and sustenance of human civilization. However, it has also posed serious challenges to environmental sustainability, notably through heavy metal pollution, which has severely impacted ecological systems. Recent studies have explored the use of biochar for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. This review underscores the diverse physicochemical and structural characteristics of biochar, derived from various biomass sources through different pyrolysis processes, and their varying adsorption efficiencies. The review aims to investigate current biochar production technologies, their unique properties, and their maximum removal efficiency and adsorption capacity for heavy metals. The primary adsorption mechanisms, adsorption isotherms, and kinetic models have been identified. Furthermore, the study confirms that optimal conditions—such as the choice of precursors, pyrolysis temperature, and an understanding of the advantages and limitations—are crucial for designing biochar with superior structural and physicochemical properties. This review provides an updated overview of biochar-based heavy metal treatment in aquatic systems, highlighting existing research gaps and suggesting future research directions. [Display omitted] • Efficiency of different biochars for water management was systematically reviewed. • Advantages and limitation of biochars production was discussed. • The engineered biochars has excellent structural and physiochemical properties. • The kinetics of the biochars-based system is well described by Pseudo second order. • More attention should be paid to biochar production and application at large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global population growth and awareness about the important role of vitamins in human health drive demand for fresh fruits and vegetables. In line with this need, greenhouse cultivation addresses year-round availability, but chemicals pose challenges. Hydroponic systems control pests, boost yields, and decrease chemicals while faced with significant waste generation. Waste generated by hydroponic systems holds potential for repurposing into value-added products, which aligns with the principles of the circular bioeconomy. However, before embracing widespread adoption, it is crucial to assess its environmental compatibility. This study employs a life cycle assessment approach to compare hydroponic tomato production in greenhouses under conventional and circular bioeconomy systems. The first scenario (Sc-1) encompasses hydroponic tomato production in a greenhouse system under a conventional system. The second scenario (Sc-2) involves the production of tomatoes, along with the conversion of residue of tomato production into compost. The third scenario (Sc-3) closely resembled Sc-2, while valorizing residue of tomato production into biochar. The outcomes indicate that per kg of tomato production under Sc-1 leads to a damage of 4.32 × 10−6 DALY to human health, 4.33E−06 species.yr to ecosystems, and 1.82 × 10−1 USD2013 to resources. The results of weighting of environmental damages also shows a total environmental damage of 75.36 mPt per kg of tomato production under Sc-1 which is mainly based on the production and consumption of natural gas. The findings demonstrate that Sc-2 and Sc-3 exhibit a diminished potential on damage to human health, ecosystems, and resource compared to Sc-1, respectively. Accordingly, in comparison to Sc-1, Sc-2 leads to an approximately 11% reduction in total weighted environmental impacts, while Sc-3 results in an approximately 4% reduction in total weighted environmental impacts. Based on these outcomes, integrating compost and biochar production into hydroponic tomato systems holds significant potential for environmental benefits. Accordingly, further research and development efforts should focus on optimizing the efficiency and scalability of composting and biochar production technologies to maximize their impact on sustainability in hydroponic tomato production. [Display omitted] • Hydroponic tomato cultivation faces challenges with waste disposal. • Residues from tomato cultivation can be valorized into biochar and compost. • Composting residue reduces total environmental damage tomato production by 11%. • Biochar production from residues reduces the total environmental impact of tomato by 4%. • Circular bioeconomy improves the sustainability of tomatoes in hydroponic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are identified as a significant pathway of microplastics (MPs) re-entry into the environment through effluent discharge, thereby emphasizing the need for reliable and efficient treatment methods. This study investigated MPs removal from sewage effluents using cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified magnetic biochar (RH-MBC-CTAB) as an adsorbent. Biochars from different biomass were synthesized, surface modified, characterized, and compared for their MPs removal efficacy from aqueous matrices. Batch adsorption studies were initially conducted on synthetic water with 1 μm sized polystyrene (PS) MPs using different MP concentrations (1–10 mg/L) and varying adsorbent dosages (1–10 mg/50 mL) to assess the effect of different process parameters, viz. pH (2–10), humic acid (6–25 mg/L), and competitive ions (0.01–0.2 M). The maximum MPs removal (98%) was achieved at the favorable conditions: initial MPs concentration: 10 mg/L, RH-MBC-CTAB dose: 7 mg/50 mL, pH 4, mixing speed: 180 rpm, and contact time: 3 min. Electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding were likely to remove MPs while the MPs adsorption was best fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R 2 = 0.91) and Langmuir isotherm model (R 2 = 0.94) with the maximum adsorption capacity of 247.52 mg/g. Further, the application of RH-MBC-CTAB on the real-time sewage effluents from sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR)-based STPs spiked with MPs showed up to 96% MPs removal. The reusability results revealed that developed RH-MBC-CTAB could maintain good stability for up to three reusability cycles, therefore offering extensive potential for the removal of MPs from sewage effluents. [Display omitted] • Biochar prepared and modified by FeCl 3 and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). • CTAB-modified magnetic biochar used for adsorptive MPs removal from aqueous matrices. • The maximum MPs removal achieved using CTAB-modified magnetic biochar was ∼98%. • The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models better described MPs adsorption process. • MPs removal from STP effluent by the adsorbent: 96.3% (SBR-based), 94.1% (MBBR-based). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is among the major contributors to soil and groundwater pollution, primarily through the widespread leaching of pesticides and fertilizers from crops, as well as accidental releases from point sources. Therefore, alongside restrictions on the use of highly soluble agrochemicals and enhanced application guidelines, there is a significant demand for low-impact and cost-effective solutions aimed at reducing the mobility of agrochemicals in the soils. This study evaluates the potential of soil amendments—commonly used to enhance soil structural properties, water holding capacity, and fertility—to also absorb highly soluble pesticides, thereby controlling their leaching into the subsoil. Specifically, zeolite, biochar, and milled corncob were examined in laboratory tests under static (batch tests) and dynamic (column leaching tests) conditions to assess their effectiveness in adsorbing two widely used pesticides, copper sulphate and dicamba. Batch adsorption tests were performed using the amendments as pure materials and in mixtures with sand at various application rates (1–20% by weight). The highest affinity to copper sulphate was recorded for biochar, while dicamba exhibited a higher affinity to corncob, thanks to its higher content of organic carbon. Column leaching tests, performed at an amendment application rate of 5%, confirmed the different affinity observed in batch tests