Engineered biochar – A sustainable solution for the removal of antibiotics from water

Abstract

Antibiotic contamination and the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria are global environmental issues. Given the growing consumption of antibiotics, it is crucial to reduce their presence in the environment. Adsorption is one of the most efficient methods for removing contaminants from water and wastewater. For this process to be effective, it is of key importance to identify adsorption mechanisms that allow an efficient and selective adsorbent to be chosen.Carbon-based materials (including activated carbon, biochar and black carbon) are typically used for the adsorptive removal of antibiotics. To enhance the efficiency of adsorption of pharmaceuticals, engineered biochars (physically, chemically and biologically modified biochar) and their composites have attracted increasing interests. Biochar-based sorbents can be produced from various feedstocks, including waste products. The use of "green", low cost or sustainable biochar for contaminant sorption yields economic and environmental benefits.Moreover, this is in line with global trends in creating a circular economy and sustainable development. This paper collates the most recent data on the consumption of antibiotics, their related environmental contamination, and their removal using biochar-based materials. Special attention is paid to the newly emerging approaches of biochar modification and biochar composites in relation to the antibiotic removal from water.

Evaluating the Removal of the Antibiotic Cephalexin from Aqueous Solutions Using an Adsorbent Obtained from Palm Oil Fiber

“…The use of palm oil residues as adsorbents is of special interest as the palm oil agro-industry generates a significant amount of residual biomass (~87 million t/y) [14]. Several studies have demonstrated that biochar produced from palm oil and other agro-industrial residues is an effective adsorbent for removing heavy metals [15][16][17], dyes [18,19], pharmaceuticals [20][21][22][23], and other organic pollutants [24] from aqueous systems.…”

Potential for Farmers’ Cooperatives to Convert Coffee Husks into Biochar and Promote the Bioeconomy in the North Ecuadorian Amazon

“…It can be also used in filtering bags in the river runoff. [42,76,[81][82][83][84][85] Animal husbandry -Supplements feed for ruminants (cattle and goats), pigs, poultry (chicken and duck), and fish. -Improves ruminal fermentation and feed efficiency.…”

“…However, this would require transport and would lead to the transfer of carbon and nutrients between regions. Biochar can also be used as filtering media in environmental remediation processes of contaminated drinking water or sewage [42,76,81,84]. Thus, the production of biochar in farmers' cooperatives can be a contribution to the efficient and sustainable use of water resources.…”

Activated biochars derived from wood biomass liquefaction residues for effective removal of hazardous hexavalent chromium from aquatic environments

“…A very promising application of biochar is related to its suitability to retain various pollutants from waters (Duwiejuah et al, 2020; Inyang et al, 2016; Krasucka et al, 2021; Liu et al, 2021; Shakoor et al, 2020; Sizmur et al, 2017). Among the wide variety of pollutants, hexavalent chromium is by far one of the most toxic pollutants, representing the main threat to living organisms, including humans (Rowbotham et al, 2000).…”