Production and utilization of biochar: A review

Published Date
25 August 2016, Vol.40:1–15, doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2016.06.002
Review

Author 

Jin Sun Cha ^a,b

Sung Hoon Park ^c

Sang-Chul Jung ^c

Changkook Ryu ^d

Jong-Ki Jeon ^e

Min-Chul Shin ^b

Young-Kwon Park ^a,,

• aSchool of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, 02504, Republic of Korea
• bKorea Testing Laboratory, Seoul, 08389, Republic of Korea
• cDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, 57922, Republic of Korea
• dSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
• eDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Kongju National University, Cheonan, 31080, Republic of Korea

Received 20 April 2016. Revised 5 June 2016. Accepted 6 June 2016. Available online 15 June 2016. 

Abstract

Biochar produced during the thermochemical decomposition of biomass not only reduces the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere, but it is also an environment-friendly replacement for activated carbon and other carbon materials. In this review paper, researches on biochar are discussed in terms of production method and application. Different processes for biochar production, such as pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal carbonization, etc., are compared. Physical and chemical activation methods used to improve the physicochemical properties of biochar and their effects are also compared. Various environmental application fields of biochar including adsorption (for water pollutants and for air pollutants), catalysis (for syngas upgrading, for biodiesel production, and for air pollutant treatment), and soil conditioning are discussed. Recent research trend of biochar in other applications, such as fuel cell, supercapacitor, and hydrogen storage, is also reviewed.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

• Biochar
• Biochar activation
• Biochar application
• Adsorbent
• Catalyst
• Soil amendment

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© 2016 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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