among pesticides and amended soil. Less than 2% of copper sulphate leached out from biochar- and zeolite-sand columns, while a recovery of 10% and 56% was observed for the corncob-sand mixture and for pure sand, respectively. Dicamba leaching from biochar- and corncob-sand columns was halved compared to pure sand. In conclusion, the tested soil amendments resulted highly effective in reducing pesticide leaching, opening the way for their possible applications in agriculture to reduce or prevent both diffuse and punctual contamination. [Display omitted] • Biochar and corncob show high affinity to dicamba and limit its leaching in lab tests. • Zeolite-amended sand highly retain Cu sulphate and retention is partly irreversible. • Unprocessed agricultural waste can effectively control leaching of organic pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-atom catalyst has shown promising effect in photocatalysis. In particular, the construction of bimetallic catalytic sites can address the limitations of single-metallic catalysts, such as clustering and slow electron transfer, which enhances electron transfer between active sites and promotes photocatalytic activity. In this paper, Mn and Co bimetallic catalyst (Mn/Co@N-biochar) was developed by using the electronegativity difference of the bimetallic sites on N-doped biochar to construct catalytically active sites to enhance electron transfer. XRD and HR-TEM characterization confirmed that metal atoms were evenly dispersed within the carbon layer without aggregation or clustering of metal particles. The catalytic efficiency of Mn/Co@N-biochar was assessed through sulfanilamide (SNM) degradation experiments, demonstrating a remarkable degradation rate of 99.3% and a mineralization rate of 49.0%. These values were 10.45 times and 13.24 times more than that for biochar, respectively, indicating that the loading of bimetals greatly improved the photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the doping of N atoms adjusted the electronic structure of adjacent C atoms and activated the free-flowing π electrons on the biochar surface, creating solid anchoring sites that facilitated efficient electron circulation between Mn and Co atomic sites. The higher local electron density at the Co-N 4 site compared to the Mn-N 4 , created electron transfer channels, where Mn atoms (catalytic site) facilitated the flow of electrons to Co atoms (active site). This could rapidly generate the primary active species (‧OH and ‧O 2 -) to degrade SNM. Additionally, the stability and applicability of bimetallic catalysts in real water systems were also confirmed, providing valuable insights for the construction of bimetallic biochar structures to degrade organic pollutants in water. [Display omitted] • A bimetal-loaded N-doped biochar photocatalyst was designed for degradation of SNM. • In N-doped biochar, Mn/Co sites show high dispersion and stability. • Electron channels were formed for Mn (driving sites) to drive Co (reaction sites). • Mn/Co@N-biochar demonstrated stability and applicability in real water systems. • Mn/Co sites promoted electron-hole separation, and enhanced the use of ‧OH and ‧O 2 -. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the novel paradigm of the circular economy the value of products, materials, and resources is retained in the economy for as long as possible, thereby minimizing waste generation. In this context, the olive oil producing countries are presented with a new opportunity that lies in the large amount of by-products generated by the olive oil industry, in particular olive pomace. Among the existing options for valorizing it, gasification is a technically proven and economically viable process, especially for moderately high energy prices. This research aims to analyze the profitability of olive pomace gasification, identifying the main uncertainty factors that determine said profitability. To that end, sensitivity analyses and probabilistic scenario analyses using the Monte Carlo method are conducted for the first time in this research context. The results show a positive profit margin of €19.27 per ton of milled olives, a Net Present Value (NPV) of €453,067, and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 9.7 %. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the electricity price is the main determinant of profitability, while other factors, such as the biomass price or the sale of by-products (biochar), are less important. The Monte Carlo analysis reveals the uncertainty involved in these types of projects, showing that the probability of the investment being profitable (NPV>0) is only 25.1 %. The assessment evidences that this kind of projects presents high capital needs and strongly uncertain profitability, recommending the implementation of public and private green finance instruments to overcome high-capital barriers and de-risk these investments. [Display omitted] • The economic profitability of olive pomace gasification is examined. • A sensitivity analysis of the factors affecting the profit margin is conducted. • A Monte Carlo simulation is performed to assess profitability stochastically. • Olive pomace gasification is profitable under high energy-price scenarios. • The results shows that profitability is subject to high uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Unique porous structure promotes mass transfer process to accelerate reaction kinetics. • N defect regulates the local electron density of active center Ni to enhance CO 2 adsorption. • Nitrogen atoms anchor Ni sites accurately, exposing more catalytic active sites. • Evaluating the optimal performance of the catalyst by changing the mass ratio and preparation temperature. Molecular catalysts have been receiving extensive attention due to their explicit, designable, easily modifiable molecular structures and tunable catalytic active sites, which exhibit elegant electrocatalytic performance in electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reactions. However, the susceptibility to aggregation due to strong intermolecular π-π interactions among the metal bipyridines, phthalocyanines and porphyrins among the molecular catalysts limits their catalytic performance. Herein, an active catalyst nickel phthalocyanine anchored N-doped ball milled biochar (NiPc/N-BMBC) was developed with highly enriched pore structure and high surface area for electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction. On the nanoscale, NiPc molecules were uniformly anchored on N-BMBC to enhance the dispersion, exposing sufficient catalytic active sites. Concretely, the catalyst NiPc/N-BMBC exhibited extraordinary performance in the electrolytic conversion of CO 2 reduction reaction, with a Faredaic efficiency of CO (FE CO) > 70 % at an overpotential (−0.75 to −0.95 V vs. RHE) and a high CO partial current density (j CO) of 96 mA cm−2 at −1.0 V vs. RHE, which were much higher than that of NiPc (24 %, 38 mA cm−2) and N-BMBC (9 %, 2 mA cm−2). This work provides a new insight in the structural design of carbon-based electrocatalyst for efficient electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Successful saccharification of CMR using sulfonated biochar derived from pomelo peel. • Elucidation of the fundamental characteristics of sulfonated biochar derived from pomelo peel. • Elucidation of the process variations during the hydrolysis of CMR along with the influence of key reaction conditions on the resulting products. • The role played by the hydrolysate of CMR in the cultivation process of Oocystis. sp. was revealed. The conversion of waste into high-value products has long been a focus point of research in green and sustainable chemistry. In this study, a novel value-adding strategy was devised to not only facilitate the resource utilization of biomass waste like Chinese medicine residue (CMR) and pomelo peel but also contribute to the advancement of microalgae cultivation. Sulfonated biochar PP-700-S was synthesized from pomelo peel waste, and its morphology and structural characteristics were analyzed. An effective method for the