Biochar is the carbonaceous residue produced from the pyrolytic conversion of biomass. It is generally used for agricultural applications as a soil amendment but has far wider potential. This book presents the use of biochar as a platform for the development of new intriguing solutions in several cutting-edge fields. The book is a useful reference volume for any reader with a strong scientific and technological background, ranging from scientific advisors in private companies to academic researchers promoting the spread of knowledge about biochar to anyone not already working with it.

"Biochar is the carbon-rich product when biomass (such as wood, manure, or crop residues) is heated in a closed container with little or no available air. It can be used to improve agriculture and the environment in several ways, and its stability in soil and superior nutrient-retention properties make it an ideal soil amendment to increase crop yields. In addition to this, biochar sequestration, in combination with sustainable biomass production, can be carbon-negative and therefore used to actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, with major implications for mitigation of climate change. Biochar production can also be combined with bioenergy production through the use of the gases that are given off in the pyrolysis process.This book is the first to synthesize the expanding research literature on this topic. The book's interdisciplinary approach, which covers engineering, environmental sciences, agricultural sciences, economics and policy, is a vital tool at this stage of biochar technology development. This comprehensive overview of current knowledge will be of interest to advanced students, researchers and professionals in a wide range of disciplines"--Provided by publisher.

This book helps the readers get a holistic understanding of the emergence of biochar-nanocomposite research. The low and long-term exposure of persistent hazardous pollutants in environment is well known for damaging the water, soil, sediments, and living biota. Thus, it is a crucial step to eliminate these pollutants from environment regimes to prevent the on-site destruction or the transfer into the food chain. Biochar is a carbon-rich solid material generated through pyrolysis of biomass, and currently, it is covering the hotspot in environmental management of pollutants. It is being utilized for the efficient immobilization and sorption of organic pollutants, heavy metals, dyes, improvement of soil redox conditions, aggregate stabilization, photocatalytic degradation, and for carbon sequestration. The fascinating properties like surface area, porous structures, functional groups, and mineral components turn it into suitable candidate for the removal of various class of pollutants from environmental matrices. Different reactions like sorption, reduction, precipitation, solidification, and degradation are mainly responsible for the effective cleaning of xenobiotics from environment through biochar application. However, rapidly evolving contaminants in the environment have made the remediation more complex, expensive, and challenging. In view of these aspects, the modification of biochar through the doping of nanometals/metal oxides/surfactants/ or chemical entities will result in modified biochar with high surface area, more functional entities, improved physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical characteristics with more adsorptive sites. Inclusion of these exclusive properties can be done through magnetic modification, impregnation of nanometals/ metal oxides/surfactants, amination, acid/base reactions, steam activation, etc. The resulted biochar-based nanocomposites have demonstrated a vital role in remediation of persistent organic pollutants, radionuclei, and heavy metals through the various interaction mechanisms like surface complexation, π–π interaction, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, Fenton process, and photocatalytic degradation. Currently, advanced research work has been carried out for the designing of modified composites of biochar to achieve maximum removal efficiency, reusability, biotoxicity, and sustainability. Hence, for selective removal of pollutants through designed biochar surface with the focused experimentation toward optimization of feedstocks, process variables, appropriate impregnation of nanomaterials, interaction with secondary pollutants, physical environment, longevity, and regeneration will definitely pave the way for safe and commercial application of biochar-based nanocomposites.

Fully revised and updated for its third edition, this book presents the definitive compilation of current knowledge on all aspects of biochar. Research on biochar continues to accelerate as its importance for soil health, climate change mitigation and adoption, and the circular economy becomes more widely acknowledged. This book not only reviews recent advances made in our understanding of biochar properties, behavior, and effects in agriculture, environmental management, and material production, but specifically develops fundamental principles and frameworks of biochar science and application. This third edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect recent developments and growing trends, with important coverage of the application of biochar outside of its traditional soil-based uses, the commercialization of biochar, and its incorporation into policy. This includes brand new chapters on the role of biochar-based materials for environmental remediation, building construction, and animal feed, and a greater discussion of biochar's role in the circular economy, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. Overall, this book provides a systematic, comprehensive, and global examination of biochar. Written by an international team of academics and professionals, it addresses its uses, production, and management and its broader potential for mitigating climate change and driving forward sustainable development. Edited by two leading figures in the field, Biochar for Environmental Management is essential reading for students, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers interested in biochar and the role it can play in environmental sustainability and global sustainable development.

