The Role of Biochar in the Era of Ecological Sustainability

Global water resources and the environment have deteriorated due to the continued discharge of pollutants such as dyes, toxic metals, surfactants, pesticides, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals from wastewater and industries. Biochar is a low-cost and environmentally friendly product that can be used for industrial and various environmental applications in the twenty-first century to ensure ecological sustainability. The ability of biochar to clean pollutants from various environmental media is related to its adsorption capacity. Despite its promising prospects, the role of biochar in environmental sustainability has not received the necessary attention. It largely depends on its physicochemical properties (e.g., elemental composition, pore size distribution, anion/cation exchange capacity, surface functional groups, and surface area), which vary depending on the feedstock type, preparation methods, and conditions. This chapter describes the major uses of biochar for environmental sustainability such as sustainable agriculture, soil and water pollution remediation, and mitigation of climate change. Biochar properties and their application for ecological purposes have been highlighted. Biochar has great potential to reduce environmental impacts, address the problem of climate change, and establish a circular economy model. It is a heterogeneous material with multifunctional capabilities due to its inherent chemical, physical, and biological characteristics, which are largely influenced by the feedstock type, pyrolysis conditions, and residence time.