hydrolysis of CMR using PP-700-S as a catalyst in the aqueous phase was then explored, with a thorough investigation of the process and key influencing factors. Under the reaction conditions of 130 °C, 24 h, 20 mL H 2 O, CMR: PP-700-S = 1: 1, a 51.87 % yield of reducing sugars was directly obtained from the CMR, with PP-700-S exhibiting the selectivity of glucose production. Subsequently, the hydrolysate (HL-CMR) was utilized as a growth medium for microalgae, revealing that the presence of HL-CMR enhanced the nutrient balance in the medium, creating a more conducive environment for microalgae growth. Overall, this study presents a sustainable and efficient pathway for the utilization of lignocellulosic waste, facilitating the conversion of waste into higher-value products and contributing to the development of a green and sustainable science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Petal-Like LaCO 3 OH on biochar efficiently captures low concentration phosphorus. • New adsorbent shows superior pH tolerance compared to other biochars. • La-BC has an excellent selective adsorption for phosphorus in water. • The mechanisms in low and high concentration phosphorus adsorption were deciphered. Effectively managing phosphorus (P) concentrations in waterbody is essential to curb eutrophication. In this study, we employed wetland plant Canna indica straw to create biochar and synthesized a distinctive two-dimensional (2D) petal-shaped LaCO 3 OH biochar adsorbent (La-BC). This novel material exhibited outstanding adsorption capabilities for capturing low-concentration P, surpassing unmodified BC by 2–4 times. La-BC showed a rapid adsorption capacity, achieving 97.01 % to 99.10 % removal efficiency within 10 h for 0.5 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L P concentrations. Its maximum P adsorption capacity was recorded at 129.4 mg/g. Considering both environmental safety and P removal efficiency, the optimal pH range for La-BC is 4.0 to 11.0. Adsorption experiments have demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism involves electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange under acidic conditions, with ligand exchange predominating in alkaline environments. Density Functional Theory (DFT) demonstrated that the absolute value of adsorption energy (E ads) is as followed: HPO 4 2− (2.43) > H 2 PO 4 − (2.27) > humic acid (0.613), indicates that La-BC preferentially saturated adsorbs HPO 4 2−, H 2 PO 4 − and then adsorbs humic acid (HA). When the concentration of HA reaches 50 mg/L, which is 50–100 times higher than the P, the removal rate of P by La-BC decreases slightly, but it is still higher than 90 %. La-BC exhibits excellent adsorption selectivity towards P, with no interference from co-existing anions (Cl−, NO 3 –, SO 4 2−, CO 3 2–) in water. Our findings provided a highly efficient, pH-stable, and promising biochar-based solution for the removal of low concentrations of P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Biochar could significantly improve AD performance of Maotai flavor Baijiu wastewater. • Joint modification could significantly enhance the electron donating capacity. • Enrichment of electroactive microorganisms was a prerequisite for enhancing the DIET. • Syntrophomonas had a tenfold increase in relative abundance by biochar. • The assistance of biochar changed the pathway of methane production. The low pH of Maotai-flavor Baijiu wastewater (MFBW) adversely affects its anaerobic digestion (AD) performance, resulting in low AD efficiency. Here, coconut shell was used to produce biochar. The characteristics of biochar were regulated through acid, alkali, and magnetic modification, respectively. Biochar and modified biochars were applied to assist the AD of MFBW. The results showed that biochar could significantly increase methane yield by 220.8 %–241.7 % with the corresponding soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) degradation increasing by 52.3 %–57.5 % (p < 0.05). Joint modification could significantly enhance the electron donating capacity from 0.0042 to 0.0095 mmol e−1/g (p < 0.05). The combined modification with magnetic alkali had the best stimulating effect on the AD process, which might be related to the conductive particles (Fe 3 O 4) formed during magnetization processes. The modified biochar featured a high degree of surface roughness, a relatively large aperture, and strong electron donating ability, all of which were beneficial to the colonization and microbial growth. Supplementation with biochar resulted in the enrichment of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria, especially for Syntrophomonas (rising from 0.013 % to 6.74 %–10.93 % of relative abundance). These microorganisms are related to the hydrolysis, acidification, and extracellular electron transfer. The enrichment of electroactive microorganism is a prerequisite for improving the direct interspecies electron transfer pathway. This study provides theoretical support for efficient MFBW treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The porous PBC PB was successfully synthesized by one-step KHCO 3 -activated pyrolysis. • The PBC PB has excellent passivation performance with a high S BET of 1342.07 m2/g. • PBC PB could significantly reduce the bioavailability and bioaccumulation of Pb/Cd. • Precipitation, complexation and cation-π interaction convert Pb/Cd to stable species. The porous biochar (PBC PB) was prepared by one-step KHCO 3 -activated pyrolysis of corn stalks, which showed excellent passivation properties for Pb/Cd in soil (48.99 % or 46.74 %). Characterization results revealed that the PBC PB possessed a dense and network-like pore structure with a huge specific surface area of 1342.07 m2/g, which was conducive to the passivation of Pb/Cd. Batch experiments showed that PBC PB had excellent adsorption properties with the maximum absorption capacity of 117.61/48.24 mg/g. After 30 d of remediation, the bioavailable-Pb/Cd contents in 5.0 % of PBC PB treatment were reduced by 47.06 % and 58.42 %, respectively. The speciation transformation results uncovered that the contents of unstable Pb/Cd components gradually decreased with the increase of PBC PB dosages, ultimately transforming into stable residual components. In addition, the PBC PB could effectively increase the contents of soil available nutrients and enhance functional enzyme activities, which contributed to promoting the growth of cucumber seedlings. Meanwhile, PBC PB strongly alleviated the oxidative damage of Pb/Cd to cucumber seedlings by significantly reducing the Pb/Cd accumulation and antioxidant oxidase activity of cucumber seedlings. Furthermore, precipitation, complexation, as well as cation-π interaction were the primary passivation mechanisms of PBC PB for Pb/Cd. Overall, the study provided a reasonable design of porous carbon-based materials for the remediation of Pb/Cd-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel biocatalyst BFMO@BC was successfully synthesized. • 1O 2 was evidenced as the dominant reactive oxidizing species. • BFMO@BC was environmentally adaptable and exhibited excellent cycling properties. • The bimetallic cycle, C=O groups, and carbon defects were responsible for the superior catalytic activity. Biogenic metal oxides are considered superior eco-friendly candidates for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. However, they often suffer from metal aggregation, high ion leaching, and poor recyclability, diminishing their practical attractiveness. In this study a novel biochar-loaded biogenic iron-manganese oxide composite (BFMO@BC) was synthesized to activate PMS for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The introduction of biochar brought more active sites (C=O and carbon degree), promoted the bimetallic redox cycle between Fe and Mn, and facilitated the conversion of SO 5 •− to 1O 2 , which significantly improved the catalytic performance. Results demonstrated 100 % SMX degradation within 3 min in BFMO@BC/PMS system. And the reaction rate constant of this system was as high as 0.852 min−1, which was 