Biochar and Other Biosorbents for the Bioremediation of Contaminated Water: Advances and Applications

Abstract

Recently, the use of biochar and other biosorbents for the bioremediation of contaminated water has emerged as a green and sustainable technique for effectively removing a wide range of pollutants from water sources. Biochar is a kind of charcoal produced by pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is the process of heating biomass, which refers to organic matter derived from plants or animal waste, in the absence of oxygen. Biosorbents are natural or modified biological materials that are used to adsorb or bind contaminants from water or other solutions. Bioremediation, on the other hand, uses microorganisms to remove pollutants. This chapter will summarize recent advancements in the field of bioremediation of water pollution, specifically focusing on the utilization of biochar and other biosorbents. Additionally, it will explore the simultaneous application of microbial bioremediation techniques. The summary will encompass the development in these areas over the past five years. The discussion will cover heavy metal pollutants and organic pollutants. Both traditional and emerging pollutants will be discussed. The emerging trends and current challenges will be outlined.