Biochar from Biomass and Waste: Fundamentals and Applications provides the fundamentals of biochar, such as its basic concepts, production technology and characterization methods, also including comprehensive examples for readers. This book includes information on state-of-art biochar application technologies in the fields of agriculture, energy and environmental sciences with step-by-step case studies. Biochar has received worldwide interests in the past decade because it encompasses high priority research areas, including bioenergy production, global warming mitigation and sustainable agriculture. - Offers comprehensive coverage of biochar production, characterization and modification methods - Provides global case studies covering a wide range of application fields, including environmental, agricultural, syngas and bio-oil - Covers the sustainability and future of biochar

Biochar Production for Green Economy: Agricultural and Environmental Perspectives addresses the advancements and developments for the efficient diversification of biochar toward achieving improved agricultural and environmental benefits. This comprehensive and cohesive volume is the first to address the potential multi-and transdisciplinary opportunities of effective biochar production and use. Including the potential applicability of not only crop waste biochar but weeds, agroforestry, agroindustry, municipal waste, as well chapters explore surface modified, enriched or tailored biochar for soil amendment, GHGs mitigation, bioremediation of organic, inorganic, metals and other emerging pollutants, as well as soil remediation. It also covers the trending multidisciplinary approaches of nanotechnology, surface chemistry and thermal decomposition advancements being adopted for capacity enhancement and versatile applicability in the field of agriculture, environment science and green energy synthesis. Composition and characteristics of tailored biochar, their interactions, and transformation into the soil and water ecosystem are illustrated. This book is a valuable resource for those pursuing biochar related areas as well as those seeking environmentally sustainable solutions to crop, soil or water issues. - Includes aspects of advancement in pyrolysis techniques to produce cost-effective, high quality pyrolysis products and their multipurpose applications - Highlights biochar's role in boosting the circular bioeconomy, carbon footprint, GHGs mitigation, and environmental sustainability high-quality visual representation - Compiles the trending multidisciplinary approach of nanotechnology, magnetic field, surface tailoring, and engineering for efficient and sustainable development goals

This book provides useful information and applications of biochar produced from agricultural waste for removal of contaminants from industrial effluent and reutilization of waste sludge in the production of biofuel/bioenergy. It describes how designer or modified biochar or combined application (biochar + microbes) can be applied successfully for reuse of wastewater and contaminated soil for ecorestoration, environment protection, and sustainable development. It also deals with the unique features, advantages, and disadvantages of techniques for biochar production and analyses. It underlines a road map in development of future strategy for pollution abatement and sustainable development. Features: Provides exhaustive coverage of biochar and its production and properties Highlights use of biochar in pollution control and environment protection Covers use of agricultural waste/waste biomass for dye decolorization and degradation Explores synergistic approaches for contaminants removal for better insights into basic and advanced biotechnological applications Describes how biochar treatment can be successfully applied for reuse of wastewater and contaminated soil ecorestoration and environment protection This book is aimed at graduate students and researchers in chemical/biochemical engineering, biotechnology, environmental sciences/engineering, and agriculture engineering.

Soil contamination with heavy metals like Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cd, Pb, and Zn is becoming a main problem across the globe especially in developed countries. Globally, it has become a serious threat to human health and ecosystem integrity. applying amendments like phosphate compounds, liming materials, clay minerals, coal fly ash, organic composts, metal oxides, and biochar to heavy metals contaminated soil is considered one of the most promising in-situ remediation techniques. Biochar has become one of the most attractive research hotspots as a result of its special properties along with its important role in the climate change, global biogeochemical cycle and environmental system. This book will summarize recent progresses in understanding (a) metal-biochar interactions in soils, (b) potential risks associated with biochar amendment and (c) application of biochar for the remediation of HM polluted soils. In addition, research gaps and future directions in understanding biochar-metal interactions in soils will also be explored. - Enables readers to understand the most recent developments surrounding metal-biochar interactions in soils and their impact on agricultural productivity - Provides the latest statistics and literature review regarding the role of biochar in remediation of heavy metals polluted soils - Examines the global status of heavy metals polluted soil

Interactions of Biochar and Herbicides in the Environment details how biochar interferes with herbicide behavior which includes processes such as sorption-desorption, runoff, leaching, and degradation in soil and weed control efficacy. The book provides essential information on biochar applications in agriculture, production systems, and the physicochemical properties of biochar and herbicides, and their interactions. Features: • Elucidates the physicochemical characteristics of biochar that affect herbicide bioavailability in soil solution • Demonstrates the remediation of herbicide-contaminated waters with the addition of biochar to avoid environmental impacts to aquatic organisms • Describes numerous agronomic and environmental benefits of biochar and its potential as a soil amendment to herbicide remediation • Includes diagrams of herbicide behavior in the environment to further the user’s knowledge Written by a team of international experts, Interactions of Biochar and Herbicides in the Environment is a valuable resource for students and professionals involved with weed science and soil pollution, and is of great interest to those concerned with pesticides and their fate in the environment.

In the captivating book Biochar Amendments for Environmental Remediation, readers are invited to explore the critical role of biochar in fostering a cleaner environment through its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable applications such as removal of diverse pollutants from water and wastewater. With 27 insightful chapters contributed by leading researchers worldwide, this book unravels the complexities of biochar production, its characteristics, and its multifaceted roles in environmental remediation. From pilot-scale production methods to removing heavy metals and micropollutants, this book comprehensively explores biochar’s potential for sustainable environmental protection. Discover the cutting-edge advancements in biochar technology and gain valuable knowledge on its pivotal role in mitigating environmental challenges. Join the global discourse on biochar’s diverse applications, risks, and the future of adsorption-based pollutant removal strategies. Biochar Amendments for Environmental Remediation is aimed at researchers, professionals in environmental engineering, and anyone passionate about environmental stewardship and seeking innovative solutions for a greener and healthier planet. Embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment as you explore the transformative potential of biochar in shaping a sustainable future.