11.6 times than that of BFMO/PMS. Moreover, high SMX removal efficiencies (near 100 %) could be obtained over a wide pH range (3–11) and in complex water matrices. BFMO@BC displayed excellent adaptability, stability, and reusability for SMX removal. This study provides new insights into the utilization of biocatalysts in advanced oxidation processes for pollutant degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The FBC was prepared via one-step pyrolysis method base on Phytolacca acinosa. • The FBC exhibited excellent V (V) adsorption performance. • The V (V) adsorption mechanism on the FBC was comprehensively investigated. Iron-loaded biochar (FBC) was synthesized via the dry-mixed co-pyrolysis of Phytolacca acinosa , Fe 2 (SO 4) 3 and NaOH and then used to remove aqueous vanadium (V (V)). FBC demonstrated the optimal adsorption performance for V (V) (57.67 mg/g) due to the loading of iron oxide, which increased the number of oxygen-containing functional groups. The adsorption of V (V) on FBC was pH-dependent, and the adsorption rate was high in the pH range of 2–8. Common cations and anions in water did not affect the adsorption of V (V) onto FBC, while NH 4 +, Na+, Ca2+, and Cd2+ can promoted its adsorption. The adsorption mechanism of FBC mainly included chemical adsorption, electrostatic adsorption, oxygen-containing functional group complexation and ion exchange. The easy preparation method, high adsorption capacity and adaptability makes FBC an ideal material for removing V (V) from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron-loaded biochar derived from jackfruit peels (Fe-JP) was synthesised by pyrolysis in a microwave furnace and iron was loaded onto the peels prior to pyrolysis, facilitated by sonication. The primary objective of the investigation was to examine the degradation process of methylene blue (MB) dye and Acid Red 1 (AR1) dye by the using Fe-JP biochar as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst. The investigation encompassed an examination of the impact of different operating parameters, such as pH, catalyst dosage, and H 2 O 2 concentration. The synthesised Fenton catalyst underwent characterization using Field Emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis, Raman spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis. At a pH of 3, using an initial MB dye concentration of 20 mg/L and initial AR1 dye concentration of 50 mg/L, an 8 mM H 2 O 2 concentration, and a catalyst dose of 2 g/L, the maximum dye removal efficiency reached 96.5 % and 98 % respectively, while the total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency reached 68.5 % and 75 % respectively. The observed reaction time under the given experimental conditions was 120 min. The thermal stability of the biochar catalyst was found to be excellent based on the Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) studies. The catalysts that were developed demonstrated remarkable durability and negligible leaching of iron, hence enabling their repeated usage in subsequent cycles. The findings of the investigation suggest that the primary mechanism responsible for the degradation of the dye was the surface-based heterogeneous Fenton activity. Additionally, the effect of adsorption on the elimination of colour under varying pH conditions was examined, which had a very low influence in dye degradation (<30 %). The conducted scavenging investigations in the research have indicated the major involvement of hydroxyl radicals (OH) in the degradation process, followed by surface-bound hydroxyl radicals (OH surface), superoxide radicals (O 2 −) and ultimately by singlet oxygen radicals (1O 2). The study's economic analysis demonstrated that using microwave mode of heating for catalyst synthesis is both green and cost-effective. This observation suggests the possibility of practical implications in the domain of dye degradation. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of iron impregnated jackfruit peel (Fe-JP) biochar as heterogenous Fenton catalyst • Fenton oxidation of MB dye and AR1 dye and optimising the operation parameters (pH, catalyst dosage and H 2 O 2 dosage) • Elucidation of Fenton oxidation mechanism of FeJP on MB dye and AR1 dye • The economic aspects of Fe-JP catalyst were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term plastisphere was coined to describe the human-made plastic environment, addressing the challenges of plastic waste. This study presents a rapid method using microwave susceptor catalysts (Co/Mo/Biochar, Ni/Mo/Biochar, Fe/Mo/Biochar) for the catalytic degradation of polystyrene into valuable carbon in microwave synthesizer. Using SEM, we found that active metal nanoparticles are uniformly distributed and the sizes of the active porous sites varied depending upon the catalyst used where the porous active sites of catalyst Co/Mo/biochar, Ni/Mo/biochar and Fe/Mo/biochar ranges between 300 nm and 700 nm, 2.21 μm and 4.05 μm, and 5 μm to larger pore size respectively. The microwave initiated catalytic synthesis process transforms uniform-sized polystyrene pellets into carbon nanospheres within 90 s. From XRD characterization, the broadened peaks at (002) plane resulted from the graphitic flakes' waving structure, confirming that the carbon nanospheres formed are graphitic in nature which is in agreement with results obtained from Raman spectroscopy. This study also explores polystyrene as an energy feedstock, utilizing Co/Mo/Biochar synthesized carbon nanospheres (CNS) which is mesoporous in nature with BET average surface area about 1428.3 m2/g as anode electro catalyst support for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells. The Pt Ru (1:1) supported on CNS catalyst exhibited higher electro catalytic activity compared to commercial PtRu/C, as indicated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). [Display omitted] • Fe/Mo/biochar, Ni/Mo/biochar, and Co/Mo/biochar catalysts are used to synthesize CNSs from polystyrene. • Co/Mo/biochar produced the smallest (10–30 nm) and smoothest CNSs with minimal defects. • Co/Mo/biochar CNSs had a high surface area (1428.3 m2/g) and mesoporous structure. • PtRu nanoparticles on CNSs created a high-performance electrocatalyst, surpassing commercial counterparts in methanol electro-oxidation. • The study highlights potential applications in energy storage and conversion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, a novel magnetic nitrogen-rich biochar (MNRB), synthesized by attaching Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -NH 2 particles with core-shell structure on crab shell derived/nitrogen-rich biochar (NRB), was used as absorbent and reductant to remove hexavalent chromium in aqueous systems. Characteristics of the material demonstrated that the MNRB was rich in nitrogen-containing functional groups and that the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -NH 2 magnetic particles with a diameter of approximately 150 nm were successfully added on the MNRB surface by strong ether linking (C-O-C). The maximum removal capacity of MNRB was 152.9 mg·g−1, which was considerably higher than most reported magnetic biochar. Study of the removal mechanisms revealed that the Cr(VI) removal by MNRB involved three steps: (1) adsorption of Cr(VI) anions by protonated functional groups; (2) reduction of Cr(VI) anions to Cr(III) cations by electron-donor groups; and (3) chelation of Cr(III) cations by amine groups. The easy regeneration, satisfactory reusability, and remarkable performance in batch tests reflected the high potential of MNRB for treating Cr(VI)-contaminated water. [Display omitted] • A novel magnetic nitrogen-rich biochar (MNRB) was fabricated. • Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -NH 2 particles were successfully conjugated on MNRB surface by ether linking. • MNRB exhibited superior removal performance toward Cr(VI). • Simultaneous Cr(VI) detoxification and Cr(III) immobilization was realized on MNRB. • A three-step removal mechanism for Cr(VI) by MNRB2 was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of different H 2 