Removal of Emerging Contaminants by Biochar

Abstract

Water is the elixir of life, and clean water means good health and sanitation. The deterioration of water quality due to the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants poses a serious threat to the ecosystem and human health. Biochar, a low-cost carbonaceous material, is emerging as an economical substitute for activated carbon for removal of various contaminants such as dyes, pesticides, antibiotics, and phenolic compounds from the environment. Biochar can be produced from the thermochemical conversion of waste biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Biochar has several unique properties such as large surface area, high porosity, presence of functional groups on the surface, which make it an efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly material for removal of contaminants. The present chapter highlights the role of biochar in different environmental applications such as recycling of agricultural waste, carbon sequestration, pollution remediation, and wastewater treatment.