Using Biochar Recovered from Cellulose as a Novel Admixture in Nature-Based Solutions

Cellulose can be recovered from sewage to develop valuable bioproducts such as bio-oil, acetic acid and biochar. This study aims to assess the suitability of biochar produced via carbonisation from recovered cellulose as an absorbent for pollutants removal. 3 types of biochar were tested: 100% cellulose, 50% cellulose-50% straw and 50% cellulose-50% wood. Despite the physical characterization showed that the mix with wood had the higher surface area, adsorption test revealed that it had the lower absorption capacity. The most satisfactory results were obtained with 50% cellulose-50% straw which was activated biologically to be further used as admixture in vertical flow constructed wetland, the selected Nature-based Solution (NBS). Results proved that biochar produced from the mixture cellulose/straw and activated biologically to be an excellent admixture to the conventional substrate sand in constructed wetland for the elimination of micropollutants as post-treatment step.