O 2 concentrations on the Fenton-like systems of H 2 O 2 /biochar, this study examined the mechanism of the physical structure and environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs) of biochar during diethyl phthalate (DEP) removal by the Fenton-like system. The peak-splitting method was utilized to differentiate EPFRs types in cotton stalk biochar produced at different temperatures. High-temperature environments promote π-electron delocalization, which facilitates phenyl π free radicals and σ-π oxygen-containing free radicals. By analyzing relationships between the removal rate K 1 and removal constant K obs of DEP with the structural properties of biochar, it was discovered that EPFRs concentrations in biochar had a significant positive correlation with K 1 (r = 0.92) and K obs (r = 0.97). Different H 2 O 2 concentrations added to the biochar removal system resulted in varied DEP removal efficiency. Among them, CS 500 , CS 550 , and CS 600 exhibited superior DEP removal efficiency when H 2 O 2 concentration was 5 mM. [Display omitted] • Concentration of biochar EPFRs is the dominant factor for DEP removal. • Lorentz 3 radicals play an important role in DEP removal. • Biochar EPFRs excite H 2 O 2 to remove DEP with two effects. • Only specific H 2 O 2 concentration contributes significantly to DEP removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the effectiveness of nano zero-valent iron loaded on biochar (BC-nZVI) during swine manure composting. BC-nZVI significantly reduced the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), metal resistance genes (MRGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). BC-nZVI modified the preference of MGEs to carry ARGs and MRGs, and the corrosion products of BC-nZVI could destroy cell structure, hinder electron transfer between cells, and weaken the association between ARGs, MRGs, and host bacteria. Functional genes analysis revealed that BC-nZVI down-regulated the abundance of genes affecting the transmission and metabolism of ARGs and MRGs, including type IV secretion systems, transporter systems, two-component systems, and multidrug efflux pumps. Furthermore, the BC-nZVI decreased genes related to flagella and pili production and cell membrane permeability, thereby hindering the transfer of ARGs, MRGs, and MGEs in the environment. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that changes in the microbial community induced by BC-nZVI were pivotal factors impacting the abundance of ARGs, MRGs, and MGEs. Overall, this study confirmed the efficacy of BC-nZVI in reducing resistance genes during swine manure composting, offering a promising environmental strategy to mitigate the dissemination of these contaminants. [Display omitted] • BC-nZVI effectively reduces the abundance of ARGs, MRGs, and MGEs in composting. • BC-nZVI weakens the contact between resistome and host bacteria. • BC-nZVI decreased the ARG-related metabolic pathways and function genes. • BC-nZVI alters the preference of MGEs to carry resistance genes. • Alteration of microbial communities is a crucial factor influencing ARGs, MRGs, and MGEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the conversion of garden organic waste into value-added products, namely compost or biochar, employing various processes. Three distinct scenarios are considered: composting garden organic waste followed by screening of oversized materials (CBP), pyrolysis of oversized screenings of compost into biochar AP(I), and in-situ conversion of garden organics into biochar AP(II). A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted using OpenLCA software and life cycle impact assessment was conducted using Recipe 2016 midpoint methodology. The environmental ramifications of each scenario were assessed, optimising transport distances in AP(II) to achieve a functional unit of one tonne of biochar produced within a cradle-to-gate system boundary. For the first time, this study offers a holistic exploration of the benefits of soil biochar application, extending its scope to climate change mitigation, incorporating the optimisation of transport distance and its influence when scaling up the technology. The results revealed that global warming was increased from 125 kgCO 2 eq during composting of garden waste to 232 kgCO 2 eq where oversized screenings of compost is converted to biochar at an off-site facility. However, direct conversion of the oversized organic waste to biochar, without composting, showed reduced global warming impact of 56 kgCO 2 eq, and is thus the most favourable scenario to limit climate impacts of this fraction of organic garden waste. However, among 18 environmental impact indicators studied, eight indicators were either not influenced or did not significantly increase by transport distance to an off-site pyrolysis facility, while the magnitude of 10 impact indicators increased with transport distance. The insights and methodologies presented in this study hold global relevance, based on an actual case study in regional Australia, offering valuable recommendations for sustainable waste management practices and establishing biochar as a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative solution. The findings contribute to existing waste management knowledge and provide guidance for accessible carbon dioxide removal and soil carbon sequestration technologies. [Display omitted] • A comprehensive LCA for valorisation of garden organics was conducted. • Direct conversion of garden organics to biochar showed least potential environmental impacts. • Biochar provides opportunities for avoided, reduced, and removed carbon from atmosphere. • Maximum transport distance has been identified for individual impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, seven types of biomass (coffee husk, macadamia husk, peanut husk, rice husk, rice straw, tobacco straw, and cotton straw) were carbonized at temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 1000 °C. This study explored the potential of these biomass samples as carbon reducing agents for industrial silicon and compared them with charcoal in terms of their proximate analysis, electrical resistivity, and apparent activation energy of the reaction. The results indicated that as the pyrolysis temperature increased, the oxygen content and aliphatic functional groups in biochar gradually decreased, as did the volatiles content, while the proportions of fixed carbon and ash increased. The resistivity decreased upon the removal of volatiles and an increase in the degree of graphitization. At 600 °C, the fixed carbon content of all biochar exceeded 65%, and the fixed carbon content of macadamia husk biochar reached 91.32%, which was higher than that of charcoal (81.44%), the maximum specific surface area was 335.706 m2/g, which was much higher than that of charcoal (5.705 m2/g). Thermogravimetric analysis and kinetic analysis indicated that coffee husk had better reactivity than charcoal. The gasification reactivity of coffee husk was R = 3.1949%/min °C, which was higher than that of charcoal (0.7930 %/min °C). The apparent activation energy during the coking reaction stage was 51.86 kJ/mol, which was lower than that of charcoal (98.9 kJ/mol). Overall, biochar had a suitable fixed carbon and electrical resistivity at 600 °C and can be used as a carbon reducing agent for industrial silicon, among them, macadamia husk with high fixed carbon and coffee husk with high reactivity have greater application potential. [Display omitted] • The first proposal to use biomass as a reducing agent for industrial silicon • Coffee husk and macadamia husk have better performance than charcoal. • The mechanism of biomass carbonization was analyzed through kinetic analysis. • The electrical resistivity of biochar decreases with increasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents novel composites of biochar (BC) derived from spinach stalks and zinc oxide (ZnO) synthesized from water hyacinth to be used for the first time in a hybrid system for activating persulfate (PS) with photocatalysis for the degradation of bromothymol blue (BTB) dye. The BC/ZnO composites were characterized using innovative techniques. BC/ZnO (2:1) showed the highest photocatalytic performance and BC/ZnO (2:1)@(PS + light) system attained BTB degradation efficiency of 89.47% within 120 min. The optimum operating parameters were determined as an initial BTB concentration of 17.1 mg/L, a catalyst dosage of 0.7 g/L, and a persulfate initial concentration of 8.878 mM, achieving a BTB removal efficiency of 99.34%. The catalyst showed excellent stability over five consecutive runs. Sulfate radicals were the predominant radicals involved in the degradation of BTB. BC/ZnO (2:1)@(PS + light) system could degrade 88.52%, 84.64%, 81.5%, and 77.53% of methylene blue, methyl red, methyl orange, and Congo red, respectively. Further, the BC/ZnO (2:1)@(PS + light) system effectively activated PS to eliminate 97.49% of BTB and 85.12% of dissolved organic carbon in real industrial effluents from the textile industry. The proposed degradation system has the potential to efficiently purify industrial effluents which facilitates the large-scale application of this technique. [Display omitted] • Hybrid photocatalysis/PS activation system could efficiently degrade BTB dye. • 99.34% degradation efficiency of BTB was achieved under the optimal condition. • Sulfate radicals were the main radicals involved in the degradation system. • The constituents of water matrices inhibited the accelerated degradation rates. • The proposed system could degrade 97.49% BTB and 85.12% DOC from real wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the potential of spent coffee ground biochar (SCGB) as a sustainable and cost-effective adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB), a hazardous dye commonly used in the textile and printing industries. A response surface methodology (RSM) approach with central composite design (CCD) was employed to systematically investigate the effects of key process parameters, including adsorbent dosage, solution pH, contact time and temperature, on MB removal efficiency. The analysis revealed that adsorbent dosage and temperature as critical factors influencing MB removal, with a linear model providing a strong correlation. Optimal conditions for MB removal were determined to be 0.99 g of SCGB, 30 min of contact time, 30 °C temperature, and a solution pH of 7. Under these conditions, MB removal reached 99.99%, with a desirability of 1.000. The experimental results closely matched the predicted values, differing by only 0.02%, thus validating the accuracy of the model. Kinetic studies indicated a rapid adsorption process, well-described by both pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. Isotherm analysis confirmed the applicability of the Freundlich model, suggesting favorable adsorption with increasing MB concentration. The high adsorption capacity of SCGB is attributed to its carbonaceous and porous structure, highlighting its potential as an effective adsorbent for dye removal in wastewater treatment applications. [Display omitted] • SCGB removes 99.99% of MB under optimal conditions. • Adsorbent dosage and temperature are the most important factors for MB removal. • DOE accurately predicted experimental parameter values. • Rapid adsorption and equilibrium were reached in 2 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food-waste biochar holds significant potential as a bio-solid fuel for achieving carbon neutrality; however, its high content of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), and nitrogen, inhibits its potential use. This study explored the effects of post-treatment with ascorbic, acetic, citric, and iminodiacetic acids on the properties of food-waste biochar and volatile ionic substances to establish a foundation for assessing both the environmental impact and practical use of food waste. Post-treatment with organic acids achieved 92% Cl-removal efficiency and induced deformation of the functional groups of food-waste biochar surfaces, leading to the re-adsorption of alkali and alkaline earth metals. This re-adsorption of alkali metal ions showed a distinct correlation with NO x mitigation. The amount of re-adsorbed Na and K varied based on the types of organic acids, resulting in different NO x emission reduction effects. Iminodiacetic acid was particularly effective in alleviating Ca and PO 4 volatilization, whereas citric acid exhibited the highest Ca elution performance, and the Ca-contained leachate is a potential source of CO 2 storage through indirect mineral carbonation. Acetic acid is the most feasible alternative, considering both economic and environmental aspects. The findings suggest that the post-treatment of food-waste biochar effectively mitigates air pollutants during combustion and is beneficial for sustainable biosolid fuel production and bio-waste management. [Display omitted] • Post-treatment with organic acids efficiently removes 92% of Cl from food waste biochar. • Elute variation with the type of organic acid causes different energy yields. • Re-adsorbed alkali metals on the biochar surface significantly correlated with NOx reduction (R2 = 0.9773). • Iminodiacetic acid particularly reduces Ca and PO 4 volatilization. • Acetic acid is cost-feasible for improving biochar quality as a bio-solid fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using biochar for dye wastewater treatment is attracting interest due to its excellent adsorption properties and low costs. In this work, a novel biochar derived from oxytetracycline fermentation residue (functionalized OFR biochar, FOBC) was investigated as a efficient adsorbent for typical dyes removal. At 25 °C, the maximum adsorption capacity calculated by Langmuir model of FOBC-3-600 for methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), and methyl orange (MO) reached 643.97, 617.89, and 521.03 mg/g, respectively. The kinetics and isotherm model fitting showed that the chemisorption and physisorption both occurred during the adsorption process. Dyes were efficiently adsorbed through pore filling, electrostatic attraction, π-π interactions, and surface complexation. And the cycling experiment and environmental risk assessment indicated that the FOBC-3-600 had excellent recyclability and utilization safety. Overall, this study provides a practical method to simultaneously treat the dyeing wastewater and utilize the antibiotic fermentation residue. [Display omitted] • Oxytetracycline fermentation residue was converted into N-doped porous biochar. • FOBC-3-600 had high specific space area (1269 m2/g) and nitrogen content (5.85 wt%). • FOBC-3-600 showed a superior adsorption capacity for three typical dyes. • Chemisorption played a major role in the adsorption process. • FOBC-3-600 had excellent recyclability and utilization safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae can be collected in large quantities and hold significant potential for environmental remediation, offering a cost-effective solution. This study explores the use of Spirulina platensis (SP) as feedstock for biochar production. SP contains abundant nitrogen-rich components, such as proteins, which can serve as nitrogen sources. We prepared SP-derived biochar through pyrolysis for the adsorption of Pb and Zn from aqueous solutions and used it as an amending agent to remediate heavy metal-contaminated agricultural soil. Pyrolysis of proteins in SP introduces nitrogen-functional groups, resulting in nitrogen-doped biochar. We investigated the surface chemical behavior of thermally treated SP using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface analysis revealed the presence of pyridine-N and pyrrole-N from protein pyrolysis products. The study also demonstrated that these functional groups affect interactions with heavy metals. Batch experiments examined the effects of pH and initial concentration on the adsorption of Pb and Zn using SP400 and SP600. Both types of biochar showed satisfactory performance in adsorbing Pb and Zn. The effect of SP400 and SP600 on the removal of Pb and Zn through the physicochemical properties and surface