Applications of Biochar for Water Treatment

*Applications of Biochar for Environmental Safety*

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**Chapter 13**

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Biochar

*Ramalingham Senthilkumar*

*and Donipathi Mogili Reddy Prasad*

Sorption of Heavy Metals onto

Biochar is a stable carbon-rich product synthesized from biological materials through different heating methods above the decomposition temperature. The potential uses of biochar in various fields include soil fertility improvement, C sequestration, pollutant removal and waste minimization/reuse. In recent years, large number of research has confirmed that biochar can be used successfully for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions. The main aim of this chapter is to summarize and assess the sorption capacity of biochar toward various heavy metal ions. Considering that sorption is a surface phenomenon, the key parameters controlling the formation of biochar including pyrolysis temperature, residence time, and feedstock type will be discussed in detail. In addition, the mechanism associated with remediation of heavy metal ions and the physicochemical factors affecting the sorption potential will be discussed. Mathematical models employed in the sorption studies will be given special importance. The modification procedures

used to enhance the sorption capacity of biochar will also be highlighted.

Water usage has been rising immensely with growing population and industrial activities in both developed and developing countries [1]. This resulted in deterioration of water sources as various contaminants such as dyes [2], toxic heavy metals [3], organic compounds like detergents, phenols, dyes, pesticides in addition to the other persistent organic pollutants [4] are increasingly being dumped into the water bodies [5]. Among these contaminants, heavy metals are of high priority because they persist in soils and do not undergo biodegradation [6]. This might affect significantly the suitability and sustainability of the water resources [7]. These contaminants reach water bodies through various industrial activities, including mining, electrolysis, metallurgy, battery manufacture, metal finishing, electroplating, electro-osmosis, pigment manufacture, tanneries, etc. [8, 9]. Heavy metals are then taken up by the biological systems through food intake and thereby cause major hazardous health impacts [10, 11]. Owing to this, different biological and physico-chemical treatment techniques have been proposed to remediate heavy metal-bearing contaminated waters. These remediation technologies include adsorption, biosorption, ion-exchange, electrocoagulation, membrane technologies and precipitation [12]. Adsorption is one of the widely used remediation

**Keywords:** biochar, adsorption, heavy metals, water quality, pyrolysis
