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Processes
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Application of Biochar in Environmental Research
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Application of Biochar in Environmental Research

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental and Green Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2025 | Viewed by 3728

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Antoni Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: biological treatment of organic waste (composting and anaerobic digestion); solid-state fermentation to convert wastes into bioproducts and nanotechnology for environmental remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biochar, the product resulting from the pyrolysis of C-based waste, has gained a significant role in environmental research. Biochar presents different characteristics depending on the pyrolysis process or the raw materials used. One of the main advantages of biochar is that it is a powerful product used to fix carbon, resulting in a decarbonization strategy.

This Special Issue is intended to compile recent research on the production and characterization of biochar to be used in a wide range of environmental applications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The pyrolysis of organic waste.
  • Biochar characterization.
  • Water cleaning using biochar.
  • Wastewater treatment using biochar.
  • Enhanced composting with biochar.
  • Enhanced anaerobic digestion with biochar.
  • Crop improvement with biochar fertilization.
  • Heterogenous catalysis using biochar-based catalysts for environmental applications.
  • The combination of biochar with nanomaterials for environmental applications.

Prof. Dr. Antoni Sánchez
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biochar
  • waste management
  • wastewater and water treatment
  • pyrolysis
  • fertilization
  • composting
  • anaerobic digestion
  • heterogenous catalysis
  • nanomaterials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 6387 KiB  
Article
Performance of CO2 Adsorption on Modified Activated Carbons Derived from Okara Powder Waste: Impacts of Ammonia Impregnation
by Tuan-Dung Hoang, Yan Liu and Minh Thang Le
Processes 2024, 12(9), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12092024 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 502
Abstract
The activated carbons (ACs) derived from okara powder waste with high surface areas were modified with ammonia aqueous solution impregnation in an autoclave to enhance their CO2 adsorption properties. The impregnated ACs were characterized, where the chemical composition and properties of the [...] Read more.
The activated carbons (ACs) derived from okara powder waste with high surface areas were modified with ammonia aqueous solution impregnation in an autoclave to enhance their CO2 adsorption properties. The impregnated ACs were characterized, where the chemical composition and properties of the ACs were analyzed by SEM-EDX and FTIR. Activated carbons were functionalized with ammonia aqueous solution (25%) through a hydrothermal process within 24, 48, and 72 h. The adsorption performance of CO2 onto carbon samples was experimentally evaluated through a TPD CO2 measurement. FTIR spectra confirm the N-containing in N-modified activated carbons and the presence of the –C=O stretch and N-H groups. CO2 uptakes of activated carbons are 0.24; 1.78; 2.24; and 1.26 mmol/g, which are relatively comparable with those of activated carbons studied in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biochar in Environmental Research)
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14 pages, 2893 KiB  
Article
Effects of Biochar-Amended Composts on Selected Enzyme Activities in Soils
by Faraj Zaid, Nasruddeen Al-Awwal, John Yang, Stephen H. Anderson and Bouzeriba T. B. Alsunuse
Processes 2024, 12(8), 1678; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12081678 - 11 Aug 2024
Viewed by 892
Abstract
This study examines the effect of biochar as an agricultural soil supplement on soil quality indicators, specifically enzyme activity in Missouri regions. While the benefits of biochar on soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, and infiltration have been established, its effect on soil [...] Read more.
This study examines the effect of biochar as an agricultural soil supplement on soil quality indicators, specifically enzyme activity in Missouri regions. While the benefits of biochar on soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, and infiltration have been established, its effect on soil enzyme activity has remained underexplored in this region. A three-year field investigation was conducted with six treatments (compost, biochar, compost + biochar, biochar + compost tea, fescue, and control) to evaluate the effects on enzymes such as β-glucosidase (BG), acid and alkaline phosphatases (ACP-ALP), arylsulfatase (ARS), dehydrogenases (DG), arylamidase (AMD), cellulase (CLS), and urease (URS). Furthermore, soil pH, organic matter (OM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined. The results showed that compost and biochar treatments considerably increased soil enzyme activity compared to other treatments, with nitrogen application further increasing enzyme activity. Soil pH, OM, and CEC were all important determinants in determining enzyme activity, with BG demonstrating strong positive associations with ACP and AMD (99.5%). This study shows that compost and biochar amendments significantly improve soil physicochemical and biological properties, thereby enhancing soil health and assisting farmers’ sustainable soil management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biochar in Environmental Research)
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27 pages, 10110 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Biochar for the Sorptive Removal of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) from Water
by Anand Kumar Yadav, Abhishek Kumar Chaubey, Shivang Kapoor, Tej Pratap, Brahmacharimayum Preetiva, Vineet Vimal and Dinesh Mohan
Processes 2024, 12(6), 1115; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12061115 - 28 May 2024
Viewed by 1760
Abstract
The unregulated discharge of synthetic dyes from various anthropogenic and industrial activities has resulted in the contamination of different environmental compartments. These dyes can contaminate water bodies, soil, and even the air, resulting in many environmental and health issues. True colors may persist [...] Read more.
The unregulated discharge of synthetic dyes from various anthropogenic and industrial activities has resulted in the contamination of different environmental compartments. These dyes can contaminate water bodies, soil, and even the air, resulting in many environmental and health issues. True colors may persist for long periods, thereby affecting the aesthetics and ecology of dye-contaminated areas. Furthermore, they pose potential risks to aquatic life and human health through the ingestion or absorption of dye-contaminated water or food. Acid orange 7 (AO7) is a synthetic azo dye used in the textile, tanning, food, pharmaceutical, paint, electronics, cosmetics, and paper and pulp industries. AO7 can have various human health implications, such as dermatitis, nausea, severe headache, respiratory tract irritation, and bone marrow depletion, due to its high toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. Efforts to regulate and mitigate dye pollution (AO7) are crucial for environmental sustainability and public health. Therefore, this study aimed to remove AO7 from water using sustainable biochar. This objective was accomplished by pyrolyzing dried Napier grass at 700 °C to develop affordable and sustainable Napier grass biochar (NGBC700). The developed biochar was characterized for its surface morphology, surface functional groups, surface area, and elemental composition. The yield, moisture content, and ash content of the NGBC700 were approximately 31%, 6%, and 21%, respectively. The NGBC700’s BET (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller) surface area was 108 m2 g−1. Batch sorption studies were carried out at different pH levels (2–10), biochar dosages (1, 2, 3, and 4 g L−1), and AO7 concentrations (10, 20, and 30 mg L−1). The kinetic data were better fitted to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) equation (R2 = 0.964–0.997) than the pseudo-first-order (PFO) equation (R2 = 0.789–0.988). The Freundlich isotherm equation (R2 = 0.965–0.994) fitted the sorption equilibrium data better than the Langmuir equation (R2 = 0.788–0.987), suggesting AO7 sorption on heterogenous NGBC700. The maximum monolayer AO7 adsorption capacities of the NGBC700 were 14.3, 12.7, and 8.4 mg g−1 at 10, 25, and 40 °C, respectively. The column AO7 sorption capacity was 4.4 mg g−1. Fixed-bed AO7 sorption data were fitted to the Thomas and Yoon–Nelson column models. The NGBC700 efficiently removed AO7 from locally available dye-laden wastewater. NGBC700 was regenerated using different NaOH concentrations. Possible interactions contributing to AO7 sorption on NGBC700 include hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and π–π electron donor–acceptor attractions. The estimated total preparation cost of NGBC700 was US$ 6.02 kg−1. The developed sustainable NGBC700 is potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly, and it utilizes waste (Napier grass) to eliminate fatal AO7 dye from aqueous media. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Biochar in Environmental Research)
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