functional groups was investigated. Analysis of SP400 and SP600 highlighted that electrostatic interactions, cation exchange, complexation, and mineral precipitation contributed to Pb and Zn adsorption. The study concludes that SP-derived biochar, particularly SP600, is effective for immobilizing Pb and Zn in contaminated agricultural soil, with SP600 showing superior performance. [Display omitted] • Spirulina platensis (SP) can be effectively converted into biochar, which has proven successful for removing Pb and Zn. • SP-derived biochar exhibits strong alkaline properties and diverse functional groups, leading to a high adsorption capacity for Pb and Zn. • SP derived biochar effectiveness was studied for treating heavy metal-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) can play a crucial role in treating wastewater, and in the context of this study, the distillation byproduct of the whisky industry known as 'spent lees'. Here, we assess several different CW substrates (pea gravel, LECA and Alfagrog), with and without the addition of 20% biochar, in mesocosms set up to treat spent lees. Among the substrates tested, LECA + biochar and gravel + biochar showed promising results, with greater dissolved copper (dissCu) reduction, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, organic carbon (OC) reduction, and pH modulation. These findings indicate a potentially beneficial role for biochar in enhancing treatment efficacy, particularly in facilitating dissCu remediation and the removal of organic pollutants. In terms of microbial diversity, mesocosms including biochar generally had reduced bacterial alpha diversity, suggesting that 'fresh' (uncolonized) biochar may negatively affect microbial diversity in wetland ecosystems in the short term. After continuously supplying spent lees to mesocosms for 2-months, microbial diversity in each mesocosm dropped substantially, and moderate levels of bacterial community differentiation and high levels of fungal community differentiation were detected among mesocosms. The bacterial and fungal communities were also found to differ between the substrate and outlet water samples. Among the bacterial classes present in the mesocosms that may play a crucial role in water treatment performance, Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Alphaproteobacteria should be further investigated. In terms of fungal classes, the role of Sordariomycetes should be explored in greater depth. [Display omitted] • CW mesocosms treat whisky distillation byproduct 'spent lees' effectively. • LECA + biochar and gravel + biochar mesocosms show high pollutant removal. • Fresh biochar enhances treatment but reduces microbial diversity short-term. • Two-month treatment drops microbial diversity, shows bacterial/fungal differentiation. • Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidia and Sordariomycetes are suggested to be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military activities and the production or disposal of ammunition often lead to soil contamination with energetic compounds (ECs) such as dinitrotoluene, trinitrotoluene, and hexogen, posing significant threats to human health and the ecosystem. Biochar has emerged as a cost-effective and widely available solution for remediating contaminated sites characterized by its capacity for pollutant removal through adsorption and conversion process, along with minimal secondary pollution. This paper provides a comprehensive review of relevant literature on biochar's efficacy in eliminating ECs, including an analysis of the underlying mechanisms. The discussion addresses challenges and opportunities associated with biochar application in ECs remediation, offering insights for future research directions. In summary, the use of biochar for ECs removal presents a promising and eco-friendly approach, facilitating the remediation of contaminated sites while promoting soil function and ecosystem recovery. [Display omitted] • Reviewed the functions of biochar in the removal of ECs. • Biochar adsorbed ECs via π−π electron donor-acceptor and hydrophobic interactions. • Biochar facilitated ECs conversion through conductive planes and redox components. • Biochar offers both remediation and ecological advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Plants respond to drought stress via stomatal regulation and stress signaling. • Using Plant growth-promoting bacteria helps plants alleviate drought stress. • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biochar enhance water and nutrient uptake. • Genetic approaches help plants to resist drought stress. • The use of phytohormones helps plants to regulate response mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is considered a promising biosorbent for harmful organic pollutants in aqueous media. However, only a limited number of biochars derived from industrial sludges have been utilized due to their problematic high ash content and heavy metal leaching. In this study, a highly effective biochar was prepared as a superabsorbent for ciprofloxacin (CIP) from chemical manufacturing plant sludge via K 2 CO 3 -activated pyrolysis, and its CIP removal behavior was evaluated. Unlike sewage sludge, chemical manufacturing plant sludge contains low SiO 2 , resulting in an ultra-pure carbon (95.4%) based biochar with almost negligible ash content. As the pyrolysis temperature increased from 400 to 800 °C, the ordered graphitic carbon structure transformed into an amorphous carbon phase, and most oxygen-containing groups disappeared. However, the pore size significantly decreased to ∼4.5 nm due to the corrosive carbon volatilization caused by K 2 CO 3 , resulting in an extremely large surface area of 2331.8 m2/g. Based on its large surface area and porous carbon structure, the activated biochar at 800 °C (CAB-800) exhibited an outstanding CIP adsorption capacity of 555.56 mg/g. The CIP adsorption isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were systematically investigated. The CIP adsorption on CAB-800 was mainly attributed to π-π interactions and hydrogen bond formation, with electrostatic interactions partially contributing to the adsorption reaction. From pH 2 to 12, CAB-800 showed an excellent CIP adsorption capacity of over 316.7 mg/g, with adsorption favored under acidic conditions. Except for HCO 3 − and CO 3 2−, the presence of anions and humic acids did not significantly affect CIP adsorption capacity. These results demonstrate that biochar produced from chemical manufacturing industry sludge via K 2 CO 3 activation is a highly feasible material for the removal of CIP from aqueous media. [Display omitted] • A superabsorbent for the removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP) was prepared from chemical plant sludge. • The chemical plant sludge has a low ash content, resulting in nearly pure C-based biochar. • The biochar exhibits an outstanding CIP uptake of 555.6 mg/g due to its large surface area. • Hydrogen bond and π-π interactions are the primary mechanisms for CIP adsorption. • Electrostatic interactions between CIP and biochar also contribute partially to CIP adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concurrent heavy metals remediation in natural environments poses significant challenges due to factors like metal speciation and interactions with soil moisture. This review focuses on strategies for immobilizing both anionic and cationic metals simultaneously in soil-crop systems. Key approaches include water management, biochar utilization, stabilizing agents, nanotechnology, fertilization, and bioremediation. Sprinkler or intermittent irrigation combined with soil amendments/biochar effectively immobilizes As/Cd/Pb simultaneously. This immobilization occurs through continuous adsorption-desorption, oxidation-reduction, and precipitation mechanisms influenced by soil pH, redox reactions, and Fe-oxides. Biochar from sources like wine lees, sewage sludge, spent coffee, and Fe-nanoparticles can immobilize As/Cd/Pb/Cr/Co/Cu/Zn together via precipitation. In addition, biochar from rice, wheat, corn straw, rice