Biochar efficiency in pesticides sorption as a function of production variables—a review

Abstract

Biochar is a stabilized, carbon-rich by-product derived from pyrolysis of biomass. Recently, biochar has received extensive attentions because of its multi-functionality for agricultural and environmental applications. Biochar can contribute to sequestration of atmosphere carbon, improvement of soils quality, and mitigation of environmental contaminations. The capability of biochar for specific application is determined by its properties which are predominantly controlled by source material and pyrolysis route variables. The biochar sorption potential is a function of its surface area, pores volume, ash contents, and functional groups. The impacts of each production factors on these characteristics of biochar need to be well-understood to design efficient biochars for pesticides removal. The effects of biomass type on biochar sorptive properties are determined by relative amounts of its lingo-cellulosic compounds, minerals content, particles size, and structure. The highest treatment temperature is the most effective pyrolysis factor in the determination of biochar sorption behavior. The expansion of micro-porosity and surface area and also increase of biochar organic carbon content and hydrophobicity mostly happen by pyrolysis peak temperature rise. These changes make biochar suitable for immobilization of organic contaminants. Heating rate, gas pressure, and reaction retention time after the pyrolysis temperatures are sequentially important pyrolysis variables effective on biochar sorptive properties. This review compiles the available knowledge about the impacts of production variables on biochars sorptive properties and discusses the aging process as the main factor in post-pyrolysis alterations of biochars sorption capacity. The drawbacks of biochar application in the environment are summarized as well in the last section.

Activated carbon, a useful medium to bind chlordecone in soil and limit its transfer to growing goat kids

“…The differences of the precursor materials of those ACs (coconut shell and lignite for ORBO and DARCO ACs, respectively) lead to different structures of porosity. Upon supplementation, this nanoporous material binds tightly halogenated compounds present in soil [33–35]. In addition, this structure could explain the limitation of the CLD desorption in the digestive chyme [36].…”

Potential Applications of Clay-Based Therapy for the Reduction of Pesticide Exposures in Humans and Animals

“…The use of pesticides is of major importance to agriculture, but their widespread occurrence and persistence in the environment can be hazardous to living organisms. It was reported that less than 1% of the total of applied pesticides reach the targets, so a high percentage of these chemicals may move off-target [2,3]. The residues of pesticides are frequently detected in various environmental matrixes, such as soil, water, air, and organism bodies [4].…”

Biochar Soil Additions Affect Herbicide Fate: Importance of Application Timing and Feedstock Species

“…[13][14][15][16][17] The question of whether or not biochar application can reduce the efficacy of soil-applied pesticides still needs more investigation. 18 Some authors have found lower bioefficacy of herbicides after the addition of biochar to soil due to the enhancement in sorption, which reduces the amount of pesticides in the soil solution. [19][20][21] Consequently, this behavior may affect pest management control and implies a need for additional pesticide amounts which could generate new environmental risks.…”

“…[19][20][21] Consequently, this behavior may affect pest management control and implies a need for additional pesticide amounts which could generate new environmental risks. 18 We hypothesized in this work that the efficiency governing plant growth of the two highly mobile herbicides clomazone (CMZ) and bispyribac sodium (BYP) with different mode of action and application regime 22 could be suppressed due to biochar application. Hence, the objective was to examine the effect of six biochar additions to soil made from two different wood species and prepared at three different temperatures (350, 500 and 700 ºC) to test at laboratory scale: i) the sorption-desorption behavior of the herbicides clomazone and bispyribac sodium in soils amended with biochar, ii) the influence of biochar addition on the dissipation and leaching of CMZ and BYP, and iii) how the bioefficacy of these herbicides is affected by the presence of the biochars in soil.…”