husk, sawdust, and wood chips, modified with chemicals or nanoparticles, simultaneously immobilizes As and Cd, containing higher Fe 3 O 4 , Fe-oxide, and OH groups. Ligand exchange immobilizes As, while ion exchange immobilizes Cd. Furthermore, combining biochar especially with iron, hydroxyapatite, magnetite, goethite, silicon, graphene, alginate, compost, and microbes—can achieve simultaneous immobilization. Other effective amendments are selenium fertilizer, Ge-nanocomposites, Fe–Si materials, ash, hormone, and sterilization. Notably, combining nano-biochar with microbes and/or fertilizers with Fe-containing higher adsorption sites, metal-binding cores, and maintaining a neutral pH could stimulate simultaneous immobilization. The amendments have a positive impact on soil physio-chemical improvement and crop development. Crops enhance production of growth metabolites, hormones, and xylem tissue thickening, forming a protective barrier by root Fe-plaque containing higher Fe-oxide, restricting upward metal movement. Therefore, a holistic immobilization mechanism reduces plant oxidative damage, improves soil and crop quality, and reduces food contamination. [Display omitted] • Simultaneous metals immobilization is challenging for various factors. • Soil pH and redox reaction greatly influence the immobilization. • Fertilization with sprinkler or intermittent irrigation can reduce both As and Cd. • Nano-biochar with microbes can initiate simultaneous immobilization. • The pathways of anionic metalloids and cationic metals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to assess the surface coupling of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) on carbon adsorbents produced from spent brewery grain, namely biochar (BC) and activated carbon (AC), as a strategy to improve selectivity and the adsorptive removal of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from water. BC and AC were produced by microwave-assisted pyrolysis, and MIP was obtained by fast bulk polymerization. Two different methodologies were used for the molecular imprinting of BC and AC, the resulting materials being tested for SMX adsorption. Then, after selecting the most favourable molecular imprinting methodology, different mass ratios of MIP:BC or MIP:AC were used to produce and evaluate eight different materials. Molecular imprinting was shown to significantly improve the performance of BC for the target application, and one of the produced composites (MIP1-BC-s(1:3)) was selected for further kinetic and equilibrium studies and comparison with individual MIP and BC. The kinetic behaviour was properly described by both the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. Regarding equilibrium isotherms, they fitted the Freundlich and Langmuir models, with MIP1-BC-s(1:3) reaching a maximum adsorption capacity (q m) of 25 ± 1 μmol g-1, 19 % higher than BC. In comparison with other seven pharmaceuticals, the adsorption of SMX onto MIP1-BC-s(1:3) was remarkably higher, as for the specific recognition of this antibiotic by the coupled MIP. The pH study evidenced that SMX removal was higher under acidic conditions. Regeneration experiments showed that MIP1-BC-s(1:3) provided good adsorption performance, which was stable during five regeneration-reutilization cycles. Overall, this study has demonstrated that coupling with MIP may be a suitable strategy to improve the adsorption properties and performance of biochar for antibiotics removal from water, increasing its suitability for practical applications. [Display omitted] • Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) can be removed from water by activated carbon and biochar (BC). • Coupling molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) was tested to improve their performance. • A new sonication method performed better than surface imprinting for MIP coupling. • SMX adsorption capacity of MIP-BC composite was 19 % higher than that of BC. • SMX selectivity and successful reutilization over regeneration of MIP-BC were proved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change is anticipated to shift the soil bacterial community structure and plant nutrient utilization. The use of biochar amendment can positively influence soil bacterial community structure, soil properties, and nutrient use efficiency of crops. However, little is known about the underlying mechanism and response of bacterial community structure to biochar amendment, and its role in nutrient enhancement in soil and plants under elevated CO 2. Herein, the effect of biochar amendment (0, 0.5, 1.5%) on soil bacterial community structure, spinach growth, physiology, and soil and plant nutrient status were investigated under two CO 2 concentrations (400 and 600 μmol mol−1). Findings showed that biochar application 1.5% (B.2.E) significantly increased the abundance of the bacterial community responsible for growth and nutrient uptake i.e. Firmicutes (42.25%) Bacteroidetes (10.46%), and Gemmatimonadetes (125.75%) as compared to respective control (CK.E) but interestingly abundance of proteobacteria decreased (9.18%) under elevated CO 2. Furthermore, the soil available N, P, and K showed a significant increase in higher biochar-amended treatments under elevated CO 2. Spinach plants exhibited a notable enhancement in growth and photosynthetic pigments when exposed to elevated CO 2 levels and biochar, as compared to ambient CO 2 conditions. However, there was variability observed in the leaf gas exchange attributes. Elevated CO 2 reduced spinach roots and leaves nutrient concentration. In contrast, the biochar amendment (B2.E) enhanced root and shoot Zinc (494.99%–155.33%), magnesium (261.15%–183.37%), manganese (80.04%–152.86%), potassium (576.24%–355.17%), calcium (261.88%–165.65%), copper (325.42%–282.53%) and iron (717.63%–177.90%) concentration by influencing plant physiology and bacterial community. These findings provide insights into the interaction between plant and bacterial community under future agroecosystems in response to the addition of biochar contributing to a deeper understanding of ecological dynamics. [Display omitted] • Biochar improved soil properties and increased phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen availability under elevated CO 2. • Bacterial community structure and composition were greatly affected by biochar in a dose-dependent manner. • Change in bacterial community structure promoted plant growth and nutrient concentration under elevated CO 2. • Biochar amendment is a sustainable approach to boost crop productivity and quality under future climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) may pose a potential risk to the ecosystem and human health via oxidation stress and are considered emerging contaminants. Being stable with a lifetime of minutes or several months and abundant in transitional matrices (e.g. biochar), EPFRs continue to affect deposits (e.g. soil) and related media (plants) when the transitional matrices (e.g. biochar) are applied. The impact of EPFR on the plant uptake of chemical elements (CEs) was studied in the field conditions where, for two years, biochar and fertilisers were applied to the agricultural soil for winter triticale cultivation. EPFRs determination methods, along with the element uptake indices (bioaccumulation and biophilicity) and the method of the dynamic factors were applied. Results have shown that EPFRs have influenced the soil properties relevant to CE soil bioavailability and bioaccumulation in plants. The impact of EPFRs on CE transport in the soil–plant system was observed to influence the biogeochemical behaviour of CEs in the soil–plant system. This work provides the first findings on EPFRs-induces changes on CE bioavailability and bioaccumulation intensity, indicating the higher plant uptake risk of some potentially toxic elements (such as Cr). [Display omitted] • EPFRs favour the bioavailability of soil chemical elements. • EPFRs impact the intensity of chemical element bioaccumulation. • EPFRs affect the biogeochemical